THERE WAS A FOREST: JEWISH LIFE IN EASTERN EUROPE, 2004-2011
THERE WAS A FOREST: JEWISH LIFE IN EASTERN EUROPE, 2004-2011
Loli Kantor’s solo show, There Was a Forest; Jewish Life in Eastern Europe, 2004-2011, explores the remnants of Jewish life in a post- Holocaust- post soviet rule, 21st century Eastern Europe. With a photojournalistic combined with fine art perspective, Kantor’s photographs document the people, the places, and the relics of their lives. The tone of the exhibition balances melancholy about irreparable loss with hope for the future. The vivid highly saturated color prints convey the tangible reality of these places, in a full palette of the region’s hues. Along with the color works, part of the project was printed using original blackand-white negatives and printed in the platinum/palladium process. The small palladium prints are reminiscent of snapshots taken in the 1940’s, and intended to invoke the past. Juxtaposed with the color works, they create a dialogue between past and present and a wider look at people and culture.
The artist, whose parents were Holocaust survivors from Poland and who lost nearly their entire families, was born in Paris and grew up in Israel and Buffalo, NY before relocating to Fort Worth in 1984. Kantor has been documenting Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe for nearly a decade. Her personal history was a primary draw for her interest in this subject matter.
Kantor’s work has been exhibited widely in the United States and internationally. It is included in museums and private collections such as the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Harry Ransom Center, Austin; Lviv National Museum, Ukraine; and Lishui Museum of Photography, China. Her first monograph will be published in spring 2014 by the University of Texas Press.
The exhibit will be on show beginning October 19, 2012 from 6 - 9 p.m. and will run through December 1, 2012. Enjoy beer and wine by Ben E Keith. Artspace 111 is free and open to the public.
Artspace 111 is dedicated to its vital role in the city of Fort Worth, and to making contemporary art approachable to individuals of all ages. With its sculpture and distinctive architectural character, the gallery offers a striking setting to host corporate and private events, and is also available for tours and other social gatherings.
Artspace 111 is located east of Downtown Fort Worth at Hampton Street and Weatherford. The gallery is open Tuesday to Friday, 10 – 5 pm and Saturday by appointment. To schedule a private viewing, contact Margery Gossett or Margo Hudson by calling 817.692.3228 or emailing art@artspace111.com.
