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When Allan Amanik ’06 began a series of paintings based on his eastern European Jewish heritage and the loss of his maternal grandparents, he never thought they would be displayed in a gallery. But, that’s exactly what happened.
Artwork by Amanik, who graduated in May with an A.B. degree with majors in government & foreign languages and Jewish studies,and Jadwiga Norek, custodian in plant operations, will be on display Aug. 6-31 at the Room “C” Gallery of Quadrant Bookmart & Coffeehouse. The gallery, located on 20 North Third Street, Easton, is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. An artists’ reception will be held noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6.
The exhibition, titled “Kolorystyka A Schwarz Un Weis,” features acrylic paintings by both artists. It is the first show for Amanik, and he is excited to share the spotlight with Norek, who he met at Lafayette a year ago.
“I am flattered and humbled all at once,” says Amanik. “I’m very excited that my work will be shown, and I think it’s the greatest compliment someone like me – who literally just picked up a brush one day to see what would happen – could ever receive. I’m really honored I get to share my first show and such a great experience with Jadwiga Norek. She is really one of the most genuine and good-hearted people I have met. Her artistic talent and the dedication and effort she has put into not only her art, but developing that talent further, have made a deep impression on me. This show, as special as it is to me and for my own expression, is just as much a deserved recognition of Jadwiga and her accomplishments. I’m very happy that the energy of our pieces can reflect and compliment each other.”
This is Norek’s second exhibit. She previously had artwork displayed at Connexions Gallery in Easton. Her interest in art formed when she began working for Lafayette four years ago, but she has become very serious about painting over the last year.
“I started with plain painting and received comments from some of the professors,” she says. “They really encouraged me to paint more so I used my spare time to paint.”
Norek describes her artwork as mainly abstract, but she will sometimes incorporate elements of impressionism.
“I use my own imagination and I love to play with colors,” she says. “Whatever feeling I have at that particular moment in time, I just put it on the canvas. For me it’s really, really enjoyable. I think art is fun. I don’t view it as work; I do it because I enjoy it, it relaxes me.”
Amanik’s maternal and paternal grandparents are Holocaust survivors, and their experiences sparked his interest in the European Jewish culture in which they were raised. He is fascinated by current issues facing Jews today, including the status of the European Jewish civilization following the Holocaust, desire among survivors in the U.S. to assimilate their children into American culture, and creation of a new Jewish culture based in Israel.
“The series is an expression of both my exploration into my eastern European Jewish heritage and a reflection of the grief I felt for the loss of my maternal grandparents, who both passed away within the past year,” he explains. “Likely because I hold my grandparents in such high regard, I feel a great need to preserve something of their unique legacy. This series seeks to comment on instances in my studies at Lafayette that have illustrated the move in early Israeli society to distance itself from the European Jewish identity in favor of a new Israeli one.”
Amanik completed most of the pieces in the show while a student in an advanced painting class taught by Ed Kerns, Clapp Professor of Art. He created a weekly comic strip for three years for The Lafayette called “Murrow.” It was his work producing supplemental comics for the Class of 2009’s first year orientation reading of In the Shadow of No Towers that brought Amanik to the Williams Visual Arts Building.
“That job introduced me to a whole new perspective on art and some amazing artists and instructors whom I would never have gotten the opportunity to get to know,” he recalls. “I was just beginning to understand the theme that was driving my work. The encouragement and influence of the other artists working in the Williams Visual Arts Building and being exposed to their unique perspectives and approaches toward their own art, [motivated] me to find inspiration in my academic studies and channel that into the other pieces that would come to make up my first series of paintings that will be exhibited in this show.”
Now studying for a master’s degree in Jewish history and contemporary Jewish identity in the U.S. and Israel at Brandeis University, Amanik says his faculty mentors at Lafayette inspired him to continue his studies and explore his artistic passion.
“Robert Cohn, [Berman Professor of Jewish Studies], as my Jewish studies and faculty adviser, and Ed Kerns as my main painting mentor were crucial in helping me develop my interest in both Jewish history and painting,” he says. “I consider their encouragement and support as not only invaluable in shaping my outlook and approach to the creative and intellectual process, but also something that I value as one of the highlights of my ‘Lafayette experience.’ In many ways, my goal of one day becoming a college professor stems from a desire to give to future students the same inspiration, guidance, and friendships that these individuals privileged me with. I want to thank everyone involved in this show for all of the support and encouragement, in particular Lori Dobson, , who went above and beyond to arrange, plan, and put together the show.”
Norek also believes Lafayette is an excellent place to learn art because of the supportive atmosphere.
“There is no way you cannot be influenced,” she says. “I was so scared to start to paint because I felt I couldn’t do it. But Ed Kerns said ‘You can do it, you can do it.’ It’s such a fantastic atmosphere, you get inspired.”
Amanik is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Delta Pi, the national Spanish honors society. He also completed honors thesis research comparing and contrasting the integration of Holocaust survivors in the U.S. and Israel and how it affects those societies’ understanding of the Holocaust.