Three photographs from Ralph Gibson’s ‘Sacred Land’ exhibit at the Cincinnati Skirball Museum
The Skirball Museum of Cincinnati will host a Lunch & Learn related to its latest installation, “Sacred Land” by Ralph Gibson, on Thursday, December 5, from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. The event will be held in Mayerson Auditorium in the Skirball Museum, where the exhibit is currently on display.
Gibson’s exhibit opened Thursday, October 31.
The exhibit features photos by Ralph Gibson on his first ever visit to Israel at the age of 80. At the opening, Jean Rosensaft, director of HUC’s Bernard Heller Museum said of Gibson, “He approached Israel with no preconceived notions, with a kind of naïveté. By depicting the soul of Israel, both ancient and contemporary, with all of its complexity and diversity, ‘Sacred Land’ invites us into the eye of the photographer, who describes Israel as the ‘oldest and youngest country in the world.’”
In an exhibit booklet that accompanies the installation, the show’s producer Martin Cohen writes that “the overall narrative about Israel is that in this relatively small nation, one can witness and relive the very beginnings of world history; experience the world’s most advanced institutions in science, technology, and medicine — and everything in between. That is the central theme in these works.”
Dr. Haim Rechnitzer, Professor of Jewish Thought at HUC Cincinnati, will be delivering a lecture titled “Zion — A Place of an Idea.” Rechnitzer’s research focuses on themes of political theology, theological trends in Hebrew poetry, Israeli theology and Jewish education. A recording of the session will be available for those who are unable to attend. Gibson’s “Sacred Land” will be on view in Mayerson Hall at the HUC Cincinnati campus until February 23, 2025. Those interested in attending can find more information as well as a link for registration on the Skirball website.
