The city of Beverly Hills in collaboration with the Community Services Department’s Arts & Culture Division, Recreation and Parks Division, as well as the Beverly Hills Public Library, will reveal “Unfolded Narratives,” a 100-foot-long tapestry art installation at the Beverly Hills Public Library on May 4. The installation, in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, will be on display throughout the month of May.
The tapestry is the work of artist Jenny Yurshansky, who led community workshops at Roxbury Park Community Center in February and March of this year. The sessions encouraged participants to explore their family origin stories through the creation of paper fortunes. These unique fortunes were then transformed into fabric quilt squares for inclusion in the tapestry. More than 60 of the 500 stories featured in the work were produced by Beverly Hills residents during the community workshops.
Additionally, the exhibit will feature “The Fugitive Archive,” a lightbox illuminating an image resembling an airport X-ray of a suitcase that holds sacred objects. These objects are also described in audio interviews with participants from previous community workshops. The resulting listening station, “Generation Loss,” will provide visitors an opportunity to listen to these stories on vinyl records.
Numerous other events will take place in the city to honor Jewish American Heritage Month. Activities include:
Rugelach Baking Contest, Beverly Hills Farmers’ Market, May 5, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Shalom Stories (Storytime), Beverly Hills Public Library, May 5, 1 p.m.
Jewish Tales, Tunes and Tastes (Storytime), Beverly Hills Public Library, May 19, 1 p.m.
Movie at Greystone, “Prince of Egypt”, Greystone Theatre, May 19, 6:30 p.m.
“Two Jews, Talking” (Staged Reading), Greystone Theatre, May 22, 6:30 p.m.
Critical Conversations Speaker Series: “Celebrating Jewish Culture & the Importance of Allyship,” City Hall Municipal Gallery, May 28, 6:30 p.m.
For more information about the events and to register for ticketed events, visit beverlyhills.org/JAHM.
