Slovakian artists at Hebrew Home show

While some residents at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale are unable to go to museums, the home brings the museum to them.

“That was really the idea behind starting the art collection,” curator Emily O’Leary said.

The Art Collection at Hebrew Home at Riverdale and the Derfner Judaica Museum combine forces to bring new and old art from around the world to the residents. While most of the art displayed throughout the Hebrew Home is part of the groups’ own collections, there is one exhibition meant for a steady rotation of art that comes from outside their collections.

The newest such exhibition features works by students and followers of Vincent Hložník, a renowned Slovak artist whose work is displayed at the Bohemian National Hall. The three artists whose works are on display, Dušan Kállay, Kamila Štanclová and Katarína Vavrová, are award-winning artists who studied under either Mr. Hložník or one of his students. 

Each rotating exhibition lasts about three months and is displayed near the main entrance. Rotating exhibitions are open to the public every day and get around 6,000 visitors annually. The latest one began on July 27 and runs through Oct. 23. 

“We have people who come in from the community to see the exhibition, we have groups that we bring in, senior and special needs groups who tour the Hebrew home art collection,” Ms. O’Leary said.

“One of the things the rotating exhibitions do, it provides a bridge to the community,” Ms. O’Leary said. “It’s intended to bring people in, to let the residents feel that they are not isolated, that we’re all part of this greater community.”

The art currently on display belongs to Kyselica Art and Design Studio New York, or KADS, which is an art dealership and consulting practice.  The founder, Katerina Kyselica, was working with Ms. O’Leary on Hložník’s display.

“I had the idea to have this concurrent show with his students,” Ms. O’Leary said.  “Originally, the Slovak consulate came here to see the Hložník prints [that] belong to us, so it’s been a back-and-forth for about a year and a half now.”

Exhibitions allow residents to enjoy what they might otherwise have badly missed. 

“I was speaking to a resident who said she used to go to museums all the time when she was younger,” Communications Director Wendy Steinberg said. “She just loves the fact that [the gallery is] here because it’s a way for her to continue her passion for art.”

More Eastern European art may be coming to Hebrew Home exhibitions in the future. 

“We have a lot of eastern European works that really know one else has in the United States in our permanent collection, over 200 pieces,” Ms. O’Leary said.  “There are many people here who came from Eastern Europe.”

Normally, the Art Collection invites artists to host their exhibitions. However, since the three artists featured in the latest show all live in Slovakia, they will not be joining. 

Instead, a reception and a curator-led gallery talk about the show will take place on Oct. 9, Ms. O’Leary said.