The Jewish Art Salon is preparing an exhibition in New York City titled ERASED! , curated by Ben Schachter.
This exhibition will bring together Jewish and Israeli artists and others who have been boycotted and isolated. Examples of such targeting might include several kinds.
First and foremost is the outright refusal to show an artwork due to the religion or nationality of the artist.
Second, works from an exhibition that was cancelled due to fear, criticism, reprisal, or vandalism may be included.
Third, an artist whose work was not displayed because the hosting institution became a target of anti-Jewish or anti-Israel protests can participate.
Deadline to apply: May 20th, 2025.
Curator: Ben Schachter.
Size / dimensions: 2-D Artwork ready to hang. Works on paper need to be framed with a wire in the back. No fragile or heavy materials.
Artists will be responsible for shipping to and from the gallery. (Venue TBA).
ERASED! will show that it is not the artistic or political viewpoint found within the works that matters to the anti-Jewish and anti-Israel activists today. Instead, the goal of the exhibition is to show that it is the artists themselves who are targeted with erasure.
In order to participate, artists are asked to complete a survey focusing on their experiences. The specifics of an artist’s experience will not be used in the exhibition without their permission.
These questions are asked for two purposes. The first reason is to determine eligibility to participate in ERASED! This information will not be included in the exhibition without written permission from the artists. The second reason is to collect information with the goal to develop strategies to counteract antisemitic and anti-Israel actions in the arts.
Two Step Application Process
- Email to jasmembership@gmail.com
In subject line: Your first and last name
Must include:
A. Short Description of Artwork. Maximum 250 words.
- In same document provide Title, Size in inches, Medium, Date. Description must be a text file sent as an attachment. (Word or other Text file, no PDFs.).
Applications with description in the email body will not be processed.
Include: your city, state, country. - The size given for works should be the framed size.
Height must be given before width regardless of whether the work is a vertical or a horizontal.
B. Images: No more than 4 jpegs, sized between 400 and 900 kb.
Save with your Last_Name_Title.jpeg
2. Artists will receive a link to a brief survey concerning their experiences with Antisemitism after they have submitted their work. Completing the survey is required of participants.
Questions? Email jewishartsalon@gmail.com
About the curator:
Ben Schachter is an American artist, author, and educator renowned for his innovative integration of Jewish themes into contemporary art and graphic storytelling. He serves as a professor of digital art and media at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, where he teaches courses in 3D modeling, storyboarding, and animation.
Schachter holds both a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) and a Master of Science (M.S.) from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York.
Schachter’s work spans various mediums, including illustration, graphic novels, and installation art. His art often explores Jewish texts and traditions, offering contemporary interpretations. Notably, his graphic novel Akhnai Pizza reimagines the Talmudic story of the Oven of Akhnai, highlighting themes of discourse and community.
In 2017, Schachter published Image, Action, and Idea in Contemporary Jewish Art, a scholarly work that examines the intersection of Jewish thought and contemporary art practices. The book delves into how Jewish concepts, such as melachot (creative activities), influence modern artistic expressions.
Schachter’s artwork has been exhibited in prestigious venues, including Yale University, Yeshiva University Museum, the Jewish Museum in Berlin, and the Westmoreland Museum of American Art. He has also participated in the Jerusalem Biennale. In recognition of his contributions, he received the Emma Lazarus Award for his design combating antisemitism.
