NOVEMBER 3 • 2022 | 51

and we feel supportive of 
one another and learn from 
one another. It’s been a 
wonderful experience being 
part of this group.” 

OAK PARK NATIVE 
HONORS 
HIS MENTORS
Weinstein, who moved to 
New York after attending 
what became the College 
for Creative Studies in 
Detroit, did not 
leave family and 
friends behind 
in Michigan. 
While building 
his photography 
career, he made 
return visits 
with exhibits to 
showcase the 
development of his style 
and his involvement with 
Judaism. 
In 2019, just before the 

pandemic kept people inside 
their homes, Weinstein 
made a stop at the Charach 
Gallery, and a new exhibit 
was anticipated. With the 
onset of the pandemic, 
the exhibit was postponed 
until now. It presents works 
by those who mentored 
his approach to artistic 
expressions.
Gallery visitors will see 
about 75 still images and 
videos. It will show 
images of both artists 
— Weinstein and 
mentor next to each 
other — and offer 
relevant videos that 
stream throughout the 
day.
“There’ll be a print 
by a local artist, 
including those by Dave 
Griffith and Larry Melkus, 
for example,” Weinstein said. 
“I responded to their images 
and put an image of 
mine next to each of 
theirs. The images are 
printed on the same 
piece of paper. 
“Mentors work as 
inspiration and the 
start of improvisation 
in my work. I’m self-
employed and have 
been photographing 
for over 50 years.”

Larry Ravitz, who also 
went to Oak Park High, will 
have a monitor with his 
work. Ravitz, an oil painter, 
has been named the major 
mentor in Weinstein’s career, 
and Ravitz’s work is reflected 
in Weinstein’s camera 
projects. A video will show 
Ravitz creating images.
Weinstein does most of 
his photography with Canon 
digital and Fuji cameras. In 
earlier exhibits since leaving 
Michigan, his photography 
has been shown at the 
Charach Gallery and at the 
Zekelman Holocaust Center 
in Farmington Hills. 
His Jewish background 
is expressed by a series 
of images obtained in 

Germany, where his subjects 
were the ways Jewish 
life was reemerging after 
the Holocaust. “The 36 
Unknown,” the Talmudic 
story of souls who inhabit 
the Earth to save the world, 
is another Jewish project that 
has been displayed. 
Weinstein has studied 
Kabbalah because of the 
stories he has heard during 
photographic sessions 
covering Jewish topics. 
“Photography has 
made me more mindful 
of everything that I see,” 
Weinstein said. “My parents 
were instrumental in leaving 
me open to things in life. My 
family has been incredibly 
supportive.” 

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Details
The two exhibits will be on view 
11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday, 
3-7 p.m. Wednesday and by 
appointment when the Detroit 
Jewish Book Fair is not running. 
For hours during the fair and 
other information, contact the 
gallery at (248) 432-5579 or 
charachgallery.org.

Todd Weinstein

PETER NORMAN

LEFT: Todd Weinstein, Couple in Car on Ferry. RIGHT: On the other side of the panel: Ernst Haas, Route 66.

ABOVE: Todd Weinstein, Mural Detroit. 

