Milestones: Exhibition About Freedom Fighters and Emigrants of 1956 is Opened

October 22, 2016, 4:30 pm - January 10, 2017, 11:59 pm

Milestones – American-Hungarian Immigrants in the aftermath of 1956: Portraits and Life Stories. That’s the title of the exhibition which was opened on 22th October 2016, Saturday afternoon, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the revolution and freedom fight of 1956 against communism.

Milestones was organized by the Hungarian House of New York in cooperation with Norbert Bánhalmi, photographer, and in partnership with the American Hungarian Memorial Committee and the Consulate General of Hungary in New York. The exhibit was supported by the Hungary Initiatives Foundation.

The life interviews and portraits for the exhibition was recorded and made by Ildikó Nagy sociologist, manager of the Hungarian House; Norbert Bánhalmi, photographer; and Gergely Szilvay journalist, the participant of the Kőrösi Csoma Sándor Scholarship Program. They travelled and visited 17 freedom fighters living around and in New York City for weeks. Freedom fighters of 1956 lent their private objects, related to 1956 to the exhibition.

At the opening ceremony the audience were welcomed by Ildikó Nagy and Ferenc Kumin, Consul General of Hungary. Romsics Gergely historian, director of the Balassi Institute, Hungarian Cultural Center, New York gave a speech about the importance of studying oral history. Two well know 1956 immigrant, László Papp, architect, president of Hungarian American Memorial Committee, and Balázs Somogyi, physician, president of the Hungarian Cultural Society of Connecticut, an active organizer and member of the Hungarian Club of Wallingford also gave welcome speeches.

MILESTONES – AMERICAN-HUNGARIAN IMMIGRANTS IN THE AFTERMATH OF 1956: PORTRAITS AND LIFE STORIES
Exhibit at the Hungarian House of New York (213 E 82 Str. NY, NY, 10028)
Open in between: October 22, 2016 and January 10, 2017

ORGANIZERS:
Hungarian House of New York
Norbert Bánhalmi photographer
Ildikó Nagy sociologist, manager of the Hungarian House of New York
Gergely Szilvay journalist, participant of the Kőrösi Csoma Sándor Scholarship Program

SUPPORTER: the Hungary Initiatives Foundation
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS: American Hungarian Memorial Committee, Consulate General of Hungary in New York
MEDIA PARTNER: Mandiner
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Sári Ember, Viktor Fischer, Ágnes Niemetz, László Papp, Enikő Szatai Kovács

Website of the exhibition: http://www.hungarianhousenyc.com/merfoldkovek/