Connecticut Jewish Ledger

NEW HAVEN — The Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven will host “Prominent Jewish-Americans with New Haven Connections,” an exhibit of ten posters by local artist Alan Falk.

The exhibit will officially open on Sunday, April 30 from 1-4 p.m. at the Ethnic Heritage Center on the campus of Southern Connecticut State University.

The Jewish Historical Society commissioned Falk to create the series of ten colorful posters in honor of “Celebrate 350 Anniversary of Jewish Life in America, 1654-2005.”

The posters celebrate Jews from the performing arts, business and industry, sports, politics, and other fields, who were born, worked or lived in the New Haven area and made a major contribution to life locally and on the American scene.

Barry Herman, chairperson for the Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven and member of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven-organized 350 Celebration Committee, came up with the idea to honor prominent Jewish-Americans from New Haven during last year’s national series of events celebrating 350 years of Jews in America.

Herman first came into contact with Falk’s work several years ago when Falk was working part-time as a designer for the JCC of Greater New Haven. “I was asked to produce the JCC’s annual calendar,” reports Falk. “The focus was to be the 350 Celebration, and I produced the calendar based on the history of Jewish New Haven. Barry saw it and it sparked the idea for the poster series.”

Falk spent some time doing research before creating his posters. For a poster on business and industry, “I delved into the Jewish Historical Society’s collection of objects-from Lender’s Bagels mugs, to a 19th century corset, to cigar boxes and a Bowler hat.” Falk used these objects to make a collage, which appears on the poster.

For his poster on the performing arts, Falk researched Buddy Morrow, who was active in the 40’s and 50’s as part of the Dorsey Brothers Band. He later came in personal contact with Morrow.

To come up with the subjects to be considered for the posters, The Jewish Historical Society took out ads in the Jewish Ledger and other publications seeking nominations of prominent people from New Haven in ten categories.

“The list grew and grew and grew,” reports Herman. “We went over the nominations and came up with the final names. And Alan helped with the research and did all of the graphic art work.”

The “Prominent Jewish-Americans with New Haven Connections” exhibit, hosted by the Jewish Historical Society at the Ethnic Heritage Center, located on the campus of Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), 270 Fitch Street, will have its official opening on April 30 from 1-4 p.m. The exhibit will run through June. For more information, call (203) 392-6125.