Passage to India

There are only a few thousand Jewish people left in India; many of them immigrated to Israel decades ago. Siona Benjamin, an artist originally from Bombay, explores the singular experience of being an Indian Jew in her work, which uses both classic and modern imagery and a variety of mediums, from gouache paint to gold leaf. Tonight at 5:30 p.m., she’ll talk about that work during Faces: Weaving Indian Jewish Narratives.

The program will feature a slide presentation documenting Benjamin’s art and her travels in India, during which she interviewed and photographed some of that country’s remaining Jewish citizens. “People know more about Jews from Europe than they do about Jews from India. I’m happy to share my work,” she says, promising audiences a “journey through Jewish India.”

The evening — which begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by Benjamin’s talk at 6 — is part of a series of events that the artist will host at the Mizel Museum, 400 South Kearney Street; tickets are $12 to $16. For more information, go to www.mizelmuseum.org or call 303-394-9993.
Thu., May 17, 5:30 p.m., 2012