“Through Soviet Jewish Eyes”, a gallery exhibition of photography based on David Shneer’s critically acclaimed book of the same title, opened at the CU Art Museum on Wednesday night.  The exhibition presents 58 photographs, printed at numerous scales over six decades, by the most important Soviet photojournalists including Evgenii Khaldei, Georgii Zelma, and Dmitrii Baltermants.  Also on display are alternate versions of some of the iconic photos, as well as some of the photos in their original Soviet publications and other artifacts, including a rare glass negative from one of the photos shot in Stalingrad.

The museum opening was introduced by CU Art Museum Director Lisa Tamiris Becker, who also co-curated Professor Schneer’s exhibition.

Among those in attendance were Teresa and Paul Harbaugh, collectors who donated or loaned many of the photographs in the exhibit.  Also attending were Hal Gould, known as the dean of American fine art photography, and his business partner and fellow photographer Loretta Young-Gautier.  This was the 91-year-old Gould’s first public appearance since closing his famous Denver gallery, Camera Obscura, in June and subsequently breaking his leg a few days later.  Gould’s gallery hosted the first American exhibition of Soviet photographer Dmitrii Baltermants’ works.

“Through Soviet Jewish Eyes” will be on display at the CU Art Museum until October 22.  Professor Shneer will give a lecture and tour of the exhibition on Thursday, September 15, 2011 beginning at 7 pm.  Read more about Professor Shneer and the exhibition in this post from August 29th in the BJN.

More photos from the opening: