Linda Stein's Manhattan Exhibition 'Holocaust Heroes' Highlights Bravery and Empowerment - 27 East

Arts & Living

Arts & Living / 1339763

Linda Stein's Manhattan Exhibition 'Holocaust Heroes' Highlights Bravery and Empowerment

icon 4 Photos

78" × 24" × 8" leather, metal, mixed media

78" × 24" × 8" leather, metal, mixed media

author on Jul 4, 2016

Linda Stein, an artist-activist from East Hampton, is currently showcasing her traveling exhibition “Holocaust Heroes: Fierce Females—Tapestries and Sculpture by Linda Stein,” to celebrate gender equality at the Flomenhaft Gallery in Manhattan.

As part of the arts organization Have Art: Will Travel!, which Ms. Stein founded, this three-part exhibition features 10 female heroes from the Holocaust. Each hero is represented by a tapestry that tells her story and shines light on her courageous acts during a time of severe atrocity. It is open to the public through July 14, and by appointment until August 2.

“I did research and found that these women were unbelievable,” Ms. Stein explained. “I want to help introduce these 10 heroes—most of whom nobody’s ever heard of. People only know of Anne Frank.”

In addition to the Heroic Tapestries, this exhibition consists of 20 “Spoon to Shell” sculptures meant to highlight sexual abuse, and one “Protector” sculpture with a Wonder Woman shadow to symbolize a brave defender. It also includes an educational program and interactive events such as lectures and performances.

Ms. Stein’s current art represents human empowerment and focuses on a person’s ability to overcome bullying and oppression. During the educational portion of the exhibition, she discusses with the younger audience what it means to be a hero.

“I created the four B’s: Bully, Bullied, Bystander and Brave Upstander,” she said. “If you’re walking on the street and see a homeless person, would you stop and look? Would you take the role of the bystander and walk on? Or do we try to intervene in some way?”

She said that she used to create abstract art while working in Manhattan, but after the events of September 11, 2011, caused her to take a year-long hiatus, her work later became more figurative and concrete.

“My work has always been about protection,” Ms. Stein said. “It was a natural progression to go from this kind of figurative work about protection to the Holocaust, where protection was in such short supply.”

This stop in Manhattan marks the halfway point of Ms. Stein’s exhibition tour. Since September 2015, she and her project have traveled to Miami and Boca Raton, Florida; and Santa Barbara, California. She will later visit Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Dallas, Texas; and Portland, Maine. Although she travels often and works at her Tribeca art studio, she still manages to spend most of her weekends at her East Hampton home working on her art.

Ms. Stein edited and helped publish an 84-page, full-color exhibition book that includes a collection of essays that tell the stories of the Holocaust Heroes. Feminist icon Gloria Steinem wrote the foreword for the book. She is an honorary board member for Have Art: Will Travel! along with others such as Hamptons residents Merle Hoffman and Patti Kenner.

The book, with the same name as the exhibition, can be purchased for $35 at the Flomenhaft Gallery or on the publisher’s website at shop.oldcitypublishing.com.

At 104 years old, Ruth Gruber is the only one of the Holocaust Heroes still alive today. During World War II, this American photojournalist and foreign correspondent had successfully completed a special mission to accompany 1,000 Jewish refugees aboard a ship from Italy to upstate New York. Her dedication to helping others was what inspired Ms. Stein to include her in the exhibition.

Ms. Gruber has published 18 books and given countless lectures across the country, including many lectures in the Hamptons. Her good friend Ms. Kenner, who wrote Ms. Gruber’s essay in the exhibition book, made a film about her life that was featured in the Hamptons International Film Festival.

From July 11 to 14, Ms. Stein will host a summer institute at her Tribeca studio to teach art educators about social justice art education through her 
“Holocaust Heroes” exhibition. She said she hopes to eventually expand it out to the Hamptons to service her local community.

“Holocaust Heroes: Fierce Females—Tapestries and Sculptures by Linda Stein” is open to the public at the Flomenhaft Gallery in Chelsea, Manhattan, until July 14, or by appointment only until August 2.

You May Also Like:

Ted Hartley To Be Inducted into Hamptons Artist Hall of Fame, Exhibit at Hamptons Fine Art Fair

Artist Ted Hartley will be inducted into the Hamptons Artist Hall of Fame during the ... 3 Jul 2025 by Staff Writer

Sara Nightingale Gallery Debuts Rose Cameron’s Dreamlike ‘Forever. For Now.’ Exhibition

Sara Nightingale Gallery will present a solo exhibition by artist Rose Cameron titled “Forever. For ... by Staff Writer

Childhood Friends and Authors Scott Johnston, Michael Cannell Discuss New Books at Bridgehampton Barnes & Noble

Authors Scott Johnston and Michael Cannell, longtime childhood friends who grew up on the East ... by Staff Writer

Artists Go Off-Map in ‘Having a Long Coarse Daunting Peak’ at LTV Studios

“Having a Long Coarse Daunting Peak,” an exhibition of color, urgency and unmapped terrain curated ... by Staff Writer

Supporting a Biodiverse Future: David Loehwing and Kevin McDonald in Conversation at The Church

The Church will host David Loehwing and Kevin McDonald for a talk on Saturday, August ... by Staff Writer

‘Organic Abstraction’ Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition Returns to Southampton Arts Center

The outdoor sculpture exhibition “Organic Abstraction: Contemporary Outdoor Sculpture” returns to the Southampton Arts Center this summer for its second season. Curated by Cheryl Sokolow of C Fine Art, the show features works by internationally recognized, museum-collected sculptors working within a formalist framework. An artists’ reception will be held Saturday, July 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. on the grounds of the Southampton Arts Center. “Organic Abstraction” explores materiality, form and artistic process, emphasizing the evolving relationship between artwork, natural surroundings and viewer. Sculptures by Bill Barrett, Joel Perlman, Jane Manus, Kevin Barrett, Norman Mooney, Carole Eisner, Alex Barrett, Matt ... by Staff Writer

Sail Back to the 1970s and 1980s With Yacht Rock Gold at The Suffolk

The Suffolk will welcome back fan-favorite tribute band Yacht Rock Gold for an evening of ... by Staff Writer

World-Renowned Artist Vija Celmins Selected as Hamptons International Film Festival Featured Poster Artist

The Hamptons International Film Festival has announced that world-renowned artist and longtime Sag Harbor resident ... 2 Jul 2025 by Staff Writer

Southampton Playhouse’s July Lineup Featuring Blockbusters, Author Talks and IMAX Experiences

Southampton Playhouse is offering a diverse July lineup that includes summer blockbusters in IMAX, an author-in-conversation series and family-friendly Sunday matinees. These events cater to a wide audience — from casual moviegoers and families to cinephiles and literature lovers. On Friday, July 11, “Superman” blasts into IMAX as part of the Playhouse’s Superhero Cinema Series. Amazon Prime members receive early access during an exclusive event on July 8, while the general public can attend starting July 11. Upcoming superhero screenings will include “Flash Gordon” (1980), “The Mask” (1994), “The Incredibles” (2004), and Max Fleischer’s classic “Superman” animated shorts. On Tuesday, ... by Staff Writer

Second Annual Hamptons Reggae Festival Returns to The Clubhouse July 13

The sound of summer returns to the East End as The Clubhouse Hamptons hosts the ... by Staff Writer