COMMON MAN, MYTHIC VISION:
The Paintings of Ben Shahn

JULY 25- OCTOBER 31

PAINTING WITH WORDS from page 85

Ken Aptekar:
"It Wasn't My
Brother Who Shot
the Rabbi," 1997
(four panels).

Bookshop: Hebrew Books, Holy Day Books, 1953;
The Detroit Institute of Arts

© Estate of Ben Shahn/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY

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BEN S H A H N championed social justice and made paintings that communicate

the shared experiences and concerns of humanity. His art expresses our joys and

sorrows, reflects his Jewish heritage, and celebrates the strength of the human spirit.

Saturday, October 9
Conference: Ben Shahn: Art and Politics, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 10
Lecture: Common Men, Common Visions: Radical Art in the Postwar Era, 2 p.m.

Saturdays, October 16, 23 & 30
Class: Realism in America: Art, Politics and the Works Progress Administration,
10 a.m.-noon
Fee: $30; DIA members & seniors $24; students $12. Must pre-register.
Call 313-833-4249.

This exhibition is sponsored by Ernst & Young LLP. A,Infor support was received through the generosity of '11w Henry Luce
Foundation. Additional Priding was provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Organized by The
_Jewish MUSCUM, NY.

In Detroit the exhibition is made possible with support front the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural
Affairs and the City of Detroit.

THE DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS

5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit • 313-833-7900 • www.dia.org

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Aptekar will discuss what it means to
the paintings, you are simultaneously
be a Jewish American artist.
invited to read stories. It's a word-
"That is a subject of urgent impor-
composition."
image
tance to me because my work attempts
The painting on which the Rabbi
to define what it means to be a secular
Adler work is based shows a commis-
Jew in America," says Aptekar, whose
sioner of Indian affairs for the U.S.
local exhibit includes examples from
Government. In the portrait, the corn-
collections and pieces from the New
missioner is seen wearing an Indian
York
gallery that represents him. "I'm
blanket that was given to him by a
going to talk about
Native American tribal
my history in Detroit
chief.
and what effect I
"The blanket is very
think it had on my
suggestive of a tallis, and
becoming an artist."
the man had white hair
Aptekar's mother,
and was very sage-look-
Anne
Aptekar, is a
ing," Aptekar explains
retired
art teacher
about his mind's connect-
who brought her
ing the historic painting
educational interests
and the violent incident
into the home. His
from his past.
father, Milt Aptekar,
"The text reads, It
is a musician working
wasn't my brother who
under the stage name
shot the rabbi to death
Carr and performing
before a packed syna-
Ken Aptekar: "I feel
in the Fenby-Carr
gogue in a wealthy suburb
very self-identified as
Orchestra.
of Detroit. The killer was
a Jew, and it at the
"I didn't really
some other kid's mentally
heart of my work."
envision myself being
ill older brother. He strode
an artist until I went
up to the front of the
to the University of
sanctuary on that day in
Michigan,"
Aptekar
recalls. "I was
1966 and announced over the mike,
always involved in artistic activities,
"This synagogue is an abomination
but when I was in my senior year at
and a travesty." He then faced Rabbi
the university, I transferred into art
Morris Adler and pulled out his gun.
and went an extra year and a half to
The beloved rabbi fell to the floor, his
get my degree before moving to New
prayer shawl still draped around him.
York
and going to graduate school at
The boy turned the gun on himself,
the
Pratt
Institute.
and a family secret became a public
"I
did
graphic design for a number
tragedy.
of years, including the package design
Less somber works balance the
for Barton's Bonbonniere, and after I
exhibition, some having to do with
quit Barton's, I never did graphic
the artist's family. During a lecture
design again. I began showing my
scheduled for the opening preview,