Being Jewish in St. Charles

October 6 - November 18, 2023

Being Jewish in St. Charles features portraits and stories showcasing the Jewish people living and working in St. Charles. Visually appealing and thoughtfully provocative, the exhibition demonstrates the richness and diversity of the community. Divided into three sections – People, Places, & Things; A Deeper Perspective; and From the Beginning – each section is a unique gateway into the minds and hearts of the Jews of St. Charles.

Photographers: Lindy Drew | Bill Motchan | David Hazan | Colleen O’Connell Smyth

About Humans of St. Louis
Humans of St. Louis (HOSTL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that shares first-person stories and photographic portraits featuring people and places throughout St. Louis. There are many forms of storytelling, and HOSTL aims to capture many of them. Under the leadership of HOSTL co-founder and lead storyteller, Lindy Drew, and in collaboration with photographer/storyteller Colleen O’Connell Smyth and photographer/journalist Bill Motchan, the Being Jewish in St. Charles project was realized. The goal was to interview and photograph 100 Jewish people who live or work in St. Charles County. This exhibition is a partial display of their work; the rest of the stories can be found on the Being Jewish in St. Charles social media platforms.

About David Hazan
David Hazan is a prolific stereo-photographer who champions the 3D anaglyph format in the modern traditional red/cyan complementary color scheme. Originally from Istanbul, Turkey and now residing in New York City, Hazan’s photography captures the essence of the modern day human condition using their natural environments as a backdrop. His anaglyphs are admired by conventional photography aficionados as they are by fans of stereo photography, and truly break the inter-dimensional boundary between viewing 2D and 3D art. Trained in communication arts, Hazan has worked in the field of commercial and art photography for three decades and is currently co-owner of picturehouse+thesmalldarkroom, a photo lab and post production house in Chelsea, New York City.

St. Charles Jewish Community
Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County

“When two people meet, something good should result for a third.”
— The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory

The Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County aims to create a space where every Jew in St. Charles County feels at home. With nearly 6,000 Jews living in the county, the center offers family Shabbat and Holiday celebrations, children’s programming, and adult education classes in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Among its flagship programs is “The Gan St. Charles,” the first-ever Jewish preschool in the County and the “St. Charles Jewish Family Network,” a warm and child-friendly community for Jewish families with young children. For more information about the St. Charles Jewish Community and to get connected, visit: www.JewishStCharles.org.

Being Jewish in St. Charles was made possible with a significant grant from the picturehouse+thesmalldarkroom and the Feldman Education Institute of the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum. The historical component was researched and assembled in collaboration with the St. Charles County Historical Society.

Being Jewish in St. Charles opens October 6th, 5-8pm, with a formal opening reception and awards ceremony on October 11th.

Events & exhibitions at the Foundry Art Centre are free and open to the public. For more information, please email Jessica Mannisi, Director of Art & Exhibitions, at jmannisi@foundryartcentre.org