Imagined Image

Granddaughter's spiritually inspired photography is
on display alongside Albert Kahn retrospective.

SUZANNE CHESSLER

Ruben's exhibit is a retrospective
of the artist's entire body
of work, which includes
attention to the human form,
as well as landscape and
the built environment.

Special to the Jewish News

hotographs taken at the Jewish cemetery
in Prague fill one whole room at the
University of Michigan Museum of Art
and represent a turning point in the life of
Ernestine Ruben, whose camera images will be on
display June 10-Sept. 23.
Ruben, the granddaughter of famed Detroit-based
architect Albert Kahn, grew up in Birmingham, where
her family gave her a strong grounding in appreciat-
ing the arts, but left little time for Judaism. It was
only after she moved away and raised her four chil-
dren that she found her artistic and religious identity.
"In Human - Touch: Photographs by Ernestine
Ruben," an exhibit of 110 pieces spilling into other
rooms of the museum, showcases a retrospective of
the artist's entire body of work, which includes
attention to the human form, landscape and the
built environment. It shows a variety of photograph-
ic media, from silver prints (with which she began
her career at age 47) to platinum (which she redis-
covered), and is noted for tonalities.
"Photography is very much tied into my love of
space and three dimensionality — and then there are
psychological aspects, too," says Ruben, 69, who
drew and painted while attending Kingswood
School and tried sculpting while studying at the
University of Michigan.
"In our family, photography certainly was not on
our walls, and it wasn't popular or talked about
when people were collecting art. I eventually realized
it was a form of rebellion, a way of creating my
world and my own name.
"I needed it to be about my inner functioning,
passions, ideas and energy, and I love that I have
to start with what the camera records and go on
to create my own reality. It's the only art form

p

IMAGES

Below: Ernestine Ruben with a model:
"In our family, photography certainly was
not on our walls, and it wasn't
popular or talked about when people were
collecting art. I eventually realized it was
a form of rebellion, a way o
creating my world and my own name."

on page 73

• Ruben will discuss her
photography 3-4 p.m.
Sunday, June 10, in a free
program at the museum and
will conduct a workshop at
4:30 p.m. the same day at the
Ann Arbor Art Center, where
the price will be $32 for
museum and center members
and $35 for nonmembers.
(734) 994-8004, Ext. 101.

• The museum will host a
gala celebration honoring
the opening of the Kahn
and Ruben exhibitions
Saturday, June 9, beginning
at 6 p.m. with a champagne
reception with Ruben at the
Kahn-designed Clements
Library and moving on to
the museum for dinner,
dancing and tours. $200

includes champagne recep-
tion, dinner, dancing and
tours (sold out)/875
includes dessert, dancing
and tours (tickets still avail-
able). (734) 647-2064.
• The museum's docents
conduct guided tours of the
exhibits 6:30 p.m. Thursday,
June 7, and 2 p.m. Sunday,
June 17. Following the

Sunday tour at 3 p.m.,
Walkabout Excursions offers
a walking tour exploring
Kahn's contributions to the
U-M campus, including a
discussion of such landmarks
as Hill Auditorium, Burton
Tower and Kahn's own
reputed favorite, the
Clements Library. The fee is
$121$5 UMMA Friends. To

register, call (734) 623-4440.
• Two books — In Human
Touch (Nazraeli Press; $65),
which features Ruben's pho-
tographs, and Albert Kahn:
Inspiration for the Modern, a
companion volume to the
Kahn exhibit, are available
in- the Museum Shop.
For more information, call
(734) 647-0521.

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