The Forger and the Gatherer

Day after day I have been asking myself, how do I start this blog? What is going to be my first proper post? Anxiously, I would jot down ideas. Column one, things I want to research. Column two, things I can post and research about relatively quickly. Column three, but when do I have the time to research? Oh the joys of commuting 3 hours a day. I came to the conclusion I would just write about what I know. The whole point of this blog is not only to keep you all update with what I’m doing artistically and historically, but to share resources with you. Exhibitions, archives, publications, people, you name it. To be used for research, be that historical, social, family history or artistic research and inspiration! I know this is a little late, but yesterday was Holocaust Memorial Day. I figured this would be an ideal time to share with you an archival resource and an exhibition which are historical, and photographic, Jewish resources. If you know me personally or follow me on social media, you’ll know that I recently spent a year volunteering for the Jewish History Association of South Wales. You’d also know, I try to go to Paris Photo whenever I get the chance to. I try and go to as many exhibitions, museums and galleries as I can when I’m away and most recently (November 2019) went to the Adolfo Kaminsky. Forger and photographer exhibit at the Musee d'Art et d'Histoire du Judaisme.

Jewish History Association of South Wales

I started at Volunteering at the Jewish History Association of South Wales just after moved back to Wales after my MA. I had spent about a year volunteering at De Montfort University Archive and Special Collections during my studies and wanted more experience. I’m not Jewish and before volunteering with them I knew practically nothing about Judaism! They were looking for cataloguing and research volunteers so figured I would check them out. Now, the JHASW are not an archive as such. According to their website, they describe themselves as follows “We discover, document, preserve and share the cultural heritage of Jewish communities in south Wales.” When I joined, they were in the process of cataloguing items they had gathered and been donated that related to the Jewish communities in South Wales. This could have been from synagogues, members of the community, businesses etc.. Once digitised, sorted and catalogued, the items would be uploaded onto Peoples Collection Wales, into a digital archive. (PCW is sort of an online archive platform that anyone can upload to. However, I think I'll save that for another post.) These items would then be deposited in the correlating archive, ie Swansea Synagogue material would go to West Glamorgan Archive. If searching through the material they have compiled on PCW, each item will list where it has been deposited so you can go to the correct archive to view the item. (Note: it may not be readily available on online catalogues but a quick email to the archive enquiring about the material may help to gain access to the items you are looking for.)

The collection was huge. They deposited 3602 items. DVDs, VHS, posters, correspondences, newsletters, objects, invites, photographs, anything and everything. My first collection was a box of letters concerning the sale of land attached to Brynmawr Jewish Cemetery. A massive collection of papers but what was only a tiny portion of the collection. The next stage was the Touring Exhibition. This was a compilation of quotes from the oral history interviews given by members of the community. These were paired with images of the material that were to represent aspects of Judaism. More specifically, the South Wales experience of Jewish community. It toured different towns across the south and is now available to view on their website. Their current project is focused on the Cardiff Reform Synagogue Holocaust Memorial Tablet. They are researching the names, the families, and the stories of the relatives of synagogue members who died in the Holocaust and whose graves are unknown.

Website: https://jhasw2018.wixsite.com/news
PCW: https://www.peoplescollection.wales/users/31091
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JHASW2018

Adolfo Kaminsky. Forger and Photographer

Like I said, I always try to go to as many exhibits and galleries as I can when I go to Paris. This time I thought I would check out what was on at the Musee d'Art et d'Histoire du Judaisme and just my luck, there was a photography exhibition on. Adolfo Kaminsky forged Identity cards for members of the Jewish community during WWII. Kaminsky was of Jewish Russian heritage and moved to France in his youth. His knowledge of chemistry and work in stain removal in launderettes, saw him working for the French Jewish Resistance and then for the French military secret services until 1945, forging official documentation. The exhibition showcased a film about his work, some of the forged Identity cards, but mostly his photographic work of views of Paris. The work is described by the museum as having “been largely ignored due to his illegal activities and partly clandestine existence.” It was truly a fascinating story and exhibit. My only qualm is that I would have loved to have seen more of the forged card he created. However, I understand that these may be incredibly hard to get hold of, they may have been destroyed, lost or maybe they are in personal family archives. The exhibition is on until Sunday 19 April 2020, so if you’re in Paris before then, I would highly recommend checking it out.

Exhibition details: https://www.mahj.org/en/programme/adolfo-kaminsky-forger-and-photographer-75116