I collect stories of people, whose attempts to make sense of memories and facts led to a discovery.
My name is Angelika Rinnhofer and I'm an artist. In 1995 I moved to the US from Germany where I had
trained as a commercial photographer. In 2005 I committed myself in depth to my art practice.
Through the experience of my migration, I am fascinated by a sense of belonging, and what shapes identity as individuals and as a community. For
the past two years I have been working on my project "a priori" with a group of people whose sense of belonging was challenged when they uncovered a
hidden Jewish heritage. I inquire about consequences of this discovery
and reasons for its concealment.
The Jewish Community Center in Dresden, Germany, is showing the project in the fall, starting with the opening on September 14. This is a major recognition of this work and I'd love to attend my opening, give a public talk at the Center, and celebrate the launch of the showing of this project with family and guests of the JCC. I hope to make it possible with this campaign, and to draw more attention to "a priori" and my participants and their stories.
Give
- $2,500 pays for:
- a roundtrip ticket from NYC to Dresden
- two nights in a hotel in Dresden
- return shipment of artwork plus insurance
Receive
- Postcard-sized editioned prints mailed from Dresden
- Video clip of opening talk and reception
- Digest/Lookbook of project images and video stills
My Goal
"a priori" is an ongoing project, and this exhibit is an opportunity to show the current state of the work. It's been my experience that public exposure such as this, provides a platform to meet potential new participants. Thus far I have photographed and interviewed 14 people. I would like to find between 10 and 15 more
participants to continue and complete “a priori”. I take large-format
black and white photographs of my participants and of objects significant to
their stories of discovery, and audio-record and videotape our conversations. I intend to present
the project as a book as well
as an exhibit in museums, galleries, and synagogues and churches. With the exhibit at the JCC in Dresden I am launching the project's exposure.
And Lastly:
If your situation does not allow you to contribute to my fundraiser, please consider to spread the word about "a priori". Pass on this page, email it, share it, post it; and tell people you know and who may be interested in this project about these stories of uncovered family secrets.
This is a fundraiser for flexible funding, which allows all contributions to be used toward paying for this trip, even if the final goal is not reached. All contributors receive the perk(s) claimed. And any funds raised in excess of my goal of $2,500 will be applied toward the continuation of "a priori". So, go ahead, make a contribution :)
