Lost Synagogues I have created a collection of evocative paintings that bring back to life synagogues that were erased before, during and shortly after WWII. Working from archival photos, I paint images that show the beauty and importance of these lost buildings. Each painting is accompanied by a researched description of the synagogue – who built it, what the community was like, who destroyed it and what exists there now. The project has grown over time and now includes over 100 paintings documenting 83 European synagogues. The collection is being exhibited around the country. I give a lecture on the subject and two books are in the works. A second stage will document synagogues that were destroyed or taken over in North Africa and Arab countries after WWII around the time of the establishment of the State of Israel. When complete the project will tell, in a visual and visceral form, the history of Jewish life in the middle of the 20th century. The first publication is a children’s book that speaks to all - ages five to ninety-five. The book is an excellent teaching tool and it belongs in schools and libraries world-wide as well as in every home. To get the book into public places I need help. Donors of 100 or more books can have a book plate inserted identifying their donation and choose the organization they wish the books to be given to. The second publication, a fully illustrated coffee table book with 100+ of my paintings, archival photos I work from and expanded text is being considered for publication by the Holocaust Memorial Center, Zekelman Family Campus in Farmington Hills, Michigan. They have some funds and a great deal of expertise in creating books and traveling exhibits. To get my book into print still requires some funding to allow me the time to finish the text and layouts and create some extra paintings that will visually round out the book. The Holocaust Center also needs some funding to make the book possible.

Sample chapters and a formal proposal for the coffee table book can be seen at: http://
www.astrongwater.com/3.html

The children’s book, “Where We Once Gathered – Lost Synagogues” can be seen at
www.eifrigpublishing.com I am uniquely qualified for this work. I was born into an observant Jewish family in New York and have lived most of my life in Manhattan. My mother’s family left Poland in the 1920’s and I first learned about European Jewish life from friends and relatives. I was an artist at birth and earned a BFA from Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art and Planning where I delved into all three disciplines as deeply as four years would allow. Any amount of money you wish to donate would be hugely appreciated. $60,000 is needed to publish the coffee table book. $8500 is needed to print a hardcover version of the children’s book. “The Lost Synagogues” is widely acknowledged to be an important contribution to Jewish history. All contributions go to re-creating, exhibiting and publishing the synagogues. Please become a part of that history by contributing today. The Lost Synagogues is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the purposes of The Lost Synagogue of Europe must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. https://www.fracturedatlas.org/s/campaign/216

For more information about the project please contact the artist directly.
Andrea@astrongwater.com or call 212 873-0905. Web sites are
www.astrongwater.com and www.astrongwaterdesigns.com

Thank you for your generous support.

all artwork copyright © Andrea Strongwater.