Larry Solomon has been part of the local Jewish art scene since 1997 when he opened Merkaz Judaica, Cleveland’s first store devoted to progressive Jewish values and handcrafted Judaic arts. After seven years in education, Larry returns to his roots as the new manager of the Museum Store.
What do you like about the Maltz Museum?
Even more than the beautiful collection and core of fantastic docents and volunteers, I am in love with the Museum’s mission and its devotion to diversity, tolerance and cross-cultural dialogue.
What is one thing you’d like to do with the Museum Store?
My goal is to leverage my knowledge and background in Jewish lifecycle events to help the Store become a destination that brings more people through the doors. For example, I’d like to expand our offerings to include the range of contemporary art ketubot (Jewish marriage documents).
How do you select merchandise?
Carefully! I take advantage of my personal relationships with artists from across the U.S. and Israel to stay on top of both religious and artistic trends and bring only the best new work into the collection. That said, I am always happy to look for any specific item a Museum visitor may request.
