Jewish
Kindergarten,
Cologne.

T H E D E T R O I T J E WI S H N E W S

Sentimental Journey

102

Weinstein, a New Yorker since 1970, wanted his pictures from Germany
odd Weinsteinis returning home for the debut showing of his latest
to
be a very personal interpretation rather than just a documentation of events.
photographic exhibition, "Darkness Into Light: Re-Emergence of Jew-
ish Culture in Germany." He wanted to share it first with people im- He went into homes, businesses and community centers to explore the sub-
stance of contemporary Jewish life.
portant to his spiritual growth.
"I was surprised how familiar everything within the Ger-
Weinstein's images — from patrons at a kosher cafe in Berlin PHOTO BY MEL ABELGLASS
man
Jewish community was to me," Weinstein said. "It
to students at a Jewish kindergarten in Cologne — will be on
wasn't
foreign at all." The artist's most lasting impression
display through Oct. 17 at the Janice Charach Epstein Muse-
was
watching
the re-emergence of Jewish culture in a land
um/Gallery at the Maple-Drake Jewish Community Center.
of former perpetrators. "I became focused on how strongly I
The photographs were taken during Weinstein's 1994 so-
felt about ending any type of racism," said the artist, who
journ as an artist-in-residence in Germany; the photographer
hopes his work will give people the desire to look inward to
was invited by the German government through a contact made
stop it.
by one of his students.
Weinstein does not work with a plan when he takes on any
The collection builds on a body of work completed for Susan
new
project. He experiences what's in front of him and reacts.
Stern's book Speaking Out: Jewish Voices from United Germany
In the past 15 years, the former Oak Parker — his par-
and expresses sensitivities developed throughout the artist's
ents, Hyman and Dolly Weinstein, and siblings, Cheryl
lifetime.
LaKritz, Lee Weinstein and Susan Tokowitz, still live in the
"This project continues because of Max and Pola Weiner, par-
metro area — has captured people in their environment
ents of a close friend from Michigan," explained Weinstein,
through exhibits that include "Mothers and Daughters" at
45, who became interested in photography while attending Oak
the Burden Gallery in New York; "Private Moments: Pub-
Park High School.
lic Places" at the Maine Coast Artist Gallery in Maine; and
"I never knew much about their being survivors until I saw
"New York City: Gritty City" at the Cork Gallery in New
them in Washington in 1983. They were among 15,000 people
York.
using a computer link to find relatives and friends missing since
Among the art centers that have his work in their col-
World War II, and I was among the individuals who traveled
lections are the Detroit Institute of Arts, Metropolitan Mu-
to the capital out of curiosity.
"I spent some time with the Weiners in Washington, and their Todd Weinstein: Exploring the world and seum of Art in New York and the Bibliotheque Nationale in
himself through his camera.
Paris.
spirit had a strong influence on me."