POSTPONED: Thurs, May 13 – Becoming An American: The Art of Siona Benjamin

Author and professor Dr. Ori Soltes joins artist Siona Benjamin for a discussion of her varied and stunning range of works, as colorfully compelling as they are thought- provoking. Siona’s art intertwines a dynamic, visual vocabulary into a unique dialect of the language of becoming American. Growing up as a Jew in Hindu and Muslim India and attending Catholic and Zoroastrian schools, Siona was already an artist bursting with diverse influences when she came to the United States to further her study of art three decades ago—and stayed. She began to weave new threads into the tapestry of her imagery, resonating from the inputs of American art and from her experience as an immigrant and as a woman of color in America. Siona’s art informs us visually of what we can experience in America in the interweaving of various cultures into a carpet of harmonious colors.

Dr. Ori Z. Soltes‘ dynamic teaching, lecturing, curating, and writing reflect a broad series of interests and a unique ability to combine them in unusual ways that are thought-provoking and both challenging and intellectually exciting. He currently teaches theology, philosophy, and art history at Georgetown University. For seven years, Dr. Soltes was Director and Chief Curator of the B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum, where he created over 80 exhibitions focusing on aspects of history, ethnography, and contemporary art.