Fall 2010 - Mizel Museum

mizel
FALL 2010
WWW.MIZELMUSEUM.ORG
MIZEL TOV: GOOD NEWS FROM THE MIZEL MUSEUM
Mizel Museum in Partnership with Starz Denver Film Festival
The Forgotten Transports, Four Historic Documentaries from Filmmaker Lukáš Přibyl
By Bruce Heitler
We all remember our first visit to Prague when
we were invited into Lukáš Přibyl’s attic. The Heitler family
was making an excursion to Europe, and I had been asked by
a member of the Caulkins family of Denver if we would meet
Lukáš, a young man who had just been awarded a scholarship
sponsored by the Caukins family, to attend Phillips Andover
Academy.
Lukáš was about 15 years old, and he had claimed the attic
in the family house. The house in Prague had been recovered
by his family after it had been confiscated by the Nazis half
a century before. Although other members of his family were
generally excluded from the attic, Lukáš was happy to invite
the visitors from the US into his sanctum. There he showed
us decades of issues of National Geographic Magazine, a
library with shelves of books
he had read and collected in at
least four languages – Czech,
English, German, Russian, an
astounding collection of books
on history, science, Judaica,
politics, international affairs,
and philosophy.
I asked what Lukáš was
interested in studying, and he
said that his current ambition
was to become a herpetologist, but he had not decided
for sure. (Herpetology is the
study of reptiles).
For the next eight years,
we acted as a local family
for Lukáš while he attended
Andover Academy, then Brandeis University.
He visited with us in Colorado, and we would meet in
Massachusetts or New York. After that, we would hear from
Lukas when he was travelling in Sri Lanka, or in Syria, or Iran,
or in Israel.
For eight years after he completed college, Lukáš worked
single-mindedly on his pet project, which was ever-evolving in
his mind. Even though he had virtually no financial resources
and few supporters except his parents, he had convinced a
cinematographer to travel with him around the world to interview all of the survivors of little known concentration camps
in the ‘East’ to which Jews from Bohemia (where my father’s
family originated) and Moravia. Lukáš’ maternal grandfather
had been among those taken on the “Forgotten Transports.”
Without any significant financial support, Lukáš spent
endless hours in the archives of Berlin, Prague, Budapest, and
smaller towns across Eastern Europe researching the stories
of the Forgotten Transports. Then he began to interview the
survivors. The work had a palpable urgency, because Lukáš
knew that in a few years, none of the people who could
present a first hand history of these forgotten work camps
and death camps would be alive.
In England, France, Australia, Israel, Canada, New York,
California, across the Czech Republic, and even in Denver,
Lukáš found survivors. Patiently he won their confidence,
often after multiple trips. Many had never told their stories
to anyone, and they would not have opened up to Lukáš if
he were not able to report the stories of their colleagues
and details about the camps where they had lived. One lead
revealed another – sometimes from inmates, sometimes from
the families of prison guards, sometimes from families who
lived near the camps.
I accompanied Lukáš to Shalom Park in Denver, with his
cinematographer from Prague, to interview Celia Feder’s
father, Max Lewit, who had been imprisoned on one of the
Forgotten Transports. The long-time resident of Denver told
how his friends since childhood had betrayed him, how he
was transferred from a work camp to a death camp, how he
had been lined up at the edge of a grave to be shot. Without
any injury, he was dragged into the mass grave when the large
man next to him was shot, At night, he scrambled out of the
grave, before it had been covered with earth, and made his
way into the forest.
The next afternoon Jay Feder called to thank me.
The previous night, after the long interview, his fatherin-law had died. I expressed my concern that the interview had exhausted Jay’s father-in-law, and precipitated
his death. Jay said no, his father-in-law had always
indicated that could not die until he could tell his
story about the betrayal and abandonment of the
Jews, even by their friends and neighbors in Europe.
Jay said that after the long interview with Lukáš Přibyl,
his father-in-law felt that his life was complete. Then,
because he had told his story, he could die.
More than 400 hours of interviews from around
the world were preserved on film, and in Lukáš Přibyl’s
memory. For years he pondered how to tell this enormous story, preserved from eternal silence by extraordinary dedication. For the next few years, Lukáš scoured
libraries, archives,
the boxes of
forgotten photographs in the
garages of the
families of prison
camp
guards,
traded vodka for letters,
reviewed reluctantly
available footage from
German and Eastern
European collections. In
Lukáš Přibyl’s mind, the
vast skein of connections
and recollections began
to take shape.
Lukáš recognized that
these were not simple
stories. There is no formula for survival; rather there were many strategies, and most
did not work. One woman survived because she consented
to sleep with a commandant; another survived because she
bravely refused. Some reflected back with bitterness, some
with humor, some with awe-filled bewilderment.
Forgotten Transports is a monumental work – four feature
length films, without any narration, stories told completely
by the people who lived them. The stories are documented
with astonishing visual material, much of it never published
before, documenting the individual and intimate stories as
they are told. Different voices relate memories of the same
moments, told by people who had not seen each other for
more than half a century, and who lived thousands of miles
apart. The same story, with a beautifully constructed narrative line is in Hebrew, Czech, English and sometimes Yiddish
– depending on where across the globe life had taken the
survivors. Their stories are available to us, beautifully woven
together, through the extraordinary, dedicated, courageous
and determined eyes of Lukáš Přibyl. Forgotten Transports is a
work of genius. VKP
Bruce Heitler is a parent, grandparent and teacher, among
other accomplishments. He is committed to improving the quality
of life for our community.
“Lukáš scoured libraries,
archives, the boxes of forgotten photographs in the garages
of the families of prison camp
guards . . .”
Photos: From the private collection of Lukáš Přibyl, found images
that lead to the making of his film.
Mizel Museum Participating in Denver Arts Week
The timing is right. Denver Arts Week will be celebrated November 5 – 13, and Mizel Museum’s
contribution will be our sponsorship of the extraordinary documentary series, Forgotten Transports,
with Director/Producer, Lukáš Přibyl. The films will air during the Starz Denver Film Festival
(November 3 – 14). We are proud and delighted to be part of the 2010 Denver Film Festival, which
will include more than 200 films from around the world with over 150 film artists participating
in the 12-day cinematic celebration. Among them, will be screenings for each of the four films of Forgotten Transports with Lukáš
speaking at each.
This is what Juliet Burch from the National Center for Jewish Film wrote to us about Lukáš Přibyl: “We hosted a screening of
his film (one part) last year at our festival. He gave one of the most interesting Q and A’s of the festival. No one would leave
the theater! We wish every success for Lukas and so we would, of course, be very happy if you were able to screen his film and
have him come. He is truly a brilliant young man.”
Our partners in Holocaust programming, The Holocaust Awareness Institute of the Center for Judaic Studies at the University
of Denver, join us in providing this wonderful opportunity to the community.
Go to www.mizelmuseum.org for links to reviews and www.denverfilm.org for detailed information on the Starz Denver Film
Festival, and for ticket purchase. Feel free to call for more information. VKP
mizel
View from the Volunteer Desk
By Tia Amdurer, Special Projects and Volunteer Coordinator
SPRING/SUMMER 2010
400 South Kearney Street
Denver, CO 80224
303.394.9993
www.mizelmuseum.org
Ellen Premack
[email protected]
Executive Director
Jan C. Nadav
[email protected]
Director of Education
and Interpretation
Georgina Kolber
[email protected]
Curator of Exhibitions,
Collections and Programs
Deanne Kapnik
[email protected]
Director of Special Events
and Projects
Maggi Junor
[email protected]
Office & Database Manager
Amy Klingenberg [email protected]
Tia Amdurer
[email protected]
Salesforce Coordinator
Special Projects Coordinator
Penny Nisson
Jewish Education Coordinator
Arel Mishory
Mizel Museum Artist Alliance
Coordinator
Sarah Edgell
Graphic Design
SPONSORS
What does it take to turn a 1959-era synagogue, multi-purpose building into
a space worthy of a first-class museum? At the Mizel Museum we started with
many ideas, many remodels, and many hands – not to mention paintbrushes! In
the spring, the push began to transform our home at 400 South Kearney Street
into a site that could not only be a beautiful canvas for the permanent exhibit,
4,000 year road trip: Gathering Sparks, but could be a welcoming and practical
space for our new camp and educational offerings, and a functional resource
center for the community.
Timelines were drawn, budgets made, and colors selected, and then the
work began! Drawing on a new influx of volunteers, we began with an overhaul
of the art closet, hallway and art room downstairs, and a complete cataloging of
all our collection of resource material in the library. With Penny Nisson spearheading the effort, our stalwart volunteer, Irv Fox, began the laborious process of
going through our books, catalogues and encyclopedias – some in English, some
not! Irv was joined by Bonnie Rice and later, Rivka Schwab, as they painstakingly
identified what we have here. Richard Campbell helped by culling our collection
of German books for donation to the University of Denver’s library. Harsh and
Bea Premack got into the act, too, helping us identify what is in the collection.
By the opening of our new exhibit, we plan to have a Mizel library that will serve
as a wonderful resource for our patrons.
The basement was a little messier! Serendipity played a wonderful role in
getting us immediate assistance. A class in Prejudice and Discrimination in
Contemporary Society at Metro State asked its participants to find a way to help a group
they had studied, and we were blessed with Monique Mejia, Princess Dickerson, and
Meghan Mackinnon who wielded paintbrushes and rollers to brighten the art room. Add
to that Hal Simmons who donated his time in getting our hallway ready to go. Kudos also
to the staff who found, indeed, they could paint a straight line!
By Memorial Day we were ready to move to the outside of the building. Luckily, Rehab
Siddig showed up on our doorstep wanted to volunteer with our planting. Add to that an
entire class from George Washington High School, under the direction of Princess and
teacher Mark Arsenau, who began learning about gardening by getting their hands dirty.
Things have continued to improve and evolve: we have watched parts of our exhibit
go up in the hallway and sanctuary upstairs; we created an art wall in the basement
for our mask collection; we have seen hundreds of kids and parents come through our
building for camp programs and utilize our space for so much; and we saw our new,
beautiful sculpture garden take shape. Behind the scenes, Rodney Max Rosenbaum and
Zach Amdurer lugged boxes and helped us reorganize.
As we move into the fall, the building is quite transformed. As you come to the front,
glass doors flanked by two striking miniature Japanese maples provide a welcoming
entry. Flowers, shrubs, grasses and colorful pots speak of a living museum. Even as Scott
Lyon and our staff create a marvelous interpretative exhibit upstairs, the bright paint and
exciting art in the administrative lower level makes it an exhibit of its own. We couldn’t
have done it without our volunteers.
For more information on various volunteer opportunities, contact
Tia at [email protected]. VKP
Creating Global Harmony,
One Mural At A Time, One Mile At a Time
THE ART MILES PROJECT aims to create global
harmony through art, one mural at a time, by creating miles of murals painted by children and adults.
Locally headed up by Jan Cooper Nadav and Board
of Advisor member and artist Bruce Gomez, the
project goal was to create 4 banners that would join
the over 5,000 others that are being made and will
be displayed on the pyramids at EGYPT 2010.
. . . the project goal was to
create 4 banners that would
join the over 5,000 others
being made and will be
displayed on the pyramids
at EGYPT 2010.
On August 4, the Mizel Museum was a sponsor of the
JCC’s Day of Caring and Sharing which provided a community service opportunity for the 1,500 Jewish teen athletes
who were here for the 6-day Maccabi Games, Olympic-style
events which provide a unique combination of sports, cultural
and social activities at different venues across the city. The
games were held in Denver for teens from around the country
and Europe. The Art Miles Project was selected by the Mizel
Museum as a collaborative partner, bringing the arts into the
Maccabi Games.
The environment, sports, the City of Denver and music
were the four themes selected for the banners. Bruce and his
team of adult volunteers worked throughout the day with four
teams of middle and high school students. Mizel Museum
volunteers helped in this effort offering encouragement and
supervision. Working together through the arts, and planning
and discussing their interest, brought these kids together
creating a fun summer project that they know will have an
international viewing. They painted with pride, as they know
the murals will be connected together in Egypt in the form
of an environmentally friendly, portable modular framed or
digitized pyramid shape. The murals will be on exhibition on
a global basis and some will become part of a permanent
exhibition at the Manhattan Memorial Mural Museum. For
more information on this project, contact Jan Cooper Nadav
at the Mizel Museum or Denver Coordinator Marci Brewster
at [email protected]. VKP
M I Z E L TOV: FA L L 2 0 1 0 W W W. M I Z E L M U S E U M .O R G 303.394.9993
2010 Annual
Babi Yar
Memorial
Event
The Mizel Museum has joined
together with community
leaders and advocates to create
an event designed to invoke
conscience and tolerance
over hate and oppression.
The threat of global genocide
continues to build momentum
Features Notable Speakers
and Musical Performance
in every corner of the world
today, and public symbols of
peace are transforming. As
a transforming experience,
the Babi Yar Park Memorial
Event will feature well-known
speakers, Dr. Sarah Pessin and
Dr. Isabella Morozova followed
by a musical selection
performed by Denise Gentilini.
©Terry Shaprio, Arch Photography
Cities that protect their environment,
landscapes and historical monuments
actively conserve memories that serve to
inspire future generations.
What would happen to our cultural heritage if historically significant public places were forgotten and memories
were lost? The Mizel Museum and Jewish Family Service
together with the Center for Judaic Studies and the Holocaust
Awareness Institute continue a yearly tradition meant to bring
inspiration, remembrance and awareness to the community
at the Babi Yar Memorial Event Sunday, September 26, 2010.
Babi Yar Park, a Denver City Park, is located at Havana
and Yale Avenue in Denver. Situated in an unassuming locale,
the beautiful open space provides a perfect setting for this
important annual event. The purpose of the event is to commemorate and remind the community of the strength, bravery
and courage of millions of men, women and children taken by
the horrors of the Holocaust in Babi Yar, Ukraine. The 27-acre
Babi Yar Park is a living memorial to the Ukrainians and others
who perished in the infamous ravine at Babi Yar, in Kiev,
Ukriane in 1941. The park topography is similar to the original
site in Kiev, and has a natural ravine that is impressively
incorporated into the landscape. Babi Yar Park is a place that
sows the seeds of remembrance and incorporates a sense of
tranquility — an important thread to help weave the fabric
of peace. By extending a global message of conscience and
hope, the Babi Yar Park Memorial presentation serves as a
symbol of tikkun olam, peace, and remembrance.
The Mizel Museum has joined together with community
leaders and advocates to create an event designed to invoke
conscience and tolerance over hate and oppression. The
threat of global genocide continues to build momentum in
every corner of the world today, and public symbols of peace
are transforming. As a transforming experience, the Babi
Yar Park Memorial Event will feature well-known speakers,
Dr. Sarah Pessin and Dr. Isabella Morozova followed by a
musical selection performed by Denise Gentilini.
Dr. Sarah Pessin, Director of the Center for Judaic Studies
at the University of Denver also directs the new Holocaust
project at DU which aims to re-invent Holocaust memorialization through the broadly humanist theme of “Tikkun Olam”
(Repairing the World). Her research covers various topics in
Jewish and Islamic philosophy, mysticism and poetry, NeoPlatonism, medieval philosophy, comparative philosophies
of religion, as well as topics in health and healing and crosscultural dialogue.
Dr. Isabella Morozova is a daughter of Holocaust survivors. Isabella Morozova immigrated to the US in 1991 and has
taught at universities in Moscow, New Jersey, and Colorado.
Her academic research concentrates on questions of Jewish
identity and existential issues of Jewish refugees on topics of
Jewish culture and history.
Emmy® award winning composer and accomplished musician Denise Gentilini will present a brief concert.
M I Z E L TOV: FA L L 2 0 1 0 The memorial event takes place at Babi Yar Park on
Yale and Havana in the People Place just north of the main
entrance on Sunday, September 26 from 11:00 am to noon.
The memorial is an outdoor event and limited seating is provided. We suggest bringing a blanket or a chair, as seats are
not reserved.
The Mizel Museum invites the community to see and hear
how the power of remembrance inspires healing. Call Deanne
Kapnik at 303-394-9993 ext. 104 or email [email protected] for more information. VKP
Babi Yar Memorial Event Details
WHEN September 26, 2010, 11:00 a.m- noon
COST Free and open to the public
W H E R E “People Place” amphitheater, Babi Yar Park
Havana and Yale
MUSIC Brief program and concert by Denise Gentilini
C O N TA C T Deanne Kapnik
Director of Special Events and Projects
Mizel Museum
303-394-9993 Ext 104
Denise Gentilini
Emmy® award winning composer and accomplished
musician Denise Gentilini
performs original pieces that
reflect her passion about
remembrance,
genocide
education, social justice
and human rights issues.
Denise completed a documentary in 2002 called “The
Handjian Story – A Road Less
Traveled,” which told the story
of her grandparents’ survival
of the Armenian genocide of
1915 and the original music
for the film earned Gentilini
an Emmy® award in 2008. In
2009 she released an instrumental CD album, which featured music from “Voices of
Souls,” a piano concerto combining themes from the documentary score into an orchestral piece. During the Babi Yar
Memorial Event Gentilini will perform from her most recent
project, “We Are Voices - For a Future without Genocide.”
W W W. M I Z E L M U S E U M .O R G New
Collaborative
Partner
The staff is delighted
to announce that the
Mizel Museum and the
University of Denver’s
Center for Judaic Studies
and Holocaust Awareness
Institute are teaming up on a
strong new partnership dedicated to Holocaust education and to the transformation of memory into social
consciousness and action.
Join us at the inaugural
partnership program at the
Babi Yar Memorial event
on September 26, 2010, as
together with co-sponsors,
Jewish Family Service and
the Mizel Museum. As
part of the program, DU’s
Dr. Sarah Pessin offers new
insight and honor in her
presentation. Watch in the
coming months as our programming reflects the best
of both of our organizations.
Stay tuned for details! VKP
303.394.9993
First Annual METAV Exhibit
‘The Best’ of Mizel Museum Artists Alliance
By Arel Mishory, Mizel Museum Artist Alliance Coordinator
This past June, the Niza Knoll Gallery and the Mizel Museum presented the first annual METAV exhibition. Metav means “the
best” in Hebrew—a concept that we felt accurately caught the mood of the exhibition. The best work of the artists in the Mizel
Museum Artists Alliance was displayed in a juried show, and Georgina Kolber, Curator of the Mizel Museum, provided her expertise in arranging the art to showcase the best of each piece.
The exhibition opened on Thursday, June 10, and was up in the gallery until July 5. There was a splendid and lively opening
night reception attended by over 100 art enthusiasts. There was a second reception on the third Friday of the month that was
enhanced with the performance of Julie Geller, a Denver native, recording artist and composer. Geller premiered her new CD at
the reception. A third reception was held as part of First Fridays on Santa Fe. Both Friday receptions were attended by over 200
people.
The exhibition was juried by Jeff Fields, curator of Museum Shops for the City of Lakewood. Jeff is also a studio artist who
works in mixed media and has a very discerning eye. Fields was thrilled with the quality of the work presented by the artists, and
watching him select the accepted works was fascinating. Niza Knoll and Arel Mishory, Assistant director of MMAA, who coordinated the show, asked Jeff to choose first, second and third place winners. First place was awarded to Irina Kopelevich for her
piece “Bluebeard and his 10th wife.”
Irina Kopelevich, a most upbeat and playful person, was born in Riga, Latvia. She was not formally trained as an artist and
received her training in whatever classes she could find to take. “This way,” she says, “I am always learning and experimenting.”
She has been making art for 30 years.
Irina used to play art games with her children to entertain them. Irina’s describes her current medium as, “making a drawing
in pencil on hot press watercolor paper, going over it in pen and ink, painting the piece with tempera paints, and then when the
paint has dried, coating the entire sheet of paper with waterproof India ink. Where there is tempera paint, the ink washes away
(the paint acts to resist), and where there is no paint, the ink remains permanent.” Irina is drawn to the color blue in her work, but
likes this technique because it incorporates a lot of black (her favored color in clothes) because black is “defining.”
Irina considers herself, “happy and lucky that she has art,” something that is hers and so personal. She wakes up in a good
mood, no matter the weather. Irina is married to Soloman and has two daughters, Dinne and Elena.
Over 65 people signed our People’s Choice Awards sign-in sheet with the majority of viewers choosing the work of Kathy
Berenstein, our second place winner, for her vivid and arresting paintings. Mark Zarinsky was awarded third place for his “Jade
Mezuzah.”
The Mizel Museum, Niza Knoll, and MMAA are already planning our next year’s METAV2. The working theme for the show
will be Tikkun Olam (Healing the World). VKP
First place was awarded to Irina Kopelevich for her piece
Bluebeard and His 10th Wife.
Objectophilia
Featured Object from the Mizel Museum Collection
After the holiday of Shabbat
Georgina Kolber, Curator of Exhibitions, Collections and Programs
Objects are inevitable products of all cultures. We create practical items that serve
mundane functions, we sculpt ornamental objects with which to enhance our environments, and we create preciously adorned objects for ritual and prayer. Artists
and designers negotiate form and function when creating an object, regardless
of its purpose or lack thereof. Jewish culture is spiritually based, but objects are
a necessary, enriching, and enduring component of many Jewish traditions and
festivals.
This season, I’d like to feature an object created by Scott Lyon for our
permanent exhibition, (in progress), 4,000 Year Road Trip: Gathering Sparks.
Scott has created larger than life size spice boxes* to house many of our
silver ritual and ceremonial objects. This particular spice box describes
the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, which are
observed in the Fall, during the 10-day period between the first and
tenth days of Tishri, the seventh month of the Jewish calendar.
This Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur spice box contains ritual
objects from our fine art collection associated with the holidays, and
objects created by Scott that are symbolic or representational. The
spice box thus juxtaposes installation artwork with historical items
and stories. It offers layers of meaning for individuals at different
stages of Jewish learning.
In the interior of the spice box, viewers will notice some objects
that are familiar, some that are unexpected, and some that are
mysterious. The words teshuvah (repentance), tefillah (prayer) and
tzedekah (charity) are emblematic of this period in which Jewish
people reflect on their actions and try to make amends with each
other and G-d. It is a time of soul-searching, letting go, prayer,
charity, and moving forward into a new year.
The spice box contains several references to apples and honey,
since eating these foods at Rosh Hashanah is an expression of hope
for a new year pure, happy, and free from past transgressions. Also
integral to the ritual of welcoming in the new year is the shofar, or
ram’s horn, that is sounded in synagogue at Rosh Hashanah.
Other items associated literally and metaphorically with these
holidays are also included in the case, as you will see for yourself
when the exhibition opens this fall! VKP
M I Z E L TOV: FA L L 2 0 1 0 W W W. M I Z E L M U S E U M .O R G has passed, Jewish people
place fragrant spices in
an ornamental box. The
delicious and wondrous
smells serve as a reminder
of the sweetness of
Shabbat.
303.394.9993
Greetings from the Exhibition Curator’s desk!
“I’m thrilled to describe our upcoming season, which is imbued with the fresh perspective and
energy of our new permanent exhibition, 4,000 Year Road Trip: Gathering Sparks.”
Celebrate journeys at the
Mizel Museum
Travel through art installations, historical
artifacts, video and interactive media. The
exhibit features and explores local and
global Jewish cultural themes and values.
In developing the exhibition, we wanted to present Jewish culture and teach about
Jewish values in order to celebrate Judaism, and also to encourage all people to celebrate their own personal and cultural identities and journeys. We each can look back
at history to see where we came from, and then we can move forward with knowledge,
appreciation, and wisdom.
Throughout the exhibition is the theme of gathering sparks which is often understood to be the origin of Tikkun Olam, or healing the world. The Jewish Kabbalist Isaac
Luria (the Ari), of Safed , passed down the myth as follows:
At the beginning of time, G-d’s presence filled the universe. When G-d decided to
bring the world into being, to make room for creation, he contracted himself by drawing
in his breath, forming a dark mass. Then G-d said, “Let there be light” (Gen, 1:3) and
ten holy vessels came forth, each filled with primordial light. G-d sent forth the ten
vessels like a fleet of ships, each carrying its cargo of light. But the vessels—too fragile
to contain such powerful divine light—broke open, scattering the holy sparks everywhere. Had these vessels arrived intact, the world would have been perfect. Instead,
G-d created people to seek out and gather the hidden sparks, wherever we can find
them. Once this task is completed, the broken vessels will be restored and the world
will be repaired.
Threading together the themes of journey and gathering sparks encourages visitors to recognize that individual journeys interweave with other journeys, so when we
work together, we can accumulate more light for ourselves, for one another and for the
world.
The exhibition features fine art installations, video, and artifacts from our collection,
and will extend beyond the walls of our building- serving as a backdrop for cutting edge
programming for both adults and kids.
Finally, the Mizel Museum and the University of Denver’s Center for Judaic Studies
and Holocaust Awareness Institute are teaming up on a strong new partnership
dedicated to Holocaust education and to the transformation of memory into social
consciousness and action. Please join us for our inaugural collaboration at the Babi Yar
memorial program, on September 26th, and watch in the coming months as we craft
programming that reflects the best of both organizations.
I look forward to seeing you at the launch of 4,000 Year Road Trip: Gathering Sparks
this Fall, 2010, a festival that will include activities and programs for all ages and interests. Stay tunes to our website for details! VKP
Georgina Kolber
Curator of Exhibitions, Collections and Programs
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Jan C. Nadav, Director of Education and Interpretation
T
here are signs of our inaugural season of Creative Journeys Artist-in-Residence camps all over the Museum. There’s
a three-dimensional art installation of the solar system, a well-worn script from an adaptation of Jewish folktales
set in the Wild West, a peace mural ready to be sent to co-existence center in Israel, a recording of an original radio
drama about war and peace featuring talking animals, musical instruments made from recycled materials, a show puppet
theatre and a community blessing bowl.
Even more than the tangible projects are priceless memories of kids collaborating with one another and families coming
together to celebrate the creative process of children. Every Friday afternoon this summer, there was a final exhibition or
performance followed by a festive Shabbat celebration. For some, it was the first time they were invited to participate in a
Jewish ritual. In an inclusive, warm atmosphere, we provided a Jewish host culture with doors wide open to families from
all backgrounds, resulting in a rich, intercultural community.
Our new, permanent exhibit 4,000 Year Road Trip: Gathering Sparks exemplifies and builds on our educational approach ¬
integrating cultural content with creative expression. The exhibit explores the exuberance and diversity of Jewish life and
culture through fine art installations, video, photography and artifacts. The exhibit is intended to be a springboard to explore
both particular and universal themes of preservation and transformation for all backgrounds and ages. We are thrilled to
embark on bringing all sorts of groups, classes and individuals on our new Museum tour ¬ bringing the Road Trip to life. We
hope will you join us on this adventure of collective inquiry and share your new insights with us. VKP
Ground-breaking
summer camps at the
museum.
10 Journeys completed!
M I Z E L TOV: FA L L 2 0 1 0 W W W. M I Z E L M U S E U M .O R G 303.394.9993
Mizel Museum Board of Advisors
The Exceptional and the Talented
By Ellen Premack, Executive Director
Talk about an impressive group of people coming together to care and share about the Mizel Museum! Chairman of the Board
Dr. Bernie Karshmer has headed up this group for the past six year and as we evolve, the dynamic people who are involved “are
exceptional.” Together, the 34 member Board of Advisors helps to support the staff, creates museum projects, and are community ambassadors. Richard Campbell, Ph.D., is representative to the Jewish Community Resource Committee, Bob Bongiovanni
mentors the staff on community involvement, Lynn Fleiger Countryman is on the graduate staff at Regis University and works
with the Windows to the Divine High School Art Competition, Christina Cain has a background in Anthropology and Collections
Management at CU’s Boulder Museum of Natural History, and Michael Ledwitz is Editor and Publisher of Denver Magazine. Each
of these people contributes to the strength of our board as they interface with the museum staff and in the community.
The Mizel Museum is proud to focus on of our outstanding members:
Dr. Arthur Jones
Musically and poetically, he aims for all to experience the infinite power of the
soul that delivers a genuine inter-generational and interracial dialogue.
Dr. Arthur Jones is the Founder of the Spirituals Project and Clinical Professor of Culture and
Psychology at DU. He works to tear down walls that prevent young people from learning from elders,
and prevent elders from trusting young people to assume new mantles of leadership. He seeks to
draw from the wisdom of the ancestors. Musically and poetically, he aims for all to experience the
infinite power of the soul that delivers a genuine inter-generational and interracial dialogue. The
Spiritual Project’s mission is to preserve and revitalize the music and teachings found in the sacred
songs called “spirituals” that were created and first sung by enslaved Africans in America in the 18th
and 19th centuries. The Spirituals Project is a broad-based initiative to explore the many varied dimensions of African American
spirituals as art form, tradition and tool; and to invite all people to experience the joy and power of this dynamic music and gift
from African Americans to the world. Spirituals uplift in times of crisis, heal, comfort, inspire and instill hopes and dreams, thereby
transforming individuals, communities, and whole societies. “Our goal is to ensure that the spirituals will be passed on for many
generations to come,” says Dr. Jones.
Susan Freilicher
She attributes her success to her genuine enthusiasm for art...
Susan Freilicher has been active in the Western art community since 1992. Her involvement began after a move to Santa Fe,
New Mexico, where she was director of two art galleries. In 1994, she moved to Colorado and was hired as the Rocky Mountain
Regional Sales Manager for Southwest Art Magazine. She attributes her success to her genuine enthusiasm for art, the artists
and all her clients, layered with her hands-on experience in the art world and her extensive marketing background. For the past
several years, Susan was publisher of Southwest Art. During her fourteen-year tenure she has become a familiar face in the
art scene throughout the Rocky Mountains. Previously, Susan worked in the fragrance and cosmetic industry in Manhattan.
During her tenure at Charles of the Ritz, she was part of the team that launched the innovative and highly successful “Dynasty”
fragrances, Forever Krystal and Carrington, based on the hit TV series. Over the years she has done work for many of the major
companies such as Yves St. Laurent, Revlon and Coty to name a few. Susan joined the board in 2010.
Tara Witterholt
There is no end to her experiences in business and marketing skills!
Tara Witterholt is working towards a Masters Degree in Project Management and Strategic
Innovation and Change at Denver University. She is employed at Janus Capital Group where she
is a project delivery specialist. There is no end to her experiences in business and marketing skills!
Tara was the Education Coordinator for Congregation Beth Sholom JEC in Anchorage, Alaska, where
she worked in education, publications programming, and community relations. Tara attended the
University of Oklahoma where she received a BA in French with a minor in Dance and Education.
At the Mizel Museum, Tara will engage a Youth Board as a new initiative of the Board of Advisors.
She has personally been involved with the Anchorage community in promoting global goodwill.
“Annually, my husband and I have driven steel remnants from the World Trade Center that came to
Anchorage for a future memorial. We drove it through the streets as part of the 4th of July parade,
and what a touching moment that was for our Anchorage community.”
The Mizel Museum is proud of each and every member of our Board of Advisors
and thanks them all for their time, energy, creativity and efforts given daily! VKP
By Penny Nisson, Jewish Education Coordinator
“Soup” is a mixture of ingredients that results in a specific
type of consistency. To “soup something up” makes something more elaborate or impressive. From “soup to nuts,”
means from beginning to end completely. All those components of that definition could creatively compare with the
definition of a “museum.” A museum is a building in which
objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific interest are
stored and exhibited.
Taking facets from the soup definition, a museum should
have consistency, be elaborate or impressive, and be complete from beginning to end.
For some people, a visit to a museum is a rare, if ever,
occurrence. For other people, it’s a passionate endeavor one
plans for on a regular basis. Then there are those who say
going to a museum is something they like to do, but never
seem to get around to doing, making the excuse, “Too bad, I
really meant to get there when that exhibit was up.”
So why visit a museum? There are a variety of museums
out there to enjoy and experience which probably suit the
interests of most people. In short, museums are a very
good way to learn about the world. In recent times, though,
museums are struggling to get people in the door. The answer
to why that is could certainly fill a soup bowl, probably even
a terrine, but I am going to stir this pot in another direction.
A museum experience champions education, but more
than that, it allows us, as human beings, to leave our workday
for just a little while and feed the soul. Some people would
liken this to other recreational pursuits like playing sports or
attending sporting events
as a spectator. That is a
passion shared among
many around Colorado,
especially with the kind
of glorious weather we
all enjoy in this region.
But putting time into a
museum exhibit has benefits well beyond being
a casual observer; the
activity of engaging with
it is a key element of its
effect. Establishing meaningful contact or making
a connection with a subject enlightens us, and
this adds to our spiritual
knowledge. A museum can
illuminate or make clear
a problem area of study
because its environment
begs for interaction and
engagement. From science
to art, a broad knowledge
base is central to living a
more fulfilling and interesting life.
Our senses allow us to
enjoy our physical world. Sight, smell, hearing, taste, and
touch, stimulate physiological and nervous system activity
and encourages interest and development. Museums cater to
the visitor’s need to be transported to another place and time,
and with the undertaking of that journey, arrive successfully
to a greater awareness of a situation or fact. The cultural
diversity of our society dictates the environment that we live
in. It demands that we learn about our human family and
grow intellectually about the greater world so that we can
apply reasoning and understanding to situations that arise in
our everyday lives. Time invested by a museum visitor is not
taken lightly. Every effort is made so that a person departs
knowing their time was well spent, their senses were active,
their interest maintained, and their curiosity encouraged. In a
day and age when our senses are on technological overload
and our schedules are on overdrive, we all must make the
time to nourish our conceptual and spiritual growth.
Museums are chicken soup for the soul. VKP
Museums cater to the
visitor’s need to be
transported to another
place and time, and with
the undertaking of that
journey, arrive successfully
to a greater awareness of a
situation or fact.
Look forward to this!
World Trade Center steel coming to Babi Yar Park
M I Z E L TOV: FA L L 2 0 1 0 W W W. M I Z E L M U S E U M .O R G 303.394.9993
M I Z E L TOV: FA L L 2 0 1 0 W W W. M I Z E L M U S E U M .O R G 303.394.9993
Non Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Denver, CO
Permit No. 428
400 South Kearney St.
Denver, CO 80224
Calendar of Events
Contact the Mizel Museum at 303.394.9993 ext. 103 or
email: [email protected] to register for classes.
Annual Babi Yar Park Memorial Program
September 26, 2010 - 11:00 - Noon
Babi Yar Park, Havana and Yale, Denver
Join members of the Russian, Ukrainian, and Jewish
communities, students, Holocaust survivors and community
leaders to remember and honor those massacred at Babi Yar,
Kiev, Ukraine, and all victims of genocide.
Art Class for One and All with Ivy Delon
Tuesdays: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm - $90 for the six-week course
October 19, 26; November 2, 9, 16, 23, 2010
January 11, 18, 25; February 1, 8, 15, 2011
April 5, 12; May 3, 10, 17, 24, 2011
If you haven’t taken an art class since 5th grade and can
barely draw a line, or if you love to draw and paint but
want to want to return to the basics, this class is for you.
Ivy Delon — a gifted art teacher and painter, returns to the
museum to work her magic with adults. Immerse yourself
in the elements of art: drawing, composition, color theory,
perspective and explore the three Ps — pencils, paint and
pastels. No experience necessary!
Forgotten Transports Film Screening
November 6, 7, 8, 2010
Starz Denver Film Center
Go to www.denverfilm.org for ticket purchases and detailed Starz
Denver Film Festival information.
See cover story for more details about this exciting event.
Watercolor and Oil Painting with Boris Shoshensky
Tuesdays: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm - $150/session $125 for MMAA members
Wednesdays: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm - $125/session $100 for MMAA members
Sessions begin in September and continue all year.
Call Tia Amdurer at 303-394-9993 ext. 108 to register
Well-known Russian master painter and professor, Boris
Shoshensky, teaches a variety of concepts and techniques.
Beginning and experienced painters alike notice immediate
and continued improvement in their paintings. Join Boris’
group of devoted students – a supportive community of
passionate painters.
Contemplative Hatha Yoga with Lisa Eller Davis
Tuesdays, 5:15 pm - 6:45 pm
Cost : $15 drop-ins, or pre-pay $56 for 4 classes
Enjoy a gentle, strengthening yoga class. Whether you are
just starting out and are gingerly approaching exercise or
want to expand your yoga repertoire, “stretch out” in our
beautiful setting.
Jewish Meditation with Rabbi Stephen Booth-Nadav
Meet You at the Crossroads
Community Narratives Project Salon Nights
Thursdays, January 6, February 3, March 10, 2011 | 5:30- 7:30 pm
$12 for a single night, $25 for all three salon nights
A salon, popularized by the late, great
Gertrude Stein, is a gathering of people
under the roof of an inspiring host, held
partly to amuse one another and partly
to refine the taste and increase their
knowledge of the participants through
conversation.
Shake up your world-view in our Gertrude
Stein style salons— experience and
converse over the extraordinary digital stories of distinguished
community members, taste gastronomy of Jewish cultures
around the world, listen to diverse musical styles the Jewish
Diaspora, and ponder the chapters of your own life .
Featuring: Ed Stein, Bluma Palvanova, David Kazzaz, Rabbi
Sandy Cohen, donnie l. betts, David Shneer, Judy Blaine,
Beatriz Pestanza, Sheldon Steinhauser, Jeff Zhuk, Rabbi
Nadya Gross, Art from Ashes, Sari Horovitz, Joel Odonker,
Julie Geller, Carlos Zarur, Bruce Heitler, Sheldon Sands.
Taste of Limmud: Journeys of Discovery
December 12, 2010
Mizel Museum, 400 South Kearney Street
Limmud Colorado is part conference, part festival and all
worthwhile. In Hebrew, Limmud means “learning”—and that’s
what it’s about. It includes lectures, workshops, discussions,
performances and much more—all planned by a community
of volunteers. The Mizel Museum is thrilled to partner with
Limmud to offer an afternoon of Jewish discovery for all ages
and interests. Meet people who share your curiosity and
enthusiasm. Relax, reflect, and celebrate with your whole
family! Call Jan C. Nadav: 303-394-9993 ext. 103
Walking-Tour of Babi Yar Park: A Living Memorial to
the Victims of the Holocaust
Docent-led tours at this Denver City Park serve as a voice of
the past and the symbolic conscience for future generations,
providing lessons about genocide, history and human rights.
The Jewish Journey
4,000 Year Road Trip: Gathering Sparks Tour
Our interactive tour takes visitors of all ages and backgrounds
on an inquiry-based journey through the Museum’s new
permanent exhibition exploring the richness and diversity
of Jewish life, culture and history. Themes highlighted are:
stories of immigration, cultural identity and core values
of justice, respect and civic engagement. Each tour of the
museum can be tailored to the needs and interests of your
group with an array of companion programs such as:
• Hands-on Art Workshops
• Israeli Folk Dancing
• Synagogue Tour
• Jewish Pioneers of Colorado
• Light the Lights! Chanukah Celebration
Customized Tours and Programs
Looking for a dynamic program for your book club, civic
organization, study group, or social gathering? Contact us
for a personalized visit or interactive program to suit your
interests. Everyone, young and old, of all backgrounds and
religious faiths, will find something to delight them at the
Mizel Museum!
Topics can include:
Jewish Communities Around the World
Becoming American: Stories from the Immigrant Experience
History of Jewish Denver
Purim and Beyond: Masks of Many Cultures
The Circle of Life: Traditions and Rituals
Eyewitness to History: Encounters with Holocaust Survivors
…and more!
To create a unique program for your group,
Babi Yar Park, Denver: Architecture, Memory and
Commemoration Presentation
call Jan C. Nadav, 303-394-9993 ext. 103
The Mizel Museum Curator of Exhibits, Georgina Kolber,
discusses the work of Krystof Wodiczko and Julian Bonder, the
artist and architect team commissioned to create a memorial
at Babi Yar Park, Denver. Call 303-394-9993 ext. 103 to book
this program for your group.
Most 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month – ongoing, 4:30 - 6:00 pm
Judaism, and Jewish meditation, is the practice of making
ordinary moments sacred – or, to see the sacred in the
ordinary. Learn and practice the skills of Jewish mindfulness
meditation, including: meditation instruction, chanting,
walking meditation, Torah and text study. Drop-ins, all levels
and backgrounds are welcome. By donation. Check website
for details/changes.
4,000 Year Road Trip:
Gathering Sparks
4,000 Year Road Trip: Gathering Sparks
OPENING DAY FESTIVAL
Celebrate journeys at the
Mizel Museum
Travel through art installations, historical
artifacts, video and interactive media.
The exhibit features and explores local and
global Jewish cultural themes and values.
Opening November 2010
Late Fall, 2010
Mizel Museum
Look forward to joining us in celebrating the opening of our
new permanent exhibition, 4,000 Year Road Trip: Gathering
Sparks. Visit our website for opening day details.
400 South Kearney St. | Denver, CO 80224
303-394-9993
www.mizelmuseum.org
M I Z E L TOV: FA L L 2 0 1 0 W W W. M I Z E L M U S E U M .O R G 303.394.9993