Zack Balber Presentation at Temple Beth Am on Tamim Photographs
Friday, May 11, 2012, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Social Hall, Lewis Family Religious Life Complex
5950 North Kendall Drive
Miami, FL 33156

Axler Shabbat Series – An Evening of Contemporary Art with artist Zack Balber

Cost: $20 per person for temple members; $24 per person for non-members — includes dinner
Register Online or RSVP to Michelle Cohen in the Program Department, 305.667.6667 ext. 149, or email mcohen@tbam.org.

The Hebrew word Tamim translates as “pure,” “unblemished,” and “complete.” Cutting-edge artist Zack Balber offered his unique, incongruous twist on Tamim’s denotation in his first solo exhibition at the Fredric Snitzer Gallery this past fall. Balber uncovers in his challenging large-scale portraits the camouflaged identity of men who do not fit within the norms of Jewish life.

Born and raised in gritty inner-city neighborhoods throughout the country, both the artist and many of his subjects lacked any Jewish role models. They concealed their culture behind tattoos and other strange physical details in the pursuit of assimilation. Relocated to a close-knit Jewish community in Miami, Balber began to reconnect with his roots. During his cultural rediscovery, he encountered men who were similarly unorthodox, yet retained that indefinable Jewish spark. Approached with the opportunity to be photographed as Jews, these men let go of their exteriors and embraced their vulnerability as seen in Balber’s images. When the participants donned Balber’s Bar Mitzvah yarmulke, each of them expressed a spiritual reconnection to their culture despite their provocative appearance.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Balber is a graduate of the New World School for the Arts and University of Florida. His work has been featured in galleries throughout Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago and Kansas City, KS. We are thrilled to bring Zack to our community and to learn about his professional and personal connections to Jewish life.

We extend our sincere thanks to all of the sponsors from over the years of our fabulous Axler Scholar-in-Residence programs. We are especially grateful to Beth Am pioneer member Evelyn Axler for her generous support of the annual Scholar-in-Residence, which is named in memory of her late husband, Morton M. Axler, M.D.
2011–12 Sponsors
Evelyn Axler
Rabbi Herbert Baumgard
Judy & Jordan Bittel
Suzanne & Dr. Lawrence Fishman
Mollie Grad
Edith Einspruch, Vice President of Programming
Debra Frank, Program Chairperson
Dawn Adels Fine, Jewish Explorations Chairperson
Sponsorship Opportunities Available
$72 — Includes admittance for one person
$136 — Includes admittance for two persons
Please contact Michelle Cohen if you are interested in sponsoring one or more of these Shabbat Series events.