Join us for a VIRTUAL gallery tour of the Artists on Antisemitism III exhibition at the Peninsula JCC Art Gallery, California.
January 28 at 1 PM Eastern Time (10 AM Pacific Time)
Scan the QR code to register or click here: https://bit.ly/PJCC-AoA
A Look Inside Artists on Antisemitism III – Virtual Gallery Tour
Meet curators Yona Verwer, Hannah Eve Rothbard, Nancy Pantirer, and Judith Joseph, to learn how the acclaimed exhibition Artists on Antisemitism (currently in its third iteration at the PJCC Art Gallery) came to be.
The artists/curators will speak about the impetus for the show and the reaction it has received both from artists and the public. The talk will highlight a few selected works for discussion.
Yona Verwer, Artist and Founding Director of Jewish ART Salon
Hannah Eve Rothbard, Director of 81 Leonard Gallery
Nancy Pantirer, Artist and Owner of 81 Leonard Gallery
Judith Joseph, Artist, Jewish ART Salon Member, and Founding Member of Jewish Artists Collective-Chicago.
Artists on Antisemitism III is on view in the PJCC Art Gallery from January 9 – March 25, 2025, and is free and open to the public.
800 Foster City Blvd, Foster City, CA 94404.
Click on the thumbnails
Artists on Antisemitism III, presented in collaboration with Jewish Art Salon and 81 Leonard Gallery, is a survey of Jewish artists’ responses to the current global surge in antisemitism. Among artists of diverse nationalities, familial histories, and levels of religiosity, a duality emerges: some cautiously reflect on traumatic narratives, while others move forward with courage and optimism. The works on view span a spectrum between these perspectives, with many exploring the nuanced gray areas in between. This is the third iteration of Artists on Antisemitism, first presented at 81 Leonard Gallery (New York, NY) in the summer of 2024 and later at the Hyams Museum of Judaica at Temple Beth Sholom (Roslyn Heights, NY) in the fall of 2024.
Remembrance, a core Jewish value, serves as a unifying thread throughout the exhibition, though the approaches to memorialization vary. While many artists look to the past as a cautionary tale, others venerate individuals whose strength and Jewish pride inspire the community today. Isaac Ben Aharon’s Our Voice – Ambassador Lipstadt pays tribute to Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, the historian who confronted Holocaust deniers and now serves as the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. Leah Raab’s Memories evokes the weight of history and the urgency of remembrance, referencing both Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial, and hostage posters through an abstract composition. Similarly, Susan May Tell’s photograph Requiem 10, taken at Auschwitz, hauntingly documents belongings left behind by victims of the Nazi regime. Goldie Gross’ Morning News addresses a more recent antisemitic act disguised as anti-Zionist activism: the vandalization of Brooklyn Museum director Anne Pasternak’s home. The graffiti incorporates symbols used in Hamas propaganda to mark Israeli targets, echoing the Nazi methods of identifying political prisoners. Rooted in abstraction, Tobi Kahn’s work contemplates the essence of memory, suggesting “the possibility of loss, an abrupt reversal of safety,” rather than depicting a specific event.
The exhibition also celebrates the vibrancy of Jewish life, though often tinged with caution. Dan Harris’ paper-cut collage My Friend in Crown Heights depicts a tender moment of fatherly love, underscored by the tension of openly displaying one’s faith while recognizing the risks it entails. The figure in Harris’ work carries pepper spray as a precaution. Other artists turn to spirituality and folklore to envision protective measures. Maxwell Bauman’s Emergency Golem reimagines the 16th-century legend of Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel’s golem, crafted to defend the Jewish ghetto from pogroms. Bauman’s modern interpretation, constructed from LEGOs and encased in glass like a fire hydrant, combines humor and optimism, suggesting the Jewish people’s readiness for challenges. Yona Verwer’s Star Amulet merges the imagery of an oversized Star of David necklace and an armor shield, inviting wearers to embody strength despite the historical necessity for protection.
Featured Artists: Maxwell Bauman, Isaac Ben-Aharon, Siona Benjamin, Diane Britt, Goldie Gross, Dan Harris, Jeremy Kagan, Tobi Kahn, Akiva Listman, Lenore Mizrachi Cohen, Carol Oster, Nancy Pantirer, Mark Podwal, Leah Raab, Hannah Rothbard, Mira Sasson, Irina Sheynfeld, Joel Silverstein, Susan May Tell, Yona Verwer.
Curated by Kimberly Gordon, Hannah Rothbard, Nancy Pantirer, Yona Verwer, and Judith Joseph.
Presented in partnership with the Osher Marin JCC
This exhibition is made possible by the Koret Taube Initiative on Jewish Peoplehood.
Presented in Partnership with the Osher Marin JCC and JCCSF.
This exhibition is made possible by the Koret Taube Initiative on Jewish Peoplehood.
