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Welcome to the first online edition of In Touch, the newsletter of the South African Jewish Museum. We decided to adopt the electronic version in order to reach a wider audience in an easy to use format. The newsletter was designed by Flatspin, who produced our new website, the upgraded Discovery Centre and the touch screen presentation for the Netsuke exhibition. Enjoy!
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EXHIBITION OF UNSEEN WORKS BY IRMA STERN OPENS IN MAY |
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ABOVE: 'Two Tribeswomen' A previously unseen work by Irma Stern
We are delighted to present our second exhibition in association with the Irma Stern Museum. ‘Journeys to the Interior: Unseen Works by Irma Stern 1929 -1939’, a newly-curated exhibition, will be presented at the South African Jewish Museum from 15 May 2006 to 6 October 2006.
More than forty oils, pastels and sketches, many of them previously unseen, will be on show, painted by the artist in the course of her African travels during the 1930s. The exhibition is thought provoking on a number of levels as it traces the history of modern art in Germany, and the effect of the rise of Nazism on modern art and on the life and work of Irma Stern.
‘Journeys to the Interior” will partially coincide with the Picasso and Africa exhibition which opened at the National Gallery in early April, and which displays some of the artifacts collected by Irma Stern during her travels through Africa.
The years 1929 to 1939 were tumultuous in Germany, and they signaled a decade of separation and individuation for Irma Stern. Turning to the African continent, Stern began a series of journeys, traveling alone, courageous and unique in her time. Her artistic exploration took her to Pondoland, Madeira, Dakar and Zanzibar. She recorded her impressions in a profusion of sketches, paintings and worksheets, many of which will be shown here for the first time.
A truly unique feature of this exhibition is the significant number of working sketches on display. Irma Stern was incredibly prolific and worked in a fury of creativity, sometimes using both sides of the page. The working sketches also retain her penciled notes and offer us a fascinating insight into the way that she worked
As one of the earliest exponents of German Expressionism, Irma Stern is credited with introducing European modernism to South Africa, initially to a very mixed reception. Stern’s work is notable for its vitality and rich colour, imbuing her subjects with an energy that is almost palpable.
Christopher Peter, director of the Irma Stern Museum says “We are delighted to have the opportunity to display these works in the South African Jewish Museum’s creative environment. Our alliance with the SA Jewish Museum is more than fulfilling its initial promise.”
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WE WELCOME THE JAPANESE CONSUL |
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On the January 24th, we welcomed the Consul of Japan and his wife, Mr and Mrs Yamada. They were accompanied by Ms Retha Visser, assistant to Mr Yamada. After viewing the museum, Consul and Mrs Yamada enjoyed a special tour by Malibongwe Makapela of the exhibition Hidden Treasures of Japanese Art: The Isaac Kaplan Collection,
The Japanese Consulate loaned us the beautiful kimono which formed part of the Netsuke exhibition. They also secured the services of Keigo Aiyoshi, an expert Japanese calligrapher.
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WELCOMING THE NETHERLANDS CONSUL GENERAL |
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 We welcomed the Consul General of the Netherlands and Mrs Bosscher to the South African Jewish Museum on April 6th for an extensive tour. The diplomatic couple took a keen interest in the historical and cultural aspects of the museum.
Right: SAJM Director Shea Albert (left) with the Consul General, Mr. R. Bosscher and Mrs. L. Bosscher
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INTRODUCING OUR NEW PEOPLE |
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 In February we introduced Andrea Lewis, our new researcher, and Katie Schnidman, a visiting new intern, to staff and guides, celebrating their arrival with cheese cake and coffee. Andrea is already hard at work, researching and writing copy for the forthcoming Irma Stern exhibition and catalogue. Katie, from Newport, Rhode Island, worked us for three months, and assisted on several projects.
Above: Andrea Lewis (left) with Shea Albert
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OUR WEBSITE |
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They like it!! Since January we have had 33,568 hits on our website. This is a great response to our new and more user friendly site. We have included several new features – a section on our past and present exhibitions, a photographic tour of synagogues in the Western Cape, and an extensive section on Jewish immigrant life with easy access to family tree submissions. Visit us on www.sajewishmuseum.co.za
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ORIGINS |
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They came from the UK, USA, Germany, Israel. Holland, Canada, Brazil, Ireland, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, France, Austria, Durban, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy, Norway, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Sweden. Mexico, Kenya, Hungary, Finland, Spain, Reunion, Isle of Man, Netherland Antilles, Greece, Russia, Faroe Island, China, Poland and Bulgaria. And that was just February!
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TOUR GROUPS |
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Above: Guide, Linda Stein with visiting UIA group from Canada.
Since January our guides have introduced young and older tour groups to the museum. We hosted a UIA tour, the Helderberg Probus Club, Cape College Tourism students, two groups from HPC, a contingent from Wilderness Safaris, and students from Boston Primary and Sunningdale Schools.
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FORTHCOMING ATTRACTIONS |
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We look forward to the return of the Simcha Klezmerband on Sunday 11 June 2006 with great anticipation. We not only enjoy their consistently outstanding performances, but also delight in the phenomenal response of our audience. And of course, there are the cheesecake and blintzes to look forward to.
On 26 October, the Fine and Decorative Arts Society and the South African Jewish Museum will present a joint lecture by Roni Gilat-Baharaff on “Secular Art from Sacred Roots, 19th and 20th century Jewish and Israeli Art’. More details will be available closer to the time.
We are looking forward to hosting Justice Albie Sachs at a Breakfast With session. His talk will be followed by a special screening of the ‘Darkroom of Eli Weinberg.’ Albie Sachs has a crowded itinerary, and we are awaiting confirmation of his availability in June or July.
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A GRAND DAY OUT AT THE SA JEWISH MUSEUM |
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 Left: Shea Albert with Aaron Mendelow's grandson Adam Behr, who paid a heartwarming tribute to his renowned grandfather. This was followed by a video of Mendelow relating hilarious stories about Jewish immigrants to Johannesburg in the early 20th century.
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