Listening CHair: A Yizkor/Yahrzeit Companion, Spring 5781 /
Shirah Rubin
Credits
Listening Chair by Shirah Rubin
Video editing by Eliora Ancowitz & Olivia Huang
Projection by Sebastian Gonzalez Quintero
June 2021
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IG (instagram) Instagram.com/ShirahRubin
Future Iterations
Listening Chair for Family Reunions
I envision using the chair concept to make Listening Chairs that incorporate family tree images. What if I were to make a chair for everyone in my extended family, what would I uncover? What are the Kotlowitz values that we each grew up with and that we pass on? I would create a family video for each family to spark conversation and memory sharing.
I would assemble a virtual or in-person family reunion and share the chair installation and videos for extended family to ask questions and witness.
My dream would be for this process to evolve into a new unfolding yahrzeit family tradition co-created with my extended family.
I have been fascinated by the presence of absence for a long time and I was pleased that this Listening Chair ritual can be a container for memories, witness, and sharing. I look forward to making more chairs for my extended family.