Abi Polinsky
Abi Polinsky is a photographer and director based in New York City and Los Angeles.
Current Exhibition(s):
Collaboration with Andres Ciccone at Tuleste Factory (NYC)
Select Clients:
Tommy Hilfiger, Alexander Wang, Matte Projects, Saint Laurent, Scotch & Soda, NYFW, CFDA, Umbro, Bureau Betak, VFILES, VINCE, AirBnB, Grailed, Spotify, Kellogg’s, Equinox, Olivia Oblanc, Versace (set design)
Features:
Rolling Stone, Paper Magazine, Milk, Rekt Magazine, Forbes, Kaltblut Magazine, Vanity Teen Magazine, Pap Magazine, Fashion Grunge Magazine, Man of Metropolis Magazine, Hamptons Magazine, Men’s Health Magazine, Women’s Health Magazine
Guri Stark is an outstanding artist and musician in San Diego, CA, known for his vibrant watercolor paintings. He incorporated his engineering thinking to create unique artworks.
Born in 1953 in Israel, Guri Stark has always been drawn to art. “I guess if you are an artist, it is inside you. You do not think about it too much. You feel you need to express feelings with art. For me, it started at a very young age,” he reflects. Raised in a Jewish family of Holocaust survivors, Stark’s cultural heritage profoundly influences his work, with many of his pieces depicting Jewish traditions and stories. Some of his paintings depict Jewish traditions, culture, and religion. Some of his paintings hang in a Jewish Federation in San Diego.
However, his most intensive work is devoted to the extraordinary story of his parents and all the challenges they faced throughout their lives, which are his books. Stark’s recent book, “Third Wind and Three Oceans Away,” honors his parent’s survival story while portraying his love for the arts. “It is based on the stories that I heard from them. It has two novellas in it. They’re entirely fictional, but you will find me and my parents inside the story—not specific people, but pieces of them all over the text. Usually, in my stories, the main characters are artists or musicians. However, in this book, both of them are artists. The tree on the cover, which has roots, also looks like a tree representing the two Holocaust generations. My parents are the roots.”
Despite his passion for art, Stark pursued a degree in mechanical engineering and built a successful career in the high-tech industry. Over the past 40 years, he held executive positions, including CEO and General Manager, while continuing to create art. “My teacher once told me: ‘You must be an engineer. ‘” I asked how she knew that, and she answered: “You paint between the lines like you are an engineer,” he recalls. “You cannot take the engineer off me; I will not try to hide it anymore.” He is eager to help people understand that everyone can be an artist or be interested in art. Guri does art history lectures for all to attend to make art extensible for everyone.
Music plays a significant role in Stark’s creative process. A harmonica player for many years, he often intertwines music with his art. “My two passions are art and music. I combine them so that much of my art is about music,” he says.
Guri Stark believes that art always shows true feelings and emotions. You cannot lie about the painting. The main goal of his art is to share the moment he experienced sincerely and his feelings with others. “I try to capture moments. The best way to describe my art is moments and feelings. They are combined inside my paintings. I hope viewers can relate to the emotions that I am trying to convey. Usually, the people who buy my art love that specific moment that captures a particular emotion. The colors are important. I do have a specific set of colors that I use. But I do not think that is the way they buy the painting. They buy it because of the expression that I convey through that painting,” he reflects.
The discovery of his unique expressionistic style was the result of many years of artistic practice. His paintings are full of movement and color that captivate the viewer’s eyes. “Some artists got bored quickly with their style and moved on to another style. This is not the case with me. Although I have changed styles over the years, I have figured out the style I like best. I stayed with it for a long time.”, he highlights.
Stark’s artistic journey led him to develop a unique watercolor technique over 35 years. “Although people say watercolor is the most difficult because you cannot make mistakes, I fell in love with it and developed my technique. You will not think my art is watercolor because I paint many layers,” he explains. Recently, he has also begun exploring delicate pen drawings and mixed media.
Stark continues to evolve as an artist, planning to explore more mixed media in his future works. His paintings have been displayed in various exhibits across California, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. Follow Guri’s social media to stay
Website: https://www.guristark.com/
Twitter: https://x.com/GuriStark/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gstark2000/
Daria Maksymenko
Art Gallery Assistant
Deborah Maria Grynberg was born in Los Angeles on July 6, 1968. Since early childhood, she loved to draw and paint. The walls of her family’s rented apartment in New Carlton, Maryland., were all scribbled on from the floor up to where she could reach at the age of 3-5. Deborah’s talent for drawing and painting continued to blossom as she won numerous prizes throughout kindergarten and grade school. In high school, she also had an acting success in the role of Puck in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
After graduating from McLean High School in Virginia, Deborah pursued higher education at St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland. During her junior year, she wrote an essay titled “Accepting the Truth in One’s Own Life,” later translated into Polish and published in “Pamiętnik 4.” After unfinished studies in Annapolis, Deborah’s journey took her to New England, where she married Mark Borok./span>
Tragically, Deborah’s life was cut short when she succumbed to cancer on December 23, 2007, in Newton, Maryland. Her legacy lives on through her art, her writings, and the memories of those who knew and loved her.
Learn more about the artist
Ben-Zion Weinman, known simply as Ben-Zion, was a Ukrainian-American artist born on July 8, 1897, in Staryi Kostyantyniv, Ukraine. Initially aspiring to become a rabbi, Ben-Zion eventually shifted his focus to art, emigrating to the United States in 1920. He became deeply involved in the Hebrew and Yiddish literary communities in New York, teaching and writing poetry, dramas, and fairytales. His disillusionment with language due to its manipulation during World War II led him to express himself primarily through painting.
In the mid-1930s, Ben-Zion co-founded “The Ten,” a group of expressionist painters in New York City that included notable artists like Mark Rothko and Adolph Gottlieb. This group opposed the prevailing academic and conservative art styles of the time. Ben-Zion’s work often drew on biblical themes, infused with his personal interpretive style, which brought a spiritual dimension to his art .
Throughout his career, Ben-Zion’s art was showcased in major galleries and museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Jewish Museum in New York, where he had a significant retrospective in 1959. He also worked with welded iron sculptures starting in the 1950s and taught at institutions such as Cooper Union and Ball State University.
Ben-Zion’s legacy includes a prolific body of work that continues to be celebrated and exhibited posthumously. He passed away on January 23, 1987, in New York City.
Website: https://www.benzionfinearts.com/
Maura Berman is a contemporary American artist based in San Francisco. She is known for her thought-provoking paintings and collages.
Maura Berman developed her passion for art from an early age. Her mother was an artist, so she grew up surrounded by an artsy atmosphere of painting and drawing. “Growing up in New York City, my mother always took me to all the great museums in New York. Of course, you go into museums and see Picasso at the Modern and go just like, “Wow!”. I was constantly being visually stimulated by all art and objects every day, even now,” she recalls.
While art was a significant part of her upbringing, Maura’s primary passion was piano. At Oberlin College, she pursued a major in piano performance alongside art and art history. This dual focus on music and visual arts is a recurring theme in her work, where the movement and rhythm of music often influence her paintings.
Maura Berman does her outstanding drawings and abstract mixed media painting in watercolor, acrylic, and collages. “Because I did not have a studio, a pencil and a pan were always around. I loved drawing. That was my first love, and I still love drawing. My drawings are very detailed. Since the pandemic, I have been focusing on portraits of my children. I have been commissioned to do dog portraits. It is done on paper but is very detailed, and I feel like I know the person or the animal.” At the same time, her paintings are never still. They are chaotic and abstract. They are full of energy that viewers can feel through the canvas. “My paintings are not still. There is movement all around it. There is always music in my head. I wake up in the morning with music in my head because I love music. So, the movement in my paintings is the music in my head coming through to the canvas,” Maura describes.
Maura has spent much of her life in San Diego, connecting significantly with local artists and actively developing her career. “Before moving to San Diego, I had never had an Art Studio. I started hanging out with artist friends. I looked at their art and appreciated it, but I thought I could do art as well. I could do just as well, maybe better. So I thought, ‘OK, I am going to start.’ I had a garage in my house and converted it into an art studio. I started showing my art in San Diego,” she says. Her first exhibition at the San Diego Art Institute was a success, leading to opportunities in Los Angeles. The gallery owner was stunned by her paintings, which guaranteed multiple exhibitions in LA. Despite that, Maura continued here, making exhibits in San Diego, too. With a recommendation from a gallery owner, she applied to the New American Paintings, an exhibition in print. As a result, Maura printed several pages of her artwork. This opportunity allowed her to exhibit her works all over the US.
One of Maura’s notable works, “The Cups of Turin” (watercolor on canvas), was part of the “Cup Camp” exhibition at Debra Owen Gallery in 1999, her first solo show. “Cup that is a universal. Everyone is familiar with a cup. We put coffee or any other liquid in it. I think cups would be around forever,” she reflects. Her subsequent exhibition at the gallery featured cups with rebuses, later displayed at the Ocean Side Museum of Art. “I was observing how people were looking at paintings. Some of them just looked and walked everywhere, so I want them to figure out something, so I did the rebus,” she explains. Maura also enjoyed a collaborative painting experience with another San Diego artist. They call their duet COMA.
Currently based in San Francisco, Maura is working on a new series of mixed-media paintings. “They are not simple because they are mixed media. I use acrylic and collage in them. I like collages in paintings because sometimes I hide the collage, and you can’t tell where the collage ends and the painting starts,” she says, continuing to innovate and explore new artistic frontiers.
Daria Maksymenko
Art Gallery Assistant
Salvador Dalí was a renowned Spanish surrealist artist known for his technical skill, precise draftsmanship, and the striking and bizarre images in his work. Born in 1904 in Figueres, Catalonia, Dalí was influenced by Impressionism and Renaissance masters early on before gravitating towards Cubism and Surrealism. His best-known work, ‘The Persistence of Memory,’ was completed in 1931. Dalí’s diverse artistic repertoire included painting, sculpture, film, and writing. Despite his eccentric public persona, his contributions significantly impacted modern art.
Dalí’s early life in Catalonia deeply influenced his artistic journey. He attended the San Fernando School of Fine Arts in Madrid, where he explored avant-garde movements. In 1929, he joined the Surrealist group and soon became a leading figure. Dalí’s work often incorporated themes of dreams, the subconscious, and religion, and he collaborated with various artists across different media. His life and work were controversial due to his eccentric behavior and political views, yet his legacy endures through his significant impact on Surrealism and contemporary art.
Dalí’s artistry extended beyond painting to include sculpture, theater, film, fashion, and photography. His notable works span multiple decades and reflect his evolving interests, from the surreal and fantastical to the scientific and mystical. Dalí’s contributions to art were recognized globally, with major museums dedicated to his work in Figueres, Spain, and St. Petersburg, Florida. His innovative and imaginative approach continues to inspire artists and captivate audiences worldwide.
Pomm Hepner’s artistic style is a mesmerizing blend of tradition and innovation. Her watercolors are characterized by a meticulous layering technique that creates a sense of depth and luminosity. This method allows her to craft vibrant hues and dynamic light effects, capturing the essence of her subjects with remarkable clarity and emotion. Each piece she creates is a vivid homage to the architecture and landscapes of Europe, infused with a nostalgic yet timeless quality.
In her transition to oil painting, Pomm draws on her deep appreciation for impressionist masters, Monet and Renoir. Her oil paintings are rich in texture and emotion, showcasing her ability to convey mood and atmosphere. She uses bold, expressive brushstrokes to create movement and energy, while her keen eye for detail ensures that every element, from light to shadow, contributes to the overall impact of the piece.
Pomm’s work often features hidden elements, like the “hidden apple,” which add layers of meaning and invite viewers to engage more deeply with her art. Her ability to seamlessly blend the old with the new, the detailed with the abstract, creates a unique visual language that speaks to the viewer’s senses and emotions.
Born: Israel,
Atara Baker, originally from Israel, studied with the renowned artist Bill Ainslie in South Africa. She moved to San Diego in 1979, and her artwork is featured in numerous private collections. Baker was a member of the San Diego Artists Guild. Drawing inspiration from African folk art, she creates captivating “masks” using materials like wood, twine, and other natural elements. Her textured, tactile works invite sensory engagement and often incorporate vibrant colors and intricate patterns.
Baker’s art delves into “tribal memory,” evoking a primeval, sometimes considered “primitive,” mindset. She brings ancient perspectives into the contemporary world, using modern techniques to explore traditional themes. Her works often depict mythical figures, ancestral spirits, and cultural rituals, offering a visual narrative that connects the past with the present. She also incorporates modern Hebrew as a textual element of her work, creating intriguing texture and mystery.
Influenced by her experiences in Israel and South Africa, Baker’s work bridges cultural gaps while remaining true to her heritage. She explores themes of identity, migration, and cultural fusion, aiming to create a dialogue between different traditions and contemporary life. Her pieces are celebrated for their emotional depth, historical richness, and their ability to engage viewers in a multi-sensory experience.
Born: Israel,
Atara Baker, originally from Israel, studied with the renowned artist Bill Ainslie in South Africa. She moved to San Diego in 1979, and her artwork is featured in numerous private collections. Baker was a member of the San Diego Artists Guild. Drawing inspiration from African folk art, she creates captivating “masks” using materials like wood, twine, and other natural elements. Her textured, tactile works invite sensory engagement and often incorporate vibrant colors and intricate patterns.
Baker’s art delves into “tribal memory,” evoking a primeval, sometimes considered “primitive,” mindset. She brings ancient perspectives into the contemporary world, using modern techniques to explore traditional themes. Her works often depict mythical figures, ancestral spirits, and cultural rituals, offering a visual narrative that connects the past with the present. She also incorporates modern Hebrew as a textual element of her work, creating intriguing texture and mystery.
Influenced by her experiences in Israel and South Africa, Baker’s work bridges cultural gaps while remaining true to her heritage. She explores themes of identity, migration, and cultural fusion, aiming to create a dialogue between different traditions and contemporary life. Her pieces are celebrated for their emotional depth, historical richness, and their ability to engage viewers in a multi-sensory experience.
Bruno Schulz, a Polish writer, fine artist, literary critic, and art teacher. He is best known for his two collections of short stories, “The Street of Crocodiles” and “Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass,” which have gained international acclaim for their vivid and surreal style.
Bruno Schulz was born into a Jewish family in Drohobych. He studied architecture briefly at the Lwów Polytechnic and later attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. However, due to poor health and the outbreak of World War I, his formal education was interrupted. Schulz spent most of his life in his hometown of Drohobych, where he worked as an art teacher at a local high school. Despite his provincial life, Schulz was deeply engaged in the cultural and intellectual currents of his time, corresponding with prominent literary figures.
Schulz’s literary work is characterized by its dreamlike, fantastical quality and richly poetic language. His two major works are “The Street of Crocodiles” (1934) – A collection of interconnected short stories that explore the inner lives of the residents of a fictional town based on Drohobych; “Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass” (1937) – Another collection of stories that delve into themes of time, memory, and transformation.
In addition to his writing, Schulz was also a talented artist. His drawings and engravings, often illustrating scenes from his stories, display a similar surreal and fantastical quality. His visual art, like his literary work, is marked by a deeply personal and idiosyncratic style.
Despite his short life and limited output, Bruno Schulz’s work has had a lasting impact on literature and art. His stories have been translated into many languages and continue to be celebrated for their originality and depth. Schulz is regarded as one of the most important Polish writers of the 20th century, and his work remains a subject of extensive study and admiration. Bruno Schulz’s legacy lives on through his influential and hauntingly beautiful stories and artwork, which continue to inspire and captivate readers and artists around the world.
Adam Bujak, a renowned Polish photographer whose work has significantly contributed to the documentation and preservation of Polish culture, history, and religious life. Bujak’s photography is celebrated for its ability to capture the essence of Poland’s rich heritage, focusing on themes such as architecture, religious ceremonies, and landscapes.
Adam Bujak developed an interest in photography at a young age. He pursued formal education in the field, honing his skills and deepening his understanding of the art. His early work was influenced by the dynamic cultural and historical backdrop of Kraków, a city known for its architectural marvels and historical significance.
Bujak’s career took off in the 1960s when he began working on projects that documented Poland’s religious and cultural traditions. His work gained widespread recognition for its meticulous attention to detail and evocative portrayal of subjects. One of the hallmarks of Bujak’s photography is his documentation of religious life in Poland. He has captured a wide range of religious ceremonies, from intimate parish events to grand national celebrations. His photographs of Pope John Paul II, a fellow Pole, are particularly notable. Bujak had the privilege of documenting many of the Pope’s visits to Poland, capturing moments that hold significant historical and spiritual importance.
Bujak’s architectural photography is another significant aspect of his portfolio. He has published numerous photo albums showcasing the beauty of Poland’s architectural heritage, including Gothic cathedrals, Baroque churches, and medieval castles. His work often highlights the intricate details and grandeur of these structures, preserving their legacy for future generations. Adam Bujak has published over 140 photo albums and books, many of which have become essential references for understanding Polish culture and history.
Ilan Hasson, born in 1958 on a Moshav in central Israel, is a renowned artist whose work has been celebrated for its vibrant depiction of Mediterranean life and Jewish themes. His early life in the Moshav, a type of cooperative agricultural community, undoubtedly influenced his connection to the land and its stories.
Hasson’s interest in art was sparked at a young age, and by sixteen, he began his formal artistic education at the Avni Art School in Tel Aviv. His talent was evident early on, earning him honors upon graduation. He furthered his studies at the Tel-Chai School of Art in the Galilee, where he continued to develop his unique style and technique.
In 1986, Hasson began to cultivate a distinctive artistic style that emphasizes the ambient nature and characteristics of the Mediterranean. His works often feature layers and depth, creating a narrative that invites viewers to explore his creations more intimately. The Mediterranean’s bright light and vibrant colors are a hallmark of his work, infusing his pieces with a sense of optimism and happiness.
Hasson employs a variety of techniques in his art, including watercolors, gouache, acrylics, Japanese ink, and enamel colors. He is particularly noted for his innovative use of handmade paper, which becomes an integral part of his paintings. This unique approach adds texture and dimension to his work, making each piece a tactile experience as well as a visual one.
Hasson’s artistic themes are deeply rooted in Jewish culture and spirituality. His works draw inspiration from a wide array of Jewish sources, including the Bible, the Talmud, the Passover Haggadah, and the Kabbalah. His paintings bring these ancient texts and traditions to life in a fantastical and colorful manner, depicting scenes such as the Garden of Eden, the Creation, the Tree of Life, Jerusalem as the City of Peace, and the Tower of Babel.
In recent years, the Mediterranean atmosphere has become increasingly prominent in Hasson’s work. His paintings capture the essence of the region’s light and colors, often resembling Mexican and Naïve art in their simplicity of shapes and vibrancy. His use of gold and silver inscriptions adds a decorative flourish, creating a feast of rounded forms that enhance the storytelling aspect of his art.
Hasson’s dedication to his craft and his ability to blend traditional Jewish themes with the vivid ambiance of the Mediterranean have made him a unique and respected figure in the art world. His work continues to inspire and delight audiences, offering a window into both the cultural heritage of Israel and the timeless beauty of the Mediterranean.
Hilary Krzysztofiak was born on October 28, 1926, in Szopienice, Poland. Showing an early aptitude for art, he pursued formal education in the field and enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków. Here, he studied under the tutelage of some of Poland’s most renowned artists, which significantly influenced his development as an artist.
Krzysztofiak’s work is often associated with the post-war avant-garde movement in Poland. His style evolved to embrace abstract expressionism, characterized by bold, dynamic compositions and a keen exploration of form and color. He utilized various media, including painting, drawing, and graphic arts, to express his unique vision. In the 1950s and 1960s, Krzysztofiak became an active participant in the Polish art scene, exhibiting his works in numerous solo and group exhibitions. His contributions to Polish art were recognized with several awards, and he became a prominent figure in the country’s cultural landscape.
Krzysztofiak’s work often delved into themes of human existence, identity, and the complex interplay between reality and abstraction. His art was marked by an intense emotional depth, reflecting the tumultuous times in which he lived. The socio-political climate of post-war Poland and his personal experiences significantly influenced his artistic output.
In the later years of his career, Krzysztofiak’s work gained international recognition, with exhibitions in various countries. His legacy is preserved in numerous public and private collections, and his influence continues to be felt in contemporary Polish art. Hilary Krzysztofiak passed away on September 30, 1979, leaving behind a rich body of work that continues to inspire and challenge viewers. His contributions to the world of art remain celebrated, and his unique vision and artistic achievements are remembered as integral to the narrative of 20th-century Polish art.
Mordecai Ardon was born on July 13, 1896, in Tuchów, Poland, which was then part of Austria-Hungary. Ardon’s early interest in art led him to pursue formal studies at the Kunstakademie in Vienna from 1919 to 1924. He continued his education at the Bauhaus in Weimar, where he studied under influential figures such as Johannes Itten, Wassily Kandinsky, and Paul Klee. His quest for artistic growth took him to the Academy of Decorative Arts in Munich, where he worked with Max Doerner. These experiences profoundly shaped his artistic vision and style.
In 1933, as the political climate in Europe grew increasingly hostile due to the rise of the Nazis, Ardon fled Germany and emigrated to Palestine. Settling in Jerusalem, he began teaching at the Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts in 1935 and later became its director from 1940 to 1952. During his tenure, he modernized the institution, aligning it with contemporary art movements and nurturing a new generation of Israeli artists. Ardon also served as an artistic advisor for the Ministry of Education and Culture for eleven years.
An immigrant from Poland and a student at the Weimar Bauhaus, Mordecai Ardon utilized forms through color and planned brushstrokes to create semi-abstract paintings on themes of war, the Holocaust, and Jerusalem from a spiritual and divine viewpoint. His work is characterized by a unique fusion of Jewish mysticism, Biblical themes, and abstract modernism. His use of rich, vibrant colors and complex, symbolic imagery earned him acclaim. Notable works include “The Gates of Jerusalem,” a series of stained glass windows created for the Jewish National and University Library, which reflect his deep connection to Jewish heritage and the city of Jerusalem.
Ardon’s reputation extended far beyond Israel. He participated in numerous international exhibitions and received several prestigious awards, including the Israel Prize in 1963. His works are part of collections in major museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Tate Gallery in London.
In his later years, Ardon continued to create and exhibit his work, maintaining a prolific output until his death. Mordecai Ardon passed away on June 18, 1992, in Jerusalem, leaving behind a legacy as one of Israel’s most important and influential artists. His contributions to the art world remain celebrated, and his works continue to inspire and captivate audiences around the globe.
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Marc Chagall, originally named Moishe Shagal, was born into a Jewish family near Vitebsk, in the Russian Empire. Growing up in a vibrant Jewish community, Chagall’s early life was deeply influenced by his cultural and religious background, which later profoundly impacted his artistic vision. His journey as an artist began in Vitebsk, where he studied under local artist Yehuda Pen. Despite the socio-political challenges and restrictions faced by Jews, Chagall pursued his passion, eventually moving between Saint Petersburg, Paris, and Berlin before World War I. These travels allowed him to blend Eastern European and Jewish folklore with the modernist movements he encountered, forming a unique style that resonated with the avant-garde circles of his time.
Chagall’s career spanned numerous countries and decades, reflecting the tumultuous events of the 20th century. After establishing himself in the Russian avant-garde, he moved to Paris, where he experienced the golden age of modernism, synthesizing elements of Cubism, Symbolism, and Fauvism into his work. The outbreak of World War II forced him to flee Nazi-occupied France, finding refuge in the United States before returning to France in 1948. Chagall’s later years were marked by significant achievements in stained glass, with commissions for prestigious institutions such as the cathedrals of Reims and Metz, the United Nations, and the Jerusalem Windows in Israel. Throughout his diverse and prolific career, Chagall remained steadfast in his identity, creating works that celebrated his Jewish heritage and the dreamlike memories of his childhood in Vitebsk.
website : https://www.marcchagall.net/
Reuven Rubin, a prominent Israeli painter known for his contributions to the modern art scene in Israel. Born on November 13, 1893, in Galați, Romania, as Rubin Zelicovici, he was the eighth of thirteen children in a poor Jewish Hasidic family. In 1912, he moved to Ottoman-ruled Palestine to study at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem. However, he found himself at odds with the academy’s teachers and left a year later to continue his studies in Paris at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts.
During World War I, Rubin returned to Romania, where he spent the war years in Fălticeni. In 1921, he traveled to the United States with fellow artist Arthur Kolnik and organized a show at the Anderson Gallery in New York City with the help of artist Alfred Stieglitz. After the exhibition, Rubin returned to Europe in 1922 and emigrated to Mandate Palestine in 1923.
Rubin’s art is characterized by vibrant colors and depictions of the landscapes and people of Israel. He often portrayed pioneers of the early Zionist movement, rural scenes, and the cultural diversity of the land. Using earthy tones and simple brushstroke techniques, Rubin created a biblical vision of Israel’s landscape and its people in a dreamlike style.
In 1928, Rubin met his wife, Esther, on a passenger ship to Palestine after a show in New York City. Esther was a Bronx girl who had won a trip to Palestine in a Young Judea competition. Rubin became internationally recognized for his work and was elected chairman of the Association of Painters and Sculptors of Palestine. He was also the founder of the new Eretz-Yisrael style.
From the 1930s onwards, Rubin created backdrops for many theaters and held several art shows, including one in 1932 at the Tel Aviv Art Museum. He served as Israel’s first ambassador to Romania from 1948 to 1950. Rubin passed away on October 13, 1974, in Tel Aviv, Israel. His house was converted into the “Rubin House” Museum, where all his works are displayed today.
Nahum Gutman, an Israeli painter, sculptor, illustrator, and author, is renowned for his vibrant and dynamic works that capture the essence of early 20th-century Tel Aviv and the Israeli landscape. His artistic style is characterized by bold colors, a keen sense of composition, and a unique ability to blend reality with fantasy. Gutman’s work often reflects his deep connection to the land of Israel and its people, playing a significant role in shaping the visual and cultural identity of the young nation.
Born in the Bessarabian town of Telenești (now in Moldova), Gutman immigrated with his family to Ottoman Palestine in 1905. He studied at the Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts in Jerusalem and later continued his studies in Vienna, Berlin, and Paris. While in Berlin and Paris, he participated in exhibitions with notable artists such as Chagall, Modigliani, and Soutine.
Upon returning to Tel Aviv, Gutman became one of the city’s most prominent artists and was instrumental in the establishment of the Israeli art scene. His work has been exhibited in New York, Boston, South Africa, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem, and featured in public places across Tel Aviv, including the History of Jaffa and Tel Aviv mosaic-decorated fountain.
Gutman’s art was heavily inspired by the sea, as he viewed the world through that lens. This inspiration led him to create pieces using flat-colored fields placed on top of one another to form distinct color combinations. In addition to his paintings, Gutman is well known for his illustrations and children’s books, which have become classics in Israeli literature. His work is celebrated for its narrative quality, whimsical characters, and vivid portrayal of everyday life in Israel.
Gutman’s legacy is preserved in the Nahum Gutman Museum of Art in Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv, which houses a comprehensive collection of his works and continues to inspire new generations of artists and art lovers.
German Alonso is a general physician (UNAM, Mexico), and holds a Master in Biochemical Sciences (MD), he studies the physiology and functional maturation of pancreatic beta cells, as well as the pervasive effects of metabolic syndrome and diabetes on beta cells and insulin target tissues. He is a Yiddish and languages enthusiast, volunteering for different Yiddish organizations, including YAAANA, Yiddish House London and Yiddishland California as web manager and designer. He is interested about the relationship between language, culture and science.
He is responsible for managing the financial actions of YAAANA. He has been with YAAANA from conception to inception, from photo-taking to food-making, from editing to formatting, and from schlepping to kvetching.
She has worked in areas of professional services marketing, corporate communications, and executive search and has served on the boards of a number of Jewish and other community organizations. Her background also includes having worked on more than 70 productions as a member of the creative team for a leading youth theatre—a perfect match for YAAANA’s theatrical endeavors. She grew up with Yiddish-speaking grandparents and is proud to be a part of preserving the language and bringing it to future generations.
She is a scholar of Russian, Ukrainian, and Yiddish literature and an Associate Professor of Literature at the University of California – San Diego (UCSD). She also directs UCSD’s Jewish Studies program and Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies program. She enjoys learning new Yiddish poems and songs and sharing them with her 2- and 4-year-old kinderlekh. She is currently writing a book about Yiddish poetry and internationalism in the 1930s.
He has been an activist in the Yiddish world since the 1990s, when he began studying Yiddish in grad school and working with organizations such as Yugntruf, the Kultur-Kongres, and Arbeter Ring in New York City. Since receiving his PhD from New York University he has held teaching and research positions at Indiana University, the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, the Center for Jewish History (New York), the University of Michigan, Yale University, the University of Wroclaw (Poland), and Dartmouth College, where he is currently a visiting professor in Jewish Studies. He has also taught Yiddish at summer programs organized by Tel Aviv University and the YIVO Institute.
She is a renowned klezmer vocalist, specializing in the Romanian tradition. She is also an award-winning filmmaker and author. From her many appearances with Yale Strom & Hot Pstromi and as a solo artist, Elizabeth Schwartz (vocals) has built a loyal following among fans, critics and collaborators. Her first recording of Yiddish, Hebrew and Ladino vocals for the Naxos World label, “Garden of Yidn”(1998), debuted on Canada’s Mundial Top World Music poll. It was hailed as “a landmark in modern Yiddish song” (Sing Out! Magazine).
He has served as senior rabbi at Congregation Beth El in La Jolla for fifteen years. He’s also served in leadership positions at the Shalom Hartman Institute, The National Yiddish Book Center, and the San Diego Jewish Academy. He’s published six books. His latest novel Women and God will be published early next year.
He is also one of the world’s leading ethnographer-artists of klezmer and Roma music and history. He has conducted extensive ethnographic research throughout Eastern Europe since 1981, made nine documentary films, written twelve books, and has had numerous photo exhibitions throughout the world. He has also composed for theatre, film, radio, television and symphony orchestras. His band, Yale Strom & Hot Pstromi, has made fifteen recordings ranging from traditional klezmer to “new” Jewish jazz. He is currently artist-in-residence/professor in the Jewish Studies Program at San Diego State University.
She studied Comparative Literature, Classical, Slavic, Jewish, and Media Studies at the universities of Kharkiv, Regensburg, Bari, and San Diego. She received her PhD in Slavic-Jewish Studies from the University of Regensburg in 2019 and since then she has been teaching for YAAANA. Tanya lives in San Diego where she obtained a yoga teacher certification. She sees her mission in bringing joy and equilibrium to people through yoga and Yiddish. Tanya is currently writing a book about Odessa 1905 in Russian Jewish Literature.
Feel free to contact her at: tanya@yiddishland.ca
He is a San Diego-based technology developer and business owner. He grew up hearing bits of Yiddish, but never really learned much. Interested in and proud of his heritage, he believes it is important to stay connected to Yiddish, the language of his family. Josh is involved in several San Diego-based religious, philanthropic, and cultural organizations.
Jana Mazurkiewicz Meisarosh is a PhD candidate in the Slavic Department at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She is working on her dissertation on Yiddish Theater in Communist Warsaw. Originally from Poland, Jana holds a Master of Arts degree in Polish Philology and Jewish Studies from the University of Wrocław. Jana is not only a practicing academic but also an active theater artist and critic. She is an actor, director, playwright, and producer of Yiddish theater. In October 2017, she moved to San Diego and launched the Yiddish Arts and Academics Association of North America (YAAANA). Feel free to contact her at: jana@yiddishland.ca
Yale Strom, a multi-talented American artist and musician, stands out as a klezmer revivalist. His pioneering work includes extensive field research in Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans, focusing on the Jewish and Romani communities. Strom’s career as an ethnographer-artist is marked by his documentation of this research through nine documentary films, twelve books, and numerous global photo exhibitions.
Yale Strom’s photos are known worldwide. He discovered his photography talent during his ethnographic trip to Eastern Europe to study Jewish culture. “I initially started because I went to Eastern Europe and was interested in Jewish folk music, specifically Klezmer. When I was meeting people who kept telling me stories, singing me a song, or playing music or instruments, I took pictures of them. But then, as time went on, I realized not just the stories about the music but their life. If they were Jewish, they had survived the holocaust, or they were children of survivors. Why did they come back to Poland? Why did they come back to the Soviet Union or Romania, etc? What was life like? I decided I wanted to record not only their voices but also the pictures of their life, their faces, the building where they bought food, the street, Jewish buildings, not Jewish buildings, and the countryside.”
Yale Strom is eager to capture the everyday life of Jewish people. He takes photos of special moments from everyday life that we often overlook. “There are several pictures that are meaningful to me. I was in the city in Romania. We were told that there was going to be a Jewish wedding. Unbelievable! We have been seeing only many funerals. We got invited, and we got there very early in the morning. It was in the wintertime. It was very cold. We went to the synagogue. We went to the top, where the women’s wing was. I looked down and saw the bride in her dress, and she was surrounded by people, little kids. They were not yet married. She was slowly getting prepared. Also, the musicians, the Romans, played Jewish music. She looked at me and gave me a little smile, and I took a photo. It just captured something that could have been a hundred years ago. It was a very meaningful photo in my head.”
Yale Strom draws his main inspiration from Jewish culture. He is deeply moved by its resilience and unwavering commitment to preserving its heritage, and he aims to reflect this in his art. “My photos give people a window to peek at what life was like for that generation of survivors, their children, and grandchildren and to see the world’s resilience and strengths.”, he explains. Jewish religion, culture, and traditions have not only influenced but also formed the foundation of the creative practices of many renowned artists worldwide. “Jewish people, we are the people of the book. The book means the Torah, The Holy Book. So we have words. These words create stories. The stories create images in your mind. When you listen to the story, you create the movie in your head, and then you want to express yourself, so you take a piece of paper and pencil and draw a picture of Samson, Moses, Isaac, or other people from the stories. Maybe you paint them, write a song for them, or write a small concerto expressing your feelings. For many thousands of years, we have had the Torah, which is very expressive. Jews were dispersed all over the world, and now we have the rabbi. Interestingly, we do not have a Pope, which is good in a sense because different rabbis can have different interpretations. It means that we can be creative and see many sides of the same coin. We welcome different points of view, ideas, and opinions, which means we welcome imagination.”
Yale Strom uses a film camera for his photos and plans to stay true to that. “The thing about digital is that it is cheap in a way. You can shoot 500 pictures and hope some are really good. But there is something about film; give yourself a moment to focus. You have to wait for the moment and grab it; I usually use natural light. Because I was doing more photojournalism, it has to be what it is. If it is a dark room, I will open the lenses as wide as it can go and be steady, hoping I get something of it.”
Looking ahead, Strom plans to continue his ethnographic and artistic practice. “I received a call from the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews and hope to exhibit my work there. I aim to conduct more research in Romania, the Carpathian Ukraine, and Slovakia, visiting towns with few remaining Jews and meeting the Roma people who play music with them. I also want to exhibit previously unseen work and conduct further photo research.”
Daria Maksymenko
Art Gallery Assistant Intern
Miriam Libhaber, born Miriam Tabachnik Edelsztejn in 1951 in Mexico City, is a distinguished Mexican artist and architect known for her vibrant cityscapes and abstract paintings. Growing up in a Yiddish-speaking family of Polish Holocaust survivors, Miriam’s artistic journey is deeply intertwined with her heritage and personal history.
Miriam was the first generation of her family born in Mexico City. Her parents, Jose Tabachnik and Sara Edelsztejn, were Polish Holocaust survivors who instilled in her a strong sense of cultural identity. From a young age, Miriam had a passion for painting, but she initially pursued architecture, earning her degree from UNAM/Mexico. After eight years as an architect, her desire for creative expression led her to focus entirely on painting.
Miriam’s transition from architecture to art marked the beginning of a prolific career. She has held over 30 individual exhibitions and participated in 200 collective shows worldwide. Her works are part of prestigious collections, including the Buenos Aires Engraving National Museum, the Southern Nevada Museum of Fine Arts, and various cultural institutions in Mexico. In 2012, she published her book “Reference Points,” featuring over 70 images of her monoprints depicting emblematic buildings of Mexico City.
Miriam’s paintings are known for their bold colors and distinctive style. Initially working with oil paints, she eventually embraced monotype for its quick and spontaneous results. “Monotype is such a fast way of doing what you want. Whatever result came out from the press is your painting. You cannot change anything,” she explains. Recently, she has incorporated techniques like acrylic painting and pouring, continuously evolving her artistic practice.
Miriam’s Jewish heritage profoundly influences her work. Her collection “Traditions” blends elements of Yiddishkeit with Mexican culture, reflecting her unique cultural background. Despite her shift from architecture, the discipline continues to inspire her art, particularly her cityscape series, where she uses color to evoke the essence of Mexico City.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Miriam relocated to San Diego to be with her family, which inspired new artistic themes. She created collections featuring boats and bridges, symbolizing her journey and adaptation to a new place. Her latest works, using the pouring technique, are inspired by contemporary events, including the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Miriam Libhaber’s art continues to captivate audiences worldwide, combining her deep appreciation for architecture, vibrant color palettes, and cultural heritage. “I am grateful for life. Art gives a life,” she reflects, as she continues to explore new ways to depict her ideas and engage with viewers through her dynamic and thought-provoking work.
Miriam Libhaber, a Mexican architect and artist with a BA in Fine Arts from UNAM/Mexico, is known for her unique style blending architecture, Mexican culture, and Yiddishkeit. Born to Polish Holocaust survivors, she grew up in a Yiddish-speaking household in Mexico City. She has showcased her work in 30 individual and 200 collective exhibitions, including winning a painting Biennale in Caracas, Venezuela. In 2022, she relocated to San Diego, where her art is displayed at the Yiddishland art gallery.
Daria Maksymenko
Art Gallery Assistant Intern
Emil Für is a dreamer, and his dreams are vibrant, dynamic, and multilingual—much like him. Emil, a Hungarian Jew from Budapest, is a true citizen of the world. He has lived in Israel and England, making him home wherever he works.
Emil’s commitment to his craft is evident in his educational journey. He graduated from the Teacher Training College in Budapest in 1990, majoring in drawing. Five years later, in 1995, he graduated from the Károly Eszterházy Teacher Training College in Eger, also majoring in drawing. Between 1996 and 1998, he studied art history at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Emil’s artwork is deeply influenced by his childhood memories, and toy figures frequently appear in his paintings. His graphics often depict everyday life, featuring bourgeois characters from the 1920s and 30s and contemporary Israeli Hasidim. His early works were characterized by dark tones, which brightened significantly after his time in Israel. Emil often incorporates souvenirs into his pieces, and installation art has become an essential element of his exhibitions.
“In Emil’s pictures, angels dressed in red with black hair and black wings or wearing a hat and Hasidic garb; grim and nasty-looking hares; devils with enormous twisted horns – or adorned with peacock feathers. He represents the elements of reality, especially paradox situations, mixed with mythical and surreal creatures, embedded in a unique symbolism. (Winged Chasidim with Mothers and Babies”(Victoria Rosenstein))
“The paintings are inspired, among others, by well-known literary works, stories, legends, and often famous film stars, celebrities, or mythical figures. For example, you also have the anthropomorphic Mr. Rabbit from Lewis Carroll’s Alice story. The surreal underworld of the stories created by Lewis Carroll, the bizarre and grotesque adventures and characters, and the mystery and hidden meaning typical of his fiction appear in every detail of the paintings.”(Victoria Rosenstein) (Men meeting on the Street)
“Emil expresses human characteristics, attitudes, and moods through irony and grotesque humor. Hidden behind the bright colors and the gaiety of the clearly arranged compositions lies a profound message and thought-provoking content.” (Victoria Rosenstein) (Magician and crowd of people)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilFuerArt/
Daria Maksymenko
Art Gallery Assistant Intern
Polish Artist, Jan Lebenstein found inspiration in both world and personal culture to create pieces with a lasting impression. Lebenstein was born in Brest Litovsk in 1930. He studied painting at Warsaw’s Academy of Fine Arts (1948-54).
In his early work, Lebenstein depicts his interactions with everyday reality in Warsaw through a series of nostalgic landscapes. Later, his work reflects themes of human nature and anti-Fascist political dissent. A motif in his work – the monster – echos feelings of despair, loneliness, and hopeless brought by the Holocaust. He paints both naturalistic and stylized subjects in a dramatic convention of dark and rich colors. Lebenstein’s main artistic mediums include gouache, tempera, and oil painting.
Additionally, Lebenstein contributed illustrations to many literary works – to George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” (1974), the “Book of Job” (1979), the “Apocalypse” (1983), and the “Book of Genesis” (1995). Posthumous, his work has found global appreciation and is currently presented in the Modern Museum of Modern Art.
Oleg Tsank is a contemporary artist currently based in San Diego, CA. He is known for his vibrant paintings that hover between the literal and nonrepresentational. His paintings are in private collections both domestically and internationally.
Born in 1983 in the small city of Kamianske on the Dnipro River in Ukraine, Oleg, and his family, left for the US when he was twelve. His memories of Ukraine, though fragmented, are deeply ingrained in his art. “I remember bits and pieces because I left when I was young. The scenery was stunning – it stands out in my memory, especially the picturesque Dnipro river banks and the bright colors of forests and city trees in the fall. It influenced my art, even if subconsciously”, Oleg reminiscents.
Oleg Tsank’s heritage is not just a part of his artistic journey, it’s a unique blend of influences that makes his work stand out. From early childhood, he immersed himself in literature and was introduced to the art of classical artists in middle school. He deeply admired many Jewish artists, like Marc Chagall and Chaim Soutine. “20th-century Jewish artists pretty much influence me. They may not have been dedicated strictly to painting Jewish motives, but they left their mark on the modern art world. In those days, many famous artists were Jewish refugees. I admire many artists, but these are the artists I feel I am close to mostly because my background is somewhat similar. After all, geographically, we have come from neighboring countries.”, Oleg explains.
Oleg Tsank created his unique style inspired by Expressionists. His paintings are full of colors and emphasize the energy and emotions that arise from contemplating the world around us. Oleg’s style is a balance between the literal and nonrepresentational, characterized by [specific characteristics of his style]. He works with various media to convey this reality, including oils, acrylics, pen and ink, oil pastels, graphite, and charcoal. “It takes years of experimentation to find the right balance. I prefer not to follow the traditional realistic school of painting because I thought that the impressionist movement would better suit the times that we live in. There is an idea of capturing some buzz in the world because everything is fast, changing, disappearing, and people are changing. Places you used to know also disappear; even if my art is not photographic, I want to create a space that captures the idea of permanency” (Oleg Tsank).
Oleg finds inspiration in color. “The interplay of colors is fascinating because each color looks different when placed next to another. It’s an exploration of color interplay, which I love,” he says.
Oleg works in several genres, including portraiture, landscapes, and still life. His work resonates with people around the world. “I like portraits better, but I prefer people to sit for the painting, and not many people like to do that. If working from the photo, it lacks personality. If you work from life, you get more character from life as opposed to photography. The photo is still, and everything is flat; all the colors are flat. The camera treats everything the same. The human eye can capture more of the world around you. If you work from life, you see how things change right before your eyes, especially from the landscape. I prefer portraits, but the landscapes are on the same level. There is always a story that you can add to the landscape, and it is always interesting. You can pick out certain things when you paint. It becomes a record of the changes and certain uncertainties that can provoke questions from the viewer.”
Oleg will capture our imagination and make us look at the world around us slightly differently, to see life with color and discover the true beauty of the surrounding universe. “I want viewers to be moved somehow, even if they leave with more questions than answers. I want them to ask questions, which means that my art engages with them, and the viewers are engaged with whatever is on the canvas or the artwork.”
In his future works, Oleg aims to explore new mediums, such as watercolor. “I didn’t make enough works with watercolor, so it’s to explore. It requires planning and layering, which goes somewhat against how I usually paint,” he admits.
Oleg is working on a series of landscapes he plans to display together. These pieces will complete an extensive collection of landscapes inspired by the beauty of the green suburban area of San Diego and resonate with his childhood memories of the Ukrainian countryside. After finishing the landscape series, Oleg plans to work on a new series of European and American cityscapes.
Art connoisseurs, collectors, and fans of Oleg’s art can follow the media to see more of his captivating artworks and ensure they take advantage of his future exhibitions.
Website: https://olegtsankfineart.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcfly5776
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Oleg-Tsank-Fine-Art-372525352867954/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/McFly5775
Daria Maksymenko
Art Gallery Assistant Intern
Born in the Bronx on August 14, 1921, and raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City, Joseph Seymour Rosenthal learned to interpret the world through his art at a very young age. Selftaught and motivated by the events of an everchanging world around him, he was drawn to capture what he witnessed. Growing up as a child of the Great Depression, Seymour was moved by the hardships of everyday people seeking out ways to survive in New York City in the 1930’s. Through his various sketches and watercolor drawings, one can instantly be transported back to a time and place of a city on the brink of great strife, and also of great resurgence. As Seymour became older, he grew closer and more attached to the religious traditions and memories that he was surrounded with during his youth. It is here where we can see the influence of Seymour’s grandparents and family gatherings within his works. Many of the subjects in his paintings can be seen with bloodshot eyes, worn skin, and tired looks, as though they were contemplating the past events of their lives. Yet despite their hardened experiences, one can still see happiness, optimism, and pride while gathering with family for the holidays or simply enjoying the gift of being alive.
Drafted into the Second World War, Seymour developed an entirely different approach and motivation for his art. Although serving stateside, he made sure to bring the front lines of the war to the people of New York through his provocative, blunt, cynical, and at times morbidly disturbing imagery. Within this segment of Seymour’s catalogue, his passion for showing the suffrage and hardships brought onto those who were unfairly born of the wrong ethnicity or race is clear. Both his political commentary and love of the enduring human spirit are evident.
Although Seymour passed on December 13th, 2007, his works live on in various museums, galleries, and synagogues throughout the world, including the “N.Y. Metropolitan Museum of Art” and the “Technion Museum” in Haifa Israel. He is survived by his beloved wife Frances, a daughter and son, and four grandchildren.
Pomm’s artistic journey took her to France, where she immersed herself in the rich cultural heritage of Aix-en-Provence while studying art. Her profound love for Old World architecture is exquisitely woven into her signature watercolor compositions, making each piece a testament to her passion and skill.
Upon returning to California, Pomm honed her craft under the mentorship of internationally acclaimed artist Scott Moore in Laguna Beach. Here, she perfected a unique style characterized by the meticulous layering of translucent watercolors, creating powerful hues, dynamic light, and intricate shadows that vividly capture the spirit of Europe. Each of her paintings bears the “hidden apple,” a mark of authenticity and exceptional quality.
Drawing inspiration from Realism masters Monet and Renoir, who defied traditional norms to paint from within, Pomm embarked on a transformative journey of her own. She began to express her perceptions and inner emotions through her art, resulting in deeply expressive and evocative oil paintings. Unlike many artists who struggle to master various mediums, Pomm has not only transitioned seamlessly between them but has also excelled brilliantly. Her Expressionist oil work transcends conventional boundaries, inviting viewers into an emotionally charged “outer world” that resonates with profound depth and beauty.