The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art at the Fenster/Sanditen Cultural Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a lesser-known gem of an art museum in a town with a surprising wealth of art museums. The Sherwin Miller specializes in Jewish art, with a wide range of exhibits.
Art works in multiple media
The main meeting room of the museum features works in media ranging from stained glass to bronze. Comfortable seating and a small shop full of treasures make this an excellent space for gathering.
Bronze sculptures of Moses set the tone.
There is a research library and many educational resources.
Theodore Fried
When we visited, the museum contained the world’s largest collection of the works of Hungarian artist Theodore Fried.
Fried, whose self-portrait is shown below, was born Tivadar Fried on May 19, 1902, in Budapest. He moved to Vienna in 1925, and worked as a fashion designer, a puppeteer, and a violinist in an orchestra at a movie house — which is how movies got their sound tracks before the invention of “talkies” with sound. Throughout this time, he continued to exhibit his paintings even though that did not provide him with a living.
When Nazi Germany threatened France, Fried’s wife and son emigrated to the United States. Fried stayed on in Paris, finishing a commission to illustrate a book. When he was ready to join his family, the quota for Hungarian immigrants to the United States was filled and he could not get permission to come to the United States. He continued to work in hiding in France until at last he was able to escape. He then came to New York.
The Sanditen / Kaiser Holocaust Center
Many visitors begin with The Sanditen / Kaiser Holocaust Center, an exhibit combining artifacts from Holocaust survivors with filmed interviews of survivors living in Oklahoma and educational exhibits.
Many of the items shown help to give a picture of daily life at the time.
Others detail the events of the period.
This display shows the rapid rise of the Nazi party in Germany during the beginning of the 20th century. While we noticed that there is no information about voter turnout during those years, the rapid rise the party is startling.
Another exhibit that lends itself to math study is this map of Europe’s Jewish population in 1933.
The Center also contains shocking Nazi propaganda, news reports, and many objects collected from this historical period. Although the exhibits are moving, it is suitable for students and can convey some of the horror of the events without the traumatic photos students are likely to encounter if they attempt research online. If you are not close enough for a physical visit, visit the website to share some information with your students.
Jewish History and Culture
The Jewish History and Culture exhibit takes on the impressive task of sharing 5,000 years of history.
Displays include traditional themes and artworks, as well as explanations of holidays and cultural traditions.
There are displays of beautiful items from Jewish families around the world, such as these lovely clothes from Morocco.
The variety of artworks in this section of the museum is impressive.
There are also many exhibits from synagogues, particularly those in Tulsa and other parts of Oklahoma. Information about the Jewish faith and traditions is presented clearly for people who may have little background knowledge, and the people at the museum are happy to answer questions.
There is even an exhibit on Jewish rock musicians.
This museum is a treasure for learning about art, history, and culture.
