I’ve been going through the archival documents and photos of our family and trying to find out all I can about the Russian origins of my family.

I discovered an envelope of pictures of Russian family members – some of whom survived the pogroms and World War 2 by living out the war years in the Ural Mountains. This is a portrait of my great- great grandmother Rahel Leah Batashoff. She was born in the mid 1800’s and moved to the US with her husband Benjamin and their 5 children (who came at various times). She made wine in Russia, traded and sold it to Russian soldiers, and then made it in New York in the bathtub during Prohibition to trade with Jews for wine for the Sabbath. Her husband was a barber and performed cupping treatments in the old country but was a manual laborer in New York.

The entire project is called “World Of My Mothers.” I began by making linocuts collage portraits of family members, and Fox scribbled around the people, and both of our lines were used to create collage portraits of my family members. Each portrait also contains photocopies of original family documents. In this portrait, there are copies of some of the Yiddish letters in my family collection, as well as a translation of one of the letters. Created in 2018.

I’ve been going through the archival documents and photos of our family and trying to find out all I can about the Russian origins of my family.

This is a collage portrait of my great- great grandmother, Dvora Ehrlich. She migrated to the US in the early 1900’s, fleeing the pogroms in Austria. Her life is a mystery.

This piece is part of a collection of pieces called “World Of My Mothers.” I began by making linocuts collage portraits of family members, and Fox scribbled around the people, and both of our lines were used to create collage portraits of my family members. Each portrait also contains photocopies of original family documents. In this portrait, there is images of a shtetl, the type of community she lived in before migrating to the United States, and lines drawn by my kid. Created in 2018.

I’ve been going through the archival documents and photos of our family and trying to find out all I can about the Russian origins of my family.

This is a collage portrait of my mother, Judith Halpern Kashoff.

This piece is part of a collection of pieces called “World Of My Mothers.” I began by making linocuts collage portraits of family members, and Fox scribbled around the people, and both of our lines were used to create collage portraits of my family members. Each portrait also contains photocopies of original family documents. In this portrait, there are lines drawn by my kid who was 3 years old at the time.

I’ve been going through the archival documents and photos of our family and trying to find out all I can about the Russian origins of my family.

This is a collage portrait of my grandmother’s aunt, Nechama (Annie) Simonowsky. She owned a building in New York in the 1920’s, ran a newspaper stand during the depression, and by all accounts was a loving woman.

This piece is part of a collection of pieces called “World Of My Mothers.” I began by making linocuts collage portraits of family members, and Fox scribbled around the people, and both of our lines were used to create collage portraits of my family members. Each portrait also contains photocopies of original family documents. In this portrait, there are copies of some of the Yiddish letters in my family collection, as well as a translation of one of the letters. Created in 2018.

I’ve been going through the archival documents and photos of our family and trying to find out all I can about the Russian origins of my family.

This is a collage portrait of my great- grandmother, Rose Basmak. She and her husband Abe migrated to the US in the early 1900’s, fleeing the pogroms in Russia. They survived during the depression by opening up a news and candy stand on a corner in New York. She died young at the age of 45 (cause of death unknown.)

This piece is part of a collection of pieces called “World Of My Mothers.” I began by making linocuts collage portraits of family members, and Fox scribbled around the people, and both of our lines were used to create collage portraits of my family members. Each portrait also contains photocopies of original family documents. In this portrait, there are copies of some of the Yiddish letters in my family collection, as well as a translation of one of the letters. Created in 2018.

I’ve been going through the archival documents and photos of our family and trying to find out all I can about the Russian origins of my family.

This is a collage portrait of Fannie Simonowsky; who lived to be 103. Most of the documents I’m referring to in this project come from her archives. She saved everything, and labelled almost everything, which has been a huge help in piecing together family history. She was the first member of my family to attend college. She was a teacher in Harlem from the 1930s- 1960s.

This piece is part of a collection of pieces called “World Of My Mothers.” I began by making linocuts collage portraits of family members, and Fox scribbled around the people, and both of our lines were used to create collage portraits of my family members. Each portrait also contains photocopies of original family documents. In this portrait, there are copies of some of the Yiddish letters in my family collection, as well as a translation of one of the letters.

I’ve been going through the archival documents and photos of our family and trying to find out all I can about the Russian origins of my family.

This is a collage portrait of my grandmother. She married my grandfather Lou in 1947 and they lived in Pennsylvania where my grandfather started a slacks business: Slacks By Halpern. Lou had grown up learning to sew from my grandmother, Sadie, who worked in the garment sweatshops of New York.

This piece is part of a collection of pieces called “World Of My Mothers.” I began by making linocuts collage portraits of family members, and Fox scribbled around the people, and both of our lines were used to create collage portraits of my family members. Each portrait also contains photocopies of original family documents. In this portrait, there are copies of some of the Yiddish letters in my family collection, as well as a translation of one of the letters.

I’ve been going through the archival documents and photos of our family and trying to find out all I can about the Russian origins of my family.

This is a collage portrait of my great- grandmother, Sadie Halpern. She and her husband migrated to the US in the early 1900’s, fleeing the pogroms in Austria. She worked in the garment industry in the lower east side of New York, spent many years of her life until her death living in the Bronx, and lived to be 104 years old. She was renowned for her pierogis.

This piece is part of a collection of pieces on my ancestors called “World Of My Mothers.” I began by making linocuts collage portraits of family members, and Fox scribbled around the people, and both of our lines were used to create collage portraits of my family members. Each portrait also contains photocopies of original family documents. In this portrait, there are copies of some of the Yiddish letters in my family collection, as well as a translation of one of the letters. Created in 2018.