September 2024

In commemoration of the 95th anniversary of an outstanding writer and friend of the Rogatchi family late Grigory Kanovich ( 1929, Lithuania  – 2023, Israel ) and marking the European Days of Jewish Culture 2024, with its designated theme Family, the Rogatchi Foundation has donated a 25-piece special art collection Shtetl Songs to the Grigory Kanovich Public Library of the Jonava Municipality District, Lithuania. 

The collection consists of Michael Rogatchi’s 15-piece Shtetl Stories collection and Inna Rogatchi’s 11-piece Shtetl Memories series and includes both original works by both artists and exclusive museum prints of their works produced for the project specifically. 

The Rogatchi Foundation has also donated to the Grigory Kanovich Public Jonava Library licensing rights for the images of the artworks in the donated collection in support of the Library cultural and educational projects. 

All works by both Michael and Inna Rogatchi visit the theme of Jewish heritage, focusing on reminiscences to shtetl. The theme is well-known to both artists due to their respective families’ stories and origins. Inna and Michael Rogatchi both tell about it in their introductions to the collection in the Shtetl Songs art catalogue which has been published for the occasion of the donation of the collection and its inaugural exhibition at the Grigory Kanovich Public Library in Jonava, Lithuania. 

15 artworks by Michael Rogatchi represents the artist’s well-known series on various themes of Jewish history and heritage, including his Shtetl Stories, Jewish Melody, Psalms Country, Daily Miracle and In the Mirror of the Shoah. 11 works by Inna Rogatchi are from the artist’s Songs of Our Souls and Shtetl Memories series. 

The entire collection has been donated by the artists and their The Rogatchi Foundation to the Grigory Kanovich Public Library of the Jonava Municipality in Lithuania at the special ceremony on September 12th, 2024. The ceremony was part of the extensive program of the annual European Days of Jewish Culture, which has FAMILY as the theme in 2024. 

The Rogatchi Foundation also licensed all images of the donated collection to the Library with the purpose of the ongoing support of their wide and versatile educational and cultural activities. 

The 25-piece Shtetl Stories and Memories collection will be exhibited in the Library in Joanav until the end of November 2024, after which the exhibition will travel throughout Lithuania from 2025 onward. After its tour, the Rogatchi Collection will return to the Jonava Library as part of the Library Permanent Art Collection.

Full Inna Rogatchi Shtetl Memories collection.  

 On September 12th, 2024, artist Michael Rogatchi and his wife writer and artist Inna Rogatchi  participated in the Inaugural Opening of their dual Shtetl Stories and Memories exhibition at the Grigory Kanovich Public Library in Jonava, Lithuania, the native place of the outstanding modern writer ( 1929 – 2023) of an international appeal.

The 25-piece collection has been donated by the artists and The Rogatchi Foundation to the Library in commemoration of the 95th anniversary of the great writer and friend of the Rogatchi family Grigory Kanovich ( 1929 – 2023). 

The opening of the inaugural Shtetl Stories and Memories exhibition was part of the rich program of the events celebrating the annual European Days of Jewish Culture, with their Family theme for year 2024.

The events were attended by the Israeli Ambassador to Lithuania H.E. Hadas Wittenberg Silberstein, member of the Seimas MP Eugenius Zabutis, leaders of the Jonava municipality, writers, publishers, patrons of the Library, artists, honorary guests, public and students. 

After the inaugural exhibition at the library ( September 12 – November 25, 2024) the Shtetl Stories and Memories exhibition will start to travel throughout Lithuania being exhibited at different cultural and educational locations in the country. 

A special professional bilingual Lithuanian-English catalogue featuring the Shetl Stories and Memories special collection by Michael and Inna Rogatchi has been published by the Library and The Rogatchi Foundation. 

Full Inna Rogatchi Shtetl Memories collection. 

The Holocaust Garden of Hope in Kingwood, near Houston, opened its first phase on November 5th, 2023. 

The images of Inna Rogatchi’s well known works from the artist’s two series are displayed at the Entrance Exhibit which meets visitors of the new memorial garden in Texas. 

Inna’s artworks are displayed on the second panel of the Entrance exhibit of the new important project in a beautiful garden with the lake in Kingwood. 

The works are Creation of Trees from the artist’s Creation Stories notable project, and Blue Winds. Homage to Leonard Cohen whom Inna knew personally, from the artist’s Homages international art project. 

Throughout the path of the Garden, various exhibits would tell the story of the Holocaust and urge for its remembrance, understanding and actuality of it at our challenging times. 

Eighteen more of Innal Rogatchi’s artworks will be part of a permanent display throughout the Holocaust Garden of Hope which is under further construction now.

 Inna Rogatchi artwork dedicated to Rene Magritte was awarded with a Honourable Mention at the prestigious TIME exhibition at the leading European PH21 Gallery & Art Photography Centre ( Budapest – Barcelona – Rome).

Inna’s work Yesterday. Magritte Home ( 2022) will be presented at the international curated TIME exhibition at the PH21 Gallery & Art Photography Centre  from November 17 through December 10th this year. 

Inna’s other work, also dedicated to Magritte, is also featured at the exhibition. 

Both Inna’s works are part of her project MAGRITTE which is created upon her extensive research of one of the most intellectually formidable masters of modern art. Inna regards Rene Magritte as her favourite artist. 

Both works featured the authentic premises of Rene Magritte’s life and work in Brussels. These premises, unlike the large Rene Magritte museum in Brussels, are far less known.  

At the internationally curated TIME exhibition, 70 works of 35 artists will be present, representing the USA, Australia, Italy, France, Belgium, Netherlands,  Austria, Germany, Hungary, Denmark, Israel, Lithuania. Inna is the only artist representing Finland at the exhibition. The exhibition is curated by professor Zsolt Batori and Dr Borbala Jasz, both well known art professionals, philosophers,  curators, and art historians. 

The exhibition online gallery is presented here. 

The exhibition will be on display from November 17th through December 10th at the PH21 Gallery & Art Photography Centre in Budapest, Hungary.