Beth David Synagogue’s February Shabbat Luncheon will be held on Saturday, February 15. Shannon Lindridge, collection director at Roberson Museum, will speak about “Jewish Artists in the Roberson Museum Collection.” The community is invited to attend. Morning services will begin at 9:30 am, with the luncheon and program following the conclusion of services. The luncheon is free and open to the public.

Lindridge has been researching Jewish artists in the museum’s collection. Her focus will be on 20th-century works by Jewish artists from this region, as well as from elsewhere. Handouts will be made available to all who attend. 
Lindridge obtained her bachelor of science degree from SUNY Cortland with a dual major in art history and studio art, with a concentration in textiles, and a minor in chemistry. She has worked in a variety of departments at The Dowd Fine Arts Gallery, The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, The Herbert F. Johnson Museum and The History Center of Tompkins County before joining Roberson as its collections director in 2010.

When organizers of the Beth David Luncheon speaker series reached out to Roberson’s Executive Director Michael Grasso with their request for a presentation on Jewish artists, he indicated that this data point had not previously been recorded, but that it was a valuable one. “Given the research that Shannon is engaged in for this project,” organizers say, “we hope that at a future date Roberson will consider having an exhibit focusing on these artists – that would be truly wonderful. With this lecture, we are excited to get the ball rolling in that direction!” 

To date, Lindridge has found at least a dozen Jewish artists in the Roberson collection. Among them is William Zorach (1887-1966) , whose “Three Graces” statue can be found in the museum’s courtyard. Called a leading figure in the art world, his works are part of collections that include the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City and the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC.

“We are sure,” organizers say, “that Shannon’s presentation will open our eyes to what is right here in our community in that gem of a museum that is Roberson!”