FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact in Europe: Petulia Melideo, +39 06 97625204, petulia@contexttravel.com
Contact in U.S.: Paul Bennett, +1 215 392 0303 or paul@contexttravel.com
New York, April 12 2010 – Teaming up with a group of internationally-known conservators, Context Travel is organizing a visit to the Stanton Street Shul, one of the oldest continually-operating synagogues in America. The tour, “Restoring the Lower East Side,” will take place on Sunday, June 6, 2010 at 10:30 am as part of Context’s critically-acclaimed “Out of Context” series of special events and site visits. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Stanton Street Shul’s ongoing conservation program.
“When you walk around the Lower East Side you see the history of America as a country of immigrants.” says Paul Bennett, Context co-founder. “Especially vivid is the history of the Jewish diaspora in America and the historic synagogues that dot this neighborhood. To be able to collaborate with two top conservators on this amazing project, and to give the public a chance to visit the Stanton Street Shul, is a rare opportunity.”
The event will focus on the work of conservators Beth Edelstein and Batyah Shtrum. Edelstein, a conservator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Shtrum, an internationally-recognized conservator who has worked on a variety of projects from Tuscany to the West Coast, have been engaged in a major restoration project at the Stanton Street Shul since 2009. They will take participants into this structure and explain some of its historical significance, from the building’s odd siting to the exceptionally rare zodiac murals that decorate the interior. Along the way, they will situate the building in the context of the neighborhood and discuss the state of Jewish architectural history in New York generally.
Restoring the Lower East Side is co-sponsored by the Context Foundation for Sustainable Travel, a 501c3 charity that invests in social and cultural preservation projects in cities around the world. All proceeds from this event will be donated through the Foundation to Stanton Street Shul to benefit its conservation program. Tickets cost $40 per person and are tax deductible.
Founded by National Geographic writer Paul Bennett and graphic designer Lani Bevacqua, Context is a network of English-speaking scholars and professionals – including art historians, writers, architects and gastronomes – who organize and lead didactic walking seminars in several world cities, including: Florence, Rome, Venice, Naples, Paris, London, New York, Istanbul, and Philadelphia. Travel + Leisure has named Context one of the top European tour companies for its innovative approach to travel and the depth of its programs. To learn more about Context, visit its website at: www.contexttravel.com
Regards,
Petulia Melideo
Context Travel 2208 South Street Philadelphia, PA 19146 USA
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