by Yona Zeldis McDonough

“Greatest Generation Women”

 

Ellen Wallenstein’s astute and tender eye falls gently upon this group of over-80s, all photographed in the natural light of their homes or studios. The subjects, several of them notable Jewish women, skew towards artists and intellectuals, all born at the beginning of the last century.  “Known as the ‘Greatest Generation’ and coming of age between the two World Wars, the effect of this generation’s contribution is evident in their creative work, which includes books, poems, paintings, photographs, plays and performances,” notes Wallenstein. “My photographs are meant to celebrate these individuals and to inspire admiration by future generations.”

 

The subjects include Joan Copeland, an actor primarily known for recurring roles on soap operas and films (and the sister of Arthur Miller), Bel Kaufman, author of the international best-selling “Up the Down Staircase, ” (and granddaughter of the Shalom Alechim), Ruth Gruber, the photojournalist and writer who warned of the rise of Naziism in Europe and was aboard the ship “Exodus,” Rebecca Lepkoff, a photographer whose first book of photographs was published when she was 91, Judith Malina, a radical actor/activist who founded “The Living Theatre” with Julian Beck, Rosalind Fox Solomon, a photographer who recently photographed in Israel and Eva Zeisel, renowned industrial designer and pottery artist awarded a Lifetime Achievement award from the Cooper-Hewitt and honorary degrees from Parsons, Rhode Island School of Design, the Royal College of Art and the Hungarian Institute of the Arts.

Wallenstein has listened to their stories, and documented their aging faces with a reverence and respect that will inspire our own.

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“Respecting My Elders: Age & The Creative Spirit,” photographs by Ellen Wallenstein, is currently on view at the 92nd Street Y’s Milton J. Weill Art Gallery until December 6th.