Amalgam: An Immigrant, His Labor Union, and His American Family in Brooklyn

In a uniquely told immigrant story, visual artist Frances Jetter connects her own life to her ancestors’ and their interweaving ties to the 20th century labor movement.

The narrative thread unspools with Abram, a Polish Jew who immigrates to America for economic opportunity and — much like his namesake — takes on a new name, ‘Abe’. He is a passionate arbitrator and advocate in his union but an unyielding patriarchal tyrant at home. Throughout, readers uncover the convictions and contradictio...