In 1936, Rudi Weissenstein, a 26-year-old photographer, emigrated from Czechoslovakia to Palestine with little more than 10 lire and his camera. In his adopted home Weissenstein documented everything from the settlers' way of life to the incredible landscapes of the Negev. In 1940, he and his wife, Miriam, opened Pri-Or Photohouse, a photo studio at 30 Allenby Street in Tel-Aviv. Weissenstein's work in documenting the development of Tel Aviv is unparalleled. After a struggle to preserve this incredible archive of Israeli history, the shop is still open today, managed by Rudi and Miriam's grandson, Ben Peter, and located at 5 Tchernichovsky Street.

This exhibit, which features 42 of Weissenstein's images, takes its name, Your Fortunate Eyes, from a Goethe quote that Weissenstein’s widow, Miriam, selected for his tombstone: You, fortunate eyes, All you’ve seen, there, Let it be as it may, Yet it was so fair!

Join Us for the Opening Reception and a Film Screening of Life in Stills!

Life in Stills (Ha-Tzalmania) Old Tel Aviv meets new Tel Aviv in this award-winning documentary. Miriam Weissenstein owns the Pri-Or Photohouse, a classic photo shop where she sells the more than a quarter-million photographs her recently deceased husband took of Israel since 1936. When the shop becomes destined for demolition, Miriam and her grandson Ben embark on a heart-wrenching journey to save the shop and the photo-negatives that document Israel's defining moments.

Directed by Tamar Tal (Israel, 60 min, 2011). Tue, Jun 11, 7:30 pm Screening; 8:30 pm Reception with Ben Peter

Credits:
Exhibit Credits: Curated by Ben Peter, Michal Amram & Andreas Grau-Fuchs, Pri-Or Photohouse Tel Aviv

Exhibit idea and concept, overall design as well as texts and selection of photographs are by Ben Peter, Michal Amram & Andreas Grau-Fuchs. The photos are archival pigment prints (2013), printed on Hahnemühle fine art paper. Works are for sale; please visit the box office for more details.

Your Fortunate Eyes was made possible with the generous help of the Consulate General of Israel in New York, Office of Cultural Affairs in the US. Gallery exhibitions made possible in part with a generous grant from the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.

The gallery exhibitions are made possible by a generous grant from The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. Additional support is provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.