to read Strathmore's FY2010-2011 Annual Report (PDF).

12NEW FACESLESSONS IN REMEMBERINGJohn HooverIn 2010 Strathmore debuted itsbrand-new curatorial team of HollyHaliniewski and Harriet Lesser. Theirfirst major show, Abstraction setthe tone for the future, with theobjectives of more shows curateddirectly by Strathmore; a focus oncreating significant themes andshowing modern artists and artworks;and an integration of meaningfulart education programs for kids andadults tied into the exhibition themes.Most notably, exhibitions have beenconceived and presented with thegoal of drawing in all patrons andaudiences, not just arts audiences;this sensibility has led Strathmoreto feature a very lively and diversegroup of artists, techniques, subjectmatter, and media, vastly broadeningour patron’s experience andexpanding our community.Works by Craig Francis hang in theGudelsky Gallery Suite as part of theAbstraction exhibition.An innovative integration of finearts, education and performanceoccurred in the winter of 2011 tohonor survivors of the Holocaustand to apply the bitter lessons ofthe past to the creation of a betterfuture. The galleries of the Mansionat Strathmore featured Fabric ofSurvival (January–February 2011),fabric art by Holocaust survivorand late Maryland resident EstherNisenthal Krinitz and Portraits of Life:Holocaust Survivors of MontgomeryCounty, a photography exhibit andtribute created by MontgomeryCollege faculty, staff and students.Krinitz, a dressmaker who beganmaking art in 1977 at age 50, usedfabric to render peaceful, pastoralscenes juxtaposed with the imagesof violence and inhumanity thatrepresent the Holocaust. ThePortraits of Life show, presentedin partnership with MontgomeryCollege, provided a contemporarypostscript: tangible evidence thatthe exhortation to “never forget” hasbeen taken to heart.These powerful exhibits by localartists attracted record numbers,breaking attendance records witha total of 4,380 visitors over onlysix weeks and attracting 26 specialgroup tours for 647 people asthe community sought to expandits awareness, remembrance andunderstanding of the past throughthe healing power of art. Themessages in the exhibition commentbook say it best:• Wonderful exhibit. Seeing it onMLK’s birthday had a uniqueimpact. We need to continuefocusing on intolerance, prejudiceand racism. Thank you.• Your exhibit is beautiful and cutsdirectly to your heart. Compelling,memorable and an exhibit I willalways remember. I hope theworld also takes note.• As a child of survivors, I ammoved to tears. How can hatredand craziness go that far?Beautiful images coming from myheart as well!• For putting this exhibitiontogether, thank you, for thispowerful display of courage andcreativity.• I’m going to find my own story totell… everyone has one.A patron examines one of Esther Niesenthal Krinitz’sworks in Fabric of Survival.The exhibition also served aremarkable purpose as part ofthe Title I Program’s year-longpartnership with Broad AcresElementary School. Studentsrepresenting 14 different countrieswere able to combine a visit to theFabric of Survival with a tour andeducation program led by the RachelSteinhardt, grandaughter of theartist, with their program’s theme ofWho Am I and Where Am I. Afterwriting their own families’ stories withan eye on “knowing yourself andovercoming adversity,” the childrentoured the exhibition and thencreated original works of fabric art toreflect and commemorate their ownexperiences.