By Sharon Wisch-Ray

Beyond the Forest: Loli Kantor, an exhibition and book launch

I was thrilled when Fort Worth photographer Loli Kantor wrote to tell me about tonight’s reception for her new book and exhibition. The Art Galleries at TCU will present “Beyond the Forest,” an exhibition of her works from her new book through Oct. 25.
A reception featuring an artist talk and book launch will be held from 6-8 p.m., Oct. 23. For nearly a decade, Loli Kantor has documented Jewish life and culture in a range of urban and rural communities in Poland and Ukraine. What started as a personal project to research her own family history developed in scope to a broader engagement with the daily life of Jews in Eastern Europe in the early 21st century. By repeatedly returning to some of the same locations and meeting people over an extended period of time, Kantor developed a deeper understanding of Jewish life in these places.
In the exhibition “Beyond the Forest,” Kantor presents a selection more than 40 color and black and white photographs that collectively combine personal biography and subjective documentary. The works keenly reflect Kantor’s desire to examine the impact of the Holocaust from a personal perspective as a daughter of Holocaust survivors. But she also goes beyond this private meditation to consider the wider effects of the Soviet regime on Jewish identity, traditions and communal daily life.
Kantor’s new book of photographs, “Beyond the Forest. Jewish Presence in Eastern Europe 2004-2012,” is published by the University of Texas Press http://www.utpress.utexas.edu/ and will be available next month. The book is part of the series “Exploring Jewish Arts and Culture,” edited by Robert H. Abzug, director, Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies, University of Texas at Austin. Including nearly 100 color and black and white photographs, Kantor’s book also features an introduction by esteemed Polish art critic and curator Anda Rottenberg, and afterward by award-winning novelist Joseph Skibell of Emory University in Atlanta, who celebrates Kantor’s “brave vision, unblinking and unafraid.”
Kantor was born in Paris, France, and raised in Tel Aviv, Israel. Her work has been exhibited widely in the United States and internationally, and is included in significant public and private collections worldwide, such as the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Lviv National Museum, Ukraine; Lishui Museum of Photography, China; and the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin. Loli lives and works in Fort Worth.

Daytimers enjoy political discussion

Professor Jim Riddlesperger, longtime political science instructor at TCU, stood before 40 fascinated Daytimers at their October gathering last Wednesday. After munching on a Subway lunch, Riddlesperger talked current politics to his rapt audience. While making it clear that he did not make predications, he presented his thoughts about the upcoming elections. His comments centered on the race for Texas Governor, control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the potential effect of age groups, and minority groups in the current and future elections.
He commented that the polls, at this time, seem to indicate that Davis is trailing at this point, and that the Republicans are likely to retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. However, he also made it clear that this is what the current polls show, and is still subject to change, and then reiterated that he does not make predictions of election outcomes.
An intense question and answer section completed the professor’s presentation and he has been invited back for October 2015.
Next month, Wednesday, Nov. 12, Daytimers will dine on hot dogs with all the extras — mustard, sauerkraut, onions and maybe even some baked beans.
Following lunch, they will move to the chapel, where they will listen to Broadway music presented by the Gold Tone Senior Choir, complete with musical accompaniment. The 90-minute program will include tunes from “Cats,” “New York, New York,” “Fiddler,” “Phantom” and lots more.
If you would like to join them, you can call Larry Steckler at 817-927-2736 or go to the Beth-El website at bethelfw.org.
The fee is $9 with lunch or if you would like to come just for the music program, $5.