One Foot in America

Through Nov. 21, free, Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad St., 215-545-4400, gershmany.org.

by Josh Middleton

[ visual art ]

With the immigration debate getting everyone's panties in a wad, it's hard to imagine America was ever able to extend an outstretched hand. But in the early 20th century, boatloads of Jewish refugees were welcomed onto the East Coast, many finding a home right here in Philadelphia. This multifarious exhibit examines this bustling wave of Jewish migration, drawing special attention to the voyages that docked locally. One gallery displays a body of work by Belgian-born artist Eugeen Van Mieghem, whose haunting paintings and sketches offer a firsthand account of emigrants huddled on an Antwerp harbor just before departing their homeland. Another exhibit zeroes in on the history of the Red Star Line, a local shipping company that played a crucial role in transporting millions of passengers to American ports.