Alan Stein: Postcards From the Past – A New Exhibit at Wasaga Beach Public Library

Presented by the South Georgian Bay Jewish Community in celebration of Canadian Jewish Heritage Month.

May is Canadian Jewish Heritage Month, an opportunity to discover and celebrate Jewish culture, faith, and history, as well as the tremendous contributions of Jewish communities to our country’s social, political, and economic fabric.

The Wasaga Beach Public Library is thrilled to announce an evocative new art exhibition, Alan Stein: Postcards From the Past, opening on May 1, 2025. This compelling collection of charcoal drawings by renowned Canadian artist Alan Stein, RCA, offers visitors a profound visual journey into the past, drawing from the successful multi-media performances held last year at the Festival of the Sound and the Collingwood Music Festival.

Inspired by old family postcards and photographs, Alan Stein’s artwork vividly captures both real and imagined moments from his grandparents’ extraordinary lives. Each drawing unfolds a rich narrative—from a young woman navigating the upheavals of the Russian Revolution in St. Petersburg to a young man witnessing the invasion of Poland and surviving the trials within the Lodz ghetto. Eventually, their separate paths converge in Toronto and New York City, culminating in a joyful marriage filled with hope and resilience.

Visitors will find themselves immersed in powerful stories filled with dreams, tragedy, war, and ultimately, love. Complementing these original charcoal drawings and paintings, the exhibition also includes reproductions of select photographs and the postcards that sparked Stein’s creative imagination, providing intimate historical context and enhancing the depth of each artwork.

The original performances that inspired these artworks featured celebrated Canadian musicians Andrea Ludwig (mezzo-soprano), James Campbell (clarinet), Jaclyn Grossman (soprano), Moshe Hammer (violin), and Daniel Vnukowski (piano). They performed heartfelt Yiddish songs, poignant children’s poems set to music, stirring compositions from notable Jewish composers, and narrated the powerful stories contained within the postcards in Yiddish.

Don’t miss your chance to experience this moving exhibition, available to view at the Wasaga Beach Public Library beginning May 1  through May 19. It’s a rare opportunity to explore history through art, uncovering the stories hidden within these captivating postcards from the past.

Visit us and journey through history with Alan Stein. We look forward to welcoming you!