Birth of a nation — Photography exhibit displays Israel's 60 years of history

Sixty years ago, the Union Jack came down and the Star of David went up. Great Britain had been administrating the Israeli territory under the Balfour Declaration at the end of World War I, but now it was time for the nation to stand on its own.

It was immediatedly attacked by its Arab neighbors, but that did not stop Jewish settlers from flocking to the new nation.

It was a unique time in a unique place, and it was captured on film by some of the world's greatest photographers, who have continued to document the story of Israel from 1948 to the present.

Utahns have a chance to view a collection of those photographs at an exhibit at the Salt Lake City-County Building, "Israel: 60 Years," sponsored by the Utah Jewish Federation in cooperation with the Office of Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker. The exhibit runs through Dec. 13.

The show can be enjoyed from both a historical and an aesthetic point of view, say Michael Mattis of New York's art2art, who curated the exhibit from the archives of the acclaimed Magnum Photographers' Cooperative, and Kent Miles, a Salt Lake photographer.

Both have given tours of the exhibit; Miles will lead another guided tour Friday evening.

"It's a wonderful show," Miles says. "Anyone who likes photography will be thrilled to see these works from what is considered the greatest picture agency in the world. Any photojournalist knows of the Magnum agency and would like to be a part of it, but it's a very select, by-invitation-only group. But it is one of the most significant agencies in the world. I don't know when Salt Lakers have ever had a chance to see works by Robert Capa or David Seymour or George Rodger, for example."

Those photographers earned their reputations during World War II. After the war, they came together with Henri Cartier-Bresson to found the Magnum cooperative. Other Magnum photographers are also featured in the show, including Bert Glinn, the first American to join the group; Canadian Larry Towell; Frenchman Patrick Zachmann; Israeli shooter Micha Bar-Am and others.

With offices in New York, London, Paris and Tokyo, Magnum now has about 40-50 photographers working worldwide. Each year two or three of the 200-300 photographers who apply are invited to join.

Selecting the images for the show as like being a kid in a candy store, says Mattis. There are so many pictures that pinpoint exact historical moments, so many that have poignant stories to tell.