The Outsider Narrative: Recent Episodes
Dr Rohee Dasgupta
The episode is a conversation with art historian Professor Samantha Baskind of Cleveland State University and artiste Siona Benjamin. We discuss Siona’s transcultural art within the wider context of American-Jewish feminist art and the mediums of art-making.
The Art of Siona Benjamin: https://artsiona.com/
This week’s conversation weaves a story around community engagement through transcultural art, the importance of feminist leadership in Judaism with Rabbi Susan Talve of Central Reform Congregation (CRC) in St Louis, MO, and intercultural exchange through Siona Benjamin’s art installed at the CRC. Besides the artwork in the synagogue, their meaningful collaboration culminated in a book, The Zodiac Floor:
https://www.amazon.com/Zodiac-Floor-Central-Reform-Congregation/dp/0578759632/
The episode features a conversation on a collaborative book project, Growing up Jewish in India: Synagogues, Customs, and Communities from the Bene Israel to the Art of Siona Benjamin (Niyogi Books, 2021) with the book’s editor, Professor Ori Soltes, Georgetown University and artiste Siona Benjamin.
Booklink: https://www.niyogibooksindia.com/books/growing-up-jewish-in-india
Interview with Siona Benjamin, an Indian-American-Jewish artist on her art, identity, and perspectives from her work. The episode is the first of a four-segment series.
Introduction to the podcast -- The Outsider Narrative.
Featuring conversations and reflections on Cultures, Migrations, Identities, and Politics.
Conceived and presented by Dr. Rohee Dasgupta