Contemporary Jewish Artists Encounter Samaritan Culture, 2020–2022: Artists’ Perspectives

Abstract

This article describes the process by which eight contemporary Jewish artists – Andi Arnovitz, Judith Joseph, Richard McBee, Mark Podwal, Archie Rand, Joel Silverstein, Hillel Smith, and Yona Verwer – encountered Samaritan culture and created artworks that bridge their new learning about the Samaritans and their own Jewish identities. Their works were integrated into The Samaritans: A Biblical People, an exhibition at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, that debuted in the fall of 2022. This essay integrates interviews with the artists into a larger discussion of their art.