Friday, April 30, 2010

Once Upon a Time 4.23.2010



The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 4/23/10

PastPerfect Accession #: 2006.013.1196


Status: Unidentified. Men & women in a hot tub

Once Upon a Time 4.16.10


The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 4/16/10

PastPerfect Accession #: 2006.013.1181

Status: Identified. Junior High Basketball Champions 1972 Purim Bowl Back Row L-R: Gary Sorin or Mark Gloger, Theodore (Teddy) Sapperstein, Michael Abrams, Alan Summerfield, Steven Hurwitz or Jay Rombro, Coach Eddie Malin Front Row L-R: Alex Malin, Sandy Hiken, Neil Frater, David Malin

Special thanks to: Doris and Eddie Malin, Alan Summerfield, Gil Weisman, Joan (Bers) Cantor, Jodi (Malin) Stappler, Richard Kuntz

Once Upon a Time 4.9.10


The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 4/9/10

PastPerfect Accession #: 2006.013.1160

Status: Unidentified. Six young adults from Israel performing a kick-line dance enjoying Purim festivities. Second from left is Danny Kaye

Special thanks to: Lynn Baklor

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Spotlight on: Exhibition Intern Richard!

It’s a quiet, rainy Monday morning here at JMM, as I enter week 11 of 12 of my internship. Many mornings I’m immediately brought on board a project, often urgent; I’m grateful since today offers a good opportunity to reflect on my time at the museum.

I came to the JMM with after a six-month internship with the U.S. Navy Museum, in DC, so I had some idea of what to expect – by which I mean that I was only surprised, not mind-boggled – by the various of roles I was asked to fill alongside the professional staff. Working at a smaller museum has been really eye-opening for me, as I’ve learned that no job title can summarize all the tasks a curator, collections manager, librarian, or head of development is asked to do on a daily basis, let alone an intern.

Condition Reporting for Nancy Patz: Her Inward Eye

The first task I was assigned here at the JMM was the one I had the most experience in and which I looked forward to the most. I was asked to research Jewish foodways in Colonial and early Federalist America, and to find collections that could provide us with relevant and engaging artifacts for display. I am still working at it, and while I’ve made a great deal of progress in the first part of the task, the second is more demanding still. Research is the most rewarding thing I get to do at the JMM, and arguably my favorite task in my overall museum experience, because not only do I provide necessary context for exhibitions so that visitors will better understand what they see, but I enrich my own understanding of the world; in that regard, I know the curators I’ve worked under wish they could spend more of their time doing what I’m doing.
Priming the gallery after de-installing Megillat Esther

Interspersed with that primary task, I was part of the team that replaced an exhibition on a graphic novel’s depiction of the Book of Esther with an introspective look at art and the Holocaust. Having helped build the content of exhibitions through research and writing, I was very excited to actually participate in the workings of an exhibition space in transition. I inspected artwork, wrote condition reports, prepared, primed, painted the walls, and hung new artwork. I took advantage of the collaborative nature of the work to get to know my fellow interns and the museum staff, a distinction that faded as we all became bespeckled with paint.

Most recently, I had the privilege to be invited to two meetings dealing with potential accessions to the JMM. The first meeting consisted only of museum staff and interns, who formed a committee to lay out the merits of the donations and prepare proposals for the second meeting. Afterwards, it was my job to answer a number of questions that surfaced about the objects under consideration. At the second meeting I got to present my research before the board members and staff in attendance, which really made me feel like part of the team.

March 2010 Collections Committee Meeting

In the two weeks remaining, I’ll have a lot on my plate, but I hope to go out with a bang. One facet of museum work is that it is ongoing. When I’m gone, the projects I’ve worked on will be taken up by new interns, and the artwork I’ve hung will be taken down in time. As much as we do our best to make history come alive for the museum visitor, I think we also make our own mark in the process. I know my experience here at the JMM will leave its mark on me; I hope I can leave something good behind as well.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Looking For a DEVELOPMENT INTERN!



The Jewish Museum of Maryland seeks a qualified intern to assist in the development department. The Development Intern will be responsible for assisting with data quality control, prospect research, grants management, event coordination and museum mailings.
Applicants should be interested in the business and administration aspects of the cultural arts. Previous museum experience is not required. This internship is full time and 10 weeks long, beginning June 1st. This internship can be used for academic credit. Stipends will be awarded, but will not offset the cost of living in Baltimore. Free parking is provided. Housing is not provided.

Please send a cover letter, resume and list of three references to Ms. Rachel Kassman, Development Coordinator, Jewish Museum of Maryland, 15 Lloyd Street, Baltimore MD 21202 or to rkassman@jewishmuseummd.org. Please include “JMM Development Intern” in your subject line. Applications will be accepted immediately and until the internship position is filled.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Popovers, Pie, and Mean Green Cheese!

Popovers, pie and mean green cheese are just a few of the "splendiferous" food that Nancy Patz has written about -- and illustrated-- in her children's books.

And they were just a few of the items that Karen and I got to sample at a tea party hosted by Goucher College honoring Nancy on Tuesday afternoon.

Nancy shared some secrets from her Goucher days, praised the JMM, and encouraged everyone to see her exhibition.


The Special Collections at Goucher are home to many of Nancy's drawings, sketches, and books. Goucher lent many of the drawings from Who Was the Woman Who Wore the Hat to the JMM for our exhibition Nancy Patz: Her Inward Eye.


Karen and I enjoyed her drawings for children's books.


"Wintern" Abby Lyon's mom attended the event and told us how much Abby enjoyed working with us this January. (We got to see Abby later.)


That's Abby's mom in the middle.

After tea and scones, and popovers with strawberry butter (YUM!), Nancy spoke about her creative writing process to an English class.

JMM Partners with Reginald F. Lewis Museum

The JMM is proud to be a promotional partner with the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture for their new exhibition, Beyond Swastika and Jim Crow: Jewish Refugee Scholars at Black Colleges. How's that for a fascinating topic? The exhibition opens on April 23 and will be on display through September 26, 2010. For more information, visit www.AfricanAmericanCulture.org. Some of us are headed over to see a sneak preview right now. Can't wait to see the show!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Once Upon a Time 4.2.10


The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 4/2/10

PastPerfect Accession #: 2006.013.1194

Status: Identified. Adult wine tasting at the JCC. Marsha Moreno-Stutz and Gus Frank

Special Thanks to: Martin Stutz, Gil Weisman, Nancy Carp

Once Upon a Time 3.26.10


The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 3/26/10

PastPerfect Accession #: 2006.013.1191

Status: Identified. Nine fifth grade kids showing off seder plates they decorated at Chizuk Amuno Hebrew School. Back Row L-R: Bill Crystal, Mark Schwartzman, Jan Levin, Unidentified, Gayle Kantor. Front Row L-R: Stephen Harris, Marc Silverman or Harvey Gruntman, Barry Cooperman or Jonny Guth and Jeff Rosensweig

Special Thanks to: Mrs. Gruntman, Bill Crystal, Marc Silverman, Toby Mower

Once Upon a Time 3.19.10


The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 3/19/10

PastPerfect Accession #: 2006.013.1153

Status: Partially identified. People standing around a table with Preserves from Israel. Left to right: Jack Green, unidentified, Dina Griner, 4. unidentified 5. unidentified, Molly Griner

Special Thanks to: Leon Yoffee, Rina Levi

Once Upon a Time 3.12.10


The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 3/12/10

PastPerfect Accession #: 2006.013.1149

Status: Partially Identified. Girls and boys in crowns and capes on a wooden jungle gym, celebrating the "Extra Terrific Purim Carnival Family Fun Plus!" Clockwise: Yoni Reishcher (Shapiro),Deena Messing (Davidov), Penina Goldstein, unidentifed, Tami Schabes (Hyatt), unidentified, unidentified.

Special Thanks to: Sarah Schabes, JL Reisher

Once Upon a Time 3.5.10


The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 3/5/10

Accession #: 2006.013.1132

Status: Unidentified. Several women and men around a table with paints and brushes on it looking at a painting on an easel at the head of the table. Two women are in the background on ladders in front a much larger version of the same painting. Sara Miller is standing on the ladder on the right. All others are unidentified.

Special thanks to: Ellwood Miller, Joyce Pabb

Once Upon a Time 2.26.10


The Baltimore Jewish Times publishes unidentified photographs from the collection of Jewish Museum of Maryland each week. Click here to see the most recent photo on their website. If you can identify anyone in these photos and more information about them, contact Jobi Zink, Senior Collections Manager and Registrar at 410.732.6400 x226 or jzink@jewishmuseummd.org.

Date(s) run in Baltimore Jewish Times: 2/26/10

PastPerfect Accession #: 2006.013.1128

Status: Mostly identified. Children with Channukiah crafts, Left to right: unidentified , Stephanie Sue Pinkner (Ahern), Rachel Fishkin or Amy Davidov (Sibel), Judi Sapero, unidentified and Jonathan Davidov

Special thanks to: Stephanie Ahern, Lynn Davidov

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Nancy Patz: Her Inward Eye


Don't miss the opening reception for our new exhibition, Nancy Patz: Her Inward Eye on Sunday, April 18 from noon - 4:00 p.m. The exhibition includes three series of Patz's drawings, paintings, prints and collages that bring to life the artist's personal memories and the imagined lives of people she has never known.
Photo, Letter to Rebecca, by Nancy Patz.

Where do we begin...

Wow, so much has happened since our last post! Sadly, Lauren Silberman our beloved Education and Program Coordinator has taken a new position at the American Association of Museums and will no longer be blogging here. She is much missed already! Meanwhile, the JMM launched our 50th anniversary with the rededication of the Lloyd Street Synagogue on March 18, and the opening of our new exhibition The Synagogue Speaks on March 21. Both events were well attended, and the exhibition was met with rave reviews. Finishing touches are being made to the JMM's new website. The site is due to launch any day, and we look forward to hearing reactions.