“Forgotten Alliances: Blacks and Jews” Public Art Exhibit

Oak Hill Consulting Partners, in association with their featured artist Deborah Putnoi, proudly presents, “Forgotten Alliances: Blacks and Jews,” a public art show and accompanying program designed to spur conversations and forge new partnerships as well as to demystify current rhetoric between these groups that share such a storied and critical past.

Powerful art can be a catalyst for essential conversations and social action. When art is placed in a public context, individuals can engage with an art piece on the way to the bank or when paying a parking ticket. We may not know what ripple effects these chance encounters have on individuals, but history shows us that even a momentary peek or a longer visit—viewing powerful art—can not only provide a new way to see the world and the community, but also spark discussions that can lead to real cultural shifts in society.

Building on a 50-year relationship grounded in love and community, classically trained fine artist Deborah Putnoi and art dealer Karl McLaurin find themselves distraught at the current tenor of hate and lies festering nowadays regarding their two respective communities. Deborah is a granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor and has used her art as a way to engage social action, and Karl—the son of two lifetime community and educational activists—is an African American leader who believes in amplifying the voices of African American and marginalized artists to affect equitable change. In recent conversations, Deb and Karl share feelings of frustration that these two communities comradely—that in fact share a deep and committed relationship to one another dating back from the early 1960s through today—has been severely strained. To them, an obvious alliance should be forged anew and strengthened.

This exhibit is located in the third floor lobby of Boston City Hall and runs through Feb. 28. Visit the Boston City Hall galleries page to learn more.