Meet Judy Yerukhovich, Aish Gallery Curator
Jan 30th, 2013 | By EstherOne of our more exciting ongoing projects here at the Aish Center is our art gallery, where we display artwork by young Jewish artists. The gallery is run by our very own curator, the lovely Judy Yerukhovich. I sat down with Judy to find out a little more about her work.
Judy, the Aish Gallery curator
Hi, Judy! How’d you get involved with the Aish Center?
I was looking for a new spiritual home when I moved to Manhattan, and I was really taken by the staff at the Aish Center. The Rabbis do an amazing job, not only do they teach about Judaism but they constantly provide hard science to make it real. In addition, the staff at The Aish Center are incredibly friendly and welcoming.
So, what’s your role here?
I was offered the amazing opportunity to be a curator here at the Aish Center. Being a curator means that I find artists, write press releases, organize art exhibitions, take care of publicity for the exhibitions, and organize the sale of artwork.
Are there any advantages to curating here than at a regular gallery?
There is a huge advantage to curating at the Aish Center. Curating at here really pushes me as a curator to look beyond shock value, and the art market trends for work that is both technically sound and aesthetically pleasing, contemporary, and hip, all while remaining within a Jewish framework.
So, how’d you become a curator?
I studied liberal arts with a concentration in art history at Sarah Lawrence College, and then completed the contemporary art history program at The Sotheby’s Institute of Art. I also interned at different museums, commercial galleries, and non-profit art spaces while I was in school. Interning gave me tons of hands on experience and taught me how to run a gallery.
How do you find artists? What kind of art do you look for?
I look for young Jewish artists whose work I see potential in. I also look for artwork that will appeal to members of the Aish community both thematically and stylistically. In addition, I make sure that it is the kind of art I would want to collect myself.
It’d be great to see more art-based events running in the Jewish community. Thoughts?
Absolutely, it would be fantastic. Art is a really great way to engage people emotionally and is also a universal language that everyone can relate to. I believe that more art-based events would only benefit the Jewish community.
Thank you, Judy! We look forward to seeing some exciting art here at the Aish Center. The next artist whose work will be shown here is Nicholas Pollack, a photographer who documents the recovering Bronx River, a project that’s been featured at the Huffington Post.
