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Yankel Ginzburg's talent and vision have shaped the contemporary art world. His colorful paintings and thought-provoking sculptures inspire, delight and reflect on the human condition.
Ginzburg was born in 1945 on a military base in the Soviet Republic of Kazakhstan where his parents served as officers in the Red Army. His early life experiences shaped his craft and his humanity. He learned about the consequences of war as an impressionable 12-year-old when he returned to his father's homeland in Poland after World War II to find that none of his relatives had survived the Holocaust.
Ginzburg attended the prestigious Institute of Art in Israel, the youngest student ever to attend. He turned to his art to express himself.
His talent has influenced the art world for almost four decades and has enabled him to lead large-scale humanitarian efforts around the globe.
Ginzburg Gift to MU Leaves Mark
Ginzburg's gift and generosity have touched Misericordia University, which bestowed an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to him in May 2006. The artist recently created the painting, "Adrift,'' which was donated to MU by his lifelong collector, Robert S. Aben, a Plymouth businessman and philanthropist. The artist and Mr. Aben created 40 lithographs based on "Adrift.''
Misericordia will receive all proceeds from the sale of the 40 lithographic prints when purchased at art galleries or directly through Misericordia.
MU features an extensive collection of Ginzburg's art. The Mary Kintz Bevevino Library at Misericordia features 21 original paintings. Three other paintings and two sculptures also enhance the campus.
For Mr. Aben, the Religious Sisters of Mercy, the founders and sponsors of Misericordia, and the institution itself have had a profound impact on him during important stages of his life.
"The Sisters of Mercy have always held a very special place in my personal attachment to the university,'' says Aben, who has personally donated 24 original Ginzburg pieces to the institution.
"I went to St. Mary's when I was younger - and I'm Jewish - and they were wonderful. As a matter of fact, I think in retrospect they were quite possibly the best and nicest teachers I had the pleasure to be taught by. It's more than Misericordia; it's the institution they created. It makes me happy that I can participate."
Northeastern Pennsylvania, Luzerne County in particularly, have become a second home for Ginzburg and his wife, Pamela. The artist has a close, personal and professional relationship with Aben and his wife, Rebecca Bannan Aben, and Misericordia University.
"We developed camaraderie with administrators, alumni, faculty and friends of Misericordia,'' he adds. " They made me feel very comfortable. I feel like I am a part of their community. Before long, I felt as if I knew everybody.''
Exploring All Forms of Art
Over the years, Ginzburg has explored and created art in all forms of media, including boldly colored paintings and optical-acrylic sculptures that emanate a sense of eternal strength and everlasting beauty. His creations have been displayed in galleries around the world and have been chronicled in books and television documentaries.
Many of Ginzburg's works are monumental in scope. The large tapestry, "Freedom Road,'' hangs in the United State Holocaust Memorial Museum. World leaders have recognized his dedication to helping people understand the human spirit can overcome the unthinkable horrors of the Holocaust. His sculpture, "The Invisible Hand,'' in Tampa, Fla., is an interpretive sculpture that dramatizes the words: "Creativity is the product of the invisible hand.''
The "invisible hand'' of creativity that touched Ginzburg has enabled him to touch humanity with compassion and brilliance through so many mechanisms. He served his obligatory duty in the Israeli army and rejoined his unit to serve in the Six-Day War in 1967. He was a guest of the United States government in 1968 for a solo exhibit at the Washington Gallery of Art, and two years later made this country his permanent home.
A True Artist
Ginzburg is the first Israeli artist to exhibit in the Cairo Museum of Art, Cairo, Egypt, as a result of an invitation from President Anwar Sadat. Over the years, he has met other world leaders including American presidents, Israeli prime ministers and Russian leaders. His commissioned works helped commemorate the American Bicentennial, Constitutional Bicentennial and the Russian democratic revolution of 1991.
The artist has personally touched countless lives through his humanitarian missions and perpetuating peace. He personally delivered medical supplies and infant formula to war-torn Cambodia. His Fund for Democracy and Development raised more than $240 million for impoverished regions of the former Soviet Republics. Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin recognized his contributions to humanity by presenting him a humanitarian award.
Ginzburg has remained a strong advocate for peace in Israel, and has served as the vice president of the International Jewish Fund for Disaster Relief and as a board member of The Middle East Policy Council.
To order a lithograph or to get a full-color brochure of the collection, please contact Dona Posatko at (570) 674-6250 or at < ahref="mailto:dposatko@misericordia.edu">dposatko@misericordia.edu. For more information about the artist and his artwork, please visit www.Yankelginzburg. To guarantee Christmas delivery, all orders must be received by Dec. 19. There is a $70 shipping and handling fee from the Ginzburg gallery.
