The Sexuality Spectrum Dorit Jordan Dotan Photography

The Sexuality Spectrum

Laura Kruger, Curator, explained, “The HUC-JIR Museum staff held numerous focus groups of artists, asking them to share their intimate feelings concerning their lives as LGBTQI in the community, including their faith-based experiences. We frequently heard incidentsof marginalization, isolation, and exclusion. They shared their long years of concealment as well as the wrenching experienceof ‘coming out;’ their relationships with family members, employers, and friendships that disintegrated; and the search for life-long partners.”

The Sexuality Spectrum offers a groundbreaking exploration of sexual orientation through the creativity of over fifty international contemporary artists. Artists including Judy Chicago, Joan Snyder, Arthur Tress, Archie Rand, Albert Winn, Trix Rosen, Joan Roth, and Mark Podwal explore a broad range of subjects:the evolving social and religious attitudes toward sexuality; issues of alienation, marginalization, and inclusion; the impact on the family, child-rearing, and life stages; violence and persecution; AIDS/HIV; and the influence of the LGBTQI community on the Jewish and larger world.

Rabbi David Ellenson, HUC-JIR President, states, “The common thread that unites these works is a principled intent on the part of these artists to employ art as a tool to create a messianic world of justice for all regardless of sexual orientation, family status, gender, or age. It is the self-evident ethical aspiration that marks this exhibition as so powerful, inspirational, and unique.”

Ruth & Naomi

Under a sign declaring women’s ancient loyalty and love, two young women share an intimate moment at the Tel Aviv Pride Parade.

The original photo was processed as a composite. A moment captured at the Tel Aviv Pride Parade is re-created as an image of melded ancient and modern - and yet common - experience.

The Hebrew written on the sign is a direct quote from the Book of Ruth 1:16

And Ruth said: “Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge.”

Illustrated photograph

Size: 19.6” x 27.5”

Protectors

Armed police detail for the protection of the marchers at the Haifa Pride Parade stand over David's words for Jonathan.

Samuel 2:26 “Wonderful was thy love to me, surpassing the love of women.”

Size: 23.6” x 15.7”

“The Sexuality Spectrum” Dorit Jordan Dotan Photography

Judy Chicago and Estelle Yarinsky reference Nazi persecution of gay victims during the Holocaust, as documented in Richard Grune’s rare wartime lithograph. Josh Lehrer captures haunting portraits of transgender youths in New York City. Helene Aylon, Susan Kaplow and Trix Rosen expose and refute the biblical quotes in Leviticus that have engendered discrimination and intolerance, while Archie Rand looks to the biblical David and Jonathan and prophet and warrior Deborah for other perspectives, as does Benton Spruance’s evocation of Jacob wrestling with the angel and David Wander’s “Song of Songs.” Heddy Abramowitz and Dorit Jordan Dotan capture public conflict over gay rights in Israel, while Kobi Israel offers poignant images of military personnel as commentary.