August 31, 2006 Issue
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Classified Chestnut Hill Local Online Editor Don't Miss an Issue, Tell us what you see or ©2006 Chestnut Hill Local Winner of One |
Passionate exhibit of Mt. Airyite’s Vietnam photos
Ellie Seif (pronounced Sife) has a passion for learning and a method of teaching that allows those around her to gain a better understanding of the value and beauty of friendship in our world today. A resident of Mt. Airy for over 35 years, Seif, 65, recently took her approach to a faraway land that played a major role in her young adult life. In 2005, Seif and her husband Elliot, also 65, took a three-week tour of Vietnam and Cambodia. Seif returned with a new story to teach. “We tend to think of Vietnam as a war,” explained Seif. “Not a people and a country. However, Vietnam is a wonderful, beautiful place open to Americans.” Seif grew up in New York City and attended Brooklyn College. She met her husband while at school, and the newlyweds began their life together under the powerful social and political influences of the Vietnam War. In 1970, the couple moved to Philadelphia, where Seif began teaching. “I taught in the gifted program in Philadelphia for four years, and was a principal in the Hatboro-Horsham district for 15 years,” said Seif. “I enjoyed the challenge, and as an administrator dealing with students, parents and teachers, I had to bring everything together.”
The ability to bring things together is evident in Seif’s story of Vietnam. Shortly after retiring from teaching, Seif discussed taking a trip with her husband. They had never been to Asia, and together decided Vietnam would be their destination. “I looked with my camera,” stated Seif when describing her experience. “I wanted to capture specific moments in time, revealing the people, nature and diverse environment. Through a variety of pictures, you can tell a story of a country.” The pictures are fascinating and thought-provoking. Seif brought back images of bustling marketplaces, boathouses with TV antennas, children tending water-buffalo, streets filled with moped traffic and rice fields that stretched across vast valleys. From rowing along the remote, tree-covered Mekong Delta to walking the streets of downtown Saigon, Seif captured the spirit of Vietnam. “Side by side, you see the past and present,” said Seif. “Everywhere you see hard working people, and there’s a feeling of a movement towards prosperity.” “Vietnam has gone from a rice importer to a rice exporter,” added Elliot Seif. “There is a lot more private business and enterprise. They have three million tourists a year, and I believe 20 percent are Americans, but that number is rising.” In Seif’s photographs, one common theme seems to stand out. The Vietnamese people love to smile. Children, students, farmers, city vendors, old and young alike are seen smiling warmly in Seif’s pictures. “From mountainside to bay to beaches, we were overwhelmed by the openness and friendliness of the people,” Seif said. “We were told that it’s ‘The Vietnamese way,’ and everyone I’ve spoken to who has been there says the same thing.” The Seifs were part of a small tour group of 13 guided by a young Vietnamese man named Anh Vu who lives in Saigon. On occasion, Vu would ask the group to pick any house along a street. Vu would then knock on the door, speak to the owner, and instantly the group was welcomed inside as friends and given treats. One evening, Anh Vu took the group to his own home where his wife, mother and sister prepared dinner for everyone. “Not one person had any antipathy toward us,” said Seif. “In one place, we came across an outdoor celebration of the 40th anniversary of the death of the matriarch of the family. The party instantly invited us to join them in their celebration.” These events are retold in the rich images Seif brought back. Thirty-three of her photographs were displayed in October of 2005 at the International House of the University of Pennsylvania. The display was well received. “One person in particular thanked me for placing the images of today in her mind against the images of the past we ‘60s’ folks can’t forget.” InFusion Coffee and Tea Gallery at 7133 Germantown Ave. will be showcasing Seif’s photographs throughout the month of September. A wine and chocolate reception will kick off the premier on Friday, September 1. For our community, the photographs reveal an up-close look at the Vietnam of today, a vibrant, growing country three decades removed from the Vietnam War. For Ellie Seif, the experience showed how her photographs can teach and communicate understanding between cultures. “I’m fortunate to be able to follow a passion,” said Seif. “By understanding cultural similarities and differences, we can break down barriers to cooperation and peace.” Seif is planning future trips as she becomes more serious about her art, and through her photographs of Vietnam, Ellie Seif has a wonderful story to tell. |
