Tag Archives: Helen Suzman

Events, Featured

Exhibition To Honor Helen Suzman

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Above: An exhibition featuring photographs, personal letters,
quotations from speeches and news articles and celebrating
the life and times of Helen Suzman will open in New York.

Tadias Magazine
Events News

Published: Friday, January 22, 2009

New York (Tadias) – Long before there was a movie called Invictus (Hollywood’s recent depiction of the true story of Nelson Mandela’s famous partnership with a young captain of South Africa’s National Rugby team, Francois Pienaar, during the early days of his presidency), there was another image capturing an enduring relationship born out of South Africa’s long, historical struggle against apartheid. Helen Suzman struck up her warm friendship with Mandela in 1967 while he was at the infamous Robben Island Prison. Suzman was the only member of parliament at the time demanding an end to the apartheid system. “It was an odd and wonderful sight to see this courageous woman peering into our cells and strolling around our courtyard,” Mandela wrote about her in his autobiography A Long Walk to Freedom. “She was the first and only woman ever to grace our cells.” She was twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and is a recipient of the 1978 United Nations Award for Human Rights. Not surprisingly, when the peace activist died last year flags were ordered flown at half-mast in South Africa.

A traveling exhibition celebrating the travails and achievements of her life will be on display at Barnard College, Columbia University on Tuesday, February 9, 2010.

In the movie Invictus, Nelson Mandela, then the newly elected President of South Africa (played by Morgan Freeman) inspires Francois Pienaar, the captain of the lackluster rugby team to motivate his teammates to become world champions. The result is a sporting event that is considered to be a pivotal moment in South Africa’s history as it helps defuse the country’s political tension and paves the way for forgiveness through the nation’s much celebrated Truth and Reconciliation Commission. There can be no doubt that South Africans are hoping to recapture the same feeling of unity in 2010 (this time through soccer and under a new President) as they prepare to host the World Cup later this year. But in the mean time, New Yorkers will be treated to a show honoring one of South Africa’s legendary leaders.
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If you go: The graphic panel installation featuring photographs, personal letters, quotations from speeches and news articles examining the life and times of one of the bravest women of the last century will be on display at the Diana Center at Barnard College, Columbia University (117th Street & Broadway) on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. You can learn more at www.barnard.edu/bcrw or www.helesuzmanexhibition.com.

Video: Helen Suzman on meeting Nelson Mandela

Video: Helen Suzman Dies

Video: Movie Trailer for Invictus HD

Events, Reviews

Exhibition Honoring Helen Suzman

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Tadias Events News
Published: Thursday, March 26, 2009

New York, NY: One of the most extraordinary women of our century, Helen Suzman devoted her career to the fight against apartheid in South Africa. As a tribute to her exceptional efforts, the Isaac and Jessie Kaplan Centre for Jewish Studies and Research at the University of Cape Town, under the direction of Dr. Milton Shain, organized a graphic panel exhibition that captures her life work. This moving and inspiring exhibition – which was conceptualized, researched, and written by Millie Pimstone and designed by Linda Bester – will be on view at the Rotunda, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC, from April 27 – May 1, 2009. The exhibition is sponsored through the Office of Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY).

On April 27, an opening reception will feature Ann Lewis, Margaret Marshall, the Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court, and other noted speakers (Program in progress). The viewing of the exhibition and reception begin at 5:30pm in the Russell Caucus Room 385 above the Rotunda. The remarks are scheduled from 6:30pm to 7:30pm in the Caucus Room. The public is invited free of charge.

Helen Suzman: Fighter for Human Rights traces the life and times of a great South African. We are deeply honored and delighted that the role of this extraordinary woman will be recognized in Washington, DC,” said Professor Milton Shain, Director of the Isaac and Jessie Kaplan Centre for Jewish Studies and Research, University of Cape Town.

From the start of her political career that spanned almost four decades, Helen Suzman opposed the evils of apartheid and used the parliamentary system to challenge these inhumane policies. For thirteen years (1961-1974) she was the only Progressive Party member of Parliament and the sole opposition voice condemning apartheid. Through photographs, personal letters, quotations from speeches and news articles, this exhibition tells of the animosity, anti-Semitism and intimidation Suzman faced throughout her career. It also highlights her enduring friendship with Nelson Mandela which began in early 1967 when she met him at the infamous Robben Island Prison where he was a political prisoner.

Suzman was nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Price in recognition of her contribution to the pursuit of justice in South Africa. She received the United Nations Award of the International League for Human Rights in 1978. In 1989, Queen Elizabeth conferred on her an Honorary Dame Commander (Civil Division) of the Order of the British Empire. Suzman died on January 1, 2009, at the age of 91. Flags across South Africa were flown at half-mast while tributes poured in from around the world.

If you go:
Exhibition on View at the Russell Senate Office Building Rotunda, Washington, DC
(April 27 – MAY 1, 2009)

The United States tour of the exhibition is sponsored by the Dobkin Family Foundation and the Tolan Family Foundation.

For more information contact Exhibition Manager, Jill Vexler, PhD at 212-505-6427, jill@jillvexler.com or Publicist, Rachel Tarlow Gul at 201-503-1321, Rachel@otrpr.com.