The Jewish community center of Almata held a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Kazakhstan Merited Master of Arts, painter, writer, and poet Pavel Zaltsman. President of the “Mitzvah” Association of Jewish Organizations of Kazakhstan, Euro-Asian Jewish Congress General Council member Alexander Baron participated in the event. Among those who gathered at the meeting were fans of the painter’s work, people who knew him, and Jewish community activists.

 

Pavel Zaltsman was a professional set designer, painter, and graphic artist. He participated in the making of many films, wrote poetry and acute, unique prose, read fascinating lectures on the history of the arts. Several almanacs and albums of his work were published, and exhibitions of his work are being held in the Tretyakov gallery in Moscow.

In his welcome address to the gathering, Alexander Baron thanked everyone for keeping the memory of their wonderful co-patriots. “Unfortunately, memory fades. Our task is to keep it, to not lose it, to pass it to our children and grandchildren.” Bayan Barmankulova, a historian of arts, shared her memories of Pavel Zaltsman. “He was fascinated by Jewish towns and Kazakh auls. He could feel every person as unique,” she said.