Hurleyville, NY – The Sullivan County Historical Society is hosting the exhibit, “Voices of Survivors: Inspiring Hope, Sanctuary, Compassion and Community” from September 12-29 at the Sullivan County Museum, 265 Main Street, Hurleyville.
Open to the public Tuesdays-Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m., this multimedia experience immerses the public in poetry, prose, photography, and paintings that convey the themes of Hope, Sanctuary, Compassion and Community. Those four words are the foundation of what can be seen, heard, viewed, and read throughout this multilingual, multicultural, and multigenerational exhibition.
Items in “Voices” were submitted by people from the Catskills region, ages 12-95. These materials are on loan, with some available for purchase.
Each Thursday through Sunday, from September 12 through the 29, the public has the opportunity to meet artists, survivors (1st, 2nd and 3rd-generation) to view documentaries and interviews, to write and add to the Poetrees, to listen to music, and to share out loud or reflect silently.
The anticipated schedule is below, with updates to be posted to www.HopesCompass.org. The series is free, with donations accepted.
- Sept. 12: Poetry reading by Sharon Kennedy-Nolle, former Sullivan County Poet Laureate; Fisher and Kean, musicians
- Sept. 13: Survivors’ stories will be shared by Uma B., Eva Bokscor and Dr. Richard Stein
- Sept. 14: Pearl Zayas, Chana Pollack, Miro Mniewski, and members of the Hilfstein Family will share their stories as children and grandchildren of survivors
- Sept. 15: Attend a screening of “The Four Seasons Lodge,” hosted by Andrew Jacobs and Dr. Peter Chester
- Sept. 19: Come meet, greet and hear from Dr. Patrick Sullivan, current superintendent of the Liberty Central School District, followed by Mimi Werner, who will share photographs that were part of the Nuremberg Trials
- Sept. 20: Dr. Peter A. Chester shares his family’s multilingual and multicultural journey of survival; “Create with the Curator,” Dr. Hope Blecher Croney; conclude with a musical performance by Teri Paris
- Sept. 21: Music by Myrna Marcarian; a meet-and-greet with photographer Jean Rhode; conclude with a wellness workshop by Pearl Zayas
- Sept. 22: Sharing of family stories and poetry by Tina Hazarian; meet creative doll artist Naomi Bush; listen to the music and stories of David Fieldler and Anastasia Solberg, a viola and violin duet; conclude with poetry by Kevin Graham, the current County Poet Laureate
- Sept. 26: lunch and learn with Nadia Rajsz, as she shares about the Holodomor; followed by Lori Orestano-James with a special guest talking about the impact of the holidays upon the Borscht Belt-area hotels; conclude with Richard Chiger as he talks about the intersection of Yiddish and the Holocaust
- Sept. 27: Sing and dance along with “Chai on Music;” conclude with a conversation with Judy Balaban
- Sept. 28: Allison Luci, artist, will paint live at the museum; Michael Dwyer will screen “Appreciation: A Survivor’s Story of Hiroshima;” conclude with a presentation by Shain Fishman, sharing her story and that of her family’s survival
- Sept. 29: Cris Spinner, musician; Tibor Spitz, Ilene Cutler and Tim Miller, screening “We Remember: Songs of Survivors,” a PBS documentary of which Tibor is the remaining living survivor
Among the works on display are poetry, prose, stories, music, artwork and paintings by Miguel Tito; Tal Beery; Adele and Bliss Blaustein; Hope Blecher Croney; Jean Rhode; Allison Luci; Paul Kean; Deborah Fisher; Rose Nove Feder; Meghan Barnes; Nya Rhee; Steven Gold; students from Liberty Central School; Brenda Sherman; Marilyn Laufer; Naomi Bush; Gene Iovine; Steve Duffy; The Levins; Alyssa Thalmann; Marlene Wertheim; and a serigraph featuring Bill Graham and Carlos Santana.
This exhibit is funded in part by a Community Development grant from Sullivan 180, with additional funding by the County Legislature, Resorts World Gives, and the STEAM Fund, with further support by individual donors and organizations listed at www.HopesCompass.org.
Dr. Hope Blecher, curator, thanks the Sullivan County Historical Society and Museum and the Liberty Museum and Arts Center for hosting the iterations of “Voices of Survivors: Inspiring Hope, Sanctuary, Compassion and Community” and is grateful to those who attended and participated in this community and civic engagement project.
