former Jewish mikveh—today a fudge factory—is yet another important element of the exposition.
We also present artworks that enter into a dialogue with Mayer Kirshenblatt’s paintings. These include graphics printed on fabric by Justyna Sokołowska. On the obverse of each work, the artist placed a selected scene inspired by Mayer’s paintings; on the reverse, a wartime or contemporary equivalent of the stories that occurred later in the same place. Israeli artist Varda Meidar, daughter of Mayer Lustman, a Jew from Opatów who had survived the Holocaust, recreated the map of Opatów in the form of embroidery. Her inspiration came from the town plan with a legend in Yiddish published in the Memorial Book of Opatów.
(post)JEWISH, meaning?
The term “post-Jewish” almost automatically brings to mind a connotation with “property”. This is an important, albeit not the most important theme of the exhibition’s narrative. Above all, we want the term to be understood by visitors in the context of restoring memory. We want to remind them that the places or objects presented in the exhibition served specific functions and were once someone’s property. A property orphaned, abandoned, without legitimate heirs turns into a void left by its former owner, deprived of the memory stored in objects and spaces.
In the exhibition, we are also restoring the names of people whose memory has been in some way obliterated by giving the label “post-Jewish” to everything that was left of them. We fill the “post-Jewish” void with individuals whose lives were cut short by the Holocaust. We restore the memory of the former residents of Opatów.
Putting the prefix “post-” into brackets allows us to move beyond political disputes about the past and retrieve the most important element out of the term “post-Jewish” spins a tale about JEWISH places and their inhabitants. A title that is formulated in this way restores their identity, respect and memory.
Paint what you remember
There will be a place for the visitors to rest within the exhibition space. Tish-table installation refers to the Jewish tradition of spending joyous time at a table eating, drinking, talking and singing together. Here, the visitors will get more closely acquainted with the figure of Mayer Kirshenblatt and learn about his special relationship with his daughter. They will listen to excerpts from the recorded conversations Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett held with her father over the period of more than 40 years. They will also find Mayer’s personal keepsakes at the table—photographs and documents from the painter’s school years.
Inspired by the idea of painting from memory, we will place a screen not far from the table so that each visitor is able to paint their own memories from childhood on it. To be able to do that, we will use a special app which mimics the process of painting on canvas. Ready-made sketches of fragments of Mayer’s paintings will help our guests adopt the role of painters.
An audio guide for families
We also encourage you to view the exhibition with a family audio guide. Justyna Bednarek, a renowned author of children’s literature, wrote a text for a special walk—a tour of a pre-war Jewish town if you will. Little Mayer, an inquisitive and witty boy in a sky-blue coat, will be our guide. With his help, visitors will learn about elements of Jewish holidays, family customs, and old games. They will venture into a world of memories, images, and sounds. Some features in the exposition will also encourage the youngest visitors to engage: assembling pictures from magnetic puzzles or an educational cube. Children will also try their hand at being painters.
Family audio guide is intended for children aged 4-10. It will be available free of charge with each ticket to the exhibition in the following languages: Polish, English and Ukrainian.
Curators: Dr Natalia Romik, Dr Justyna Koszarska-Szulc in cooperation with Prof. Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett.
Managing curator: Katarzyna Tomczak-Wysocka.
Exhibition design: “SENNA” Kolektyw (Natalia Romik, Piotr Jakoweńko, Sebastian Kucharuk).
Art installation: Varda Meidar, Justyna Sokołowska.
Co-organizer: Association of the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland.
The exhibition is produced with the support of Taube Philanthropies, The CBRAT Foundation in loving memory of Joseph and Miriam Ratner.