Matriarchs and Wandermaps

The energy was high at our meeting last night! We discussed differing views and opinions on the Matriarchs while reading from Genesis and looking at work by Abel Pann. Here's his pastel "The Four Matriarchs." Do you think these portraits are in agreement with the traditional idea of what (from left to right) Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah might have looked like? Why, why not? Leave us a comment with your response.

The second half of our time together was devoted to looking at and discussing some of the WANDERMAPS we have been working on. Not surprisingly these are very diverse! Take a look at those by Rosalind, Judith and Barbara...more to come during the next few weeks.

The objects in the image below represent just a few of those collected by Rosalind in different countries where, for three months each year, her husband volunteered throughout the 1970’s and 80’s.

Here is a much downsized image of Judith's recollections of significant people and places arranged on a map of the Canadian Rockies where she and her husband honeymooned years ago.

 
This little handmade book includes a collection of the names of those individuals who have been an important influence in Barbara's life. She stated her "wandermap is all about people, rather than objects".

 

One more for the "Show and Tell" list!

Here's an example of work by our very own Annette Hirsh: 

More show and tell!

See below work by Annette Hirsh:

"Show and Tell" Milwaukee Jewish Artists' Lab style

During our last two meetings, we've spent some time looking at and talking about what each of the artists have brought in as a response to the assignment to bring ONE work from their production. Aside from presenting said work, artists have explained WHY they chose to share that specific one.


The works themselves, as well as the reasons for their choosing (including "this is my favorite child", "I brought it due to its small size",  and "it includes so many of my symbols" ) have varied in media, format, style and intent, but they have all sparked interesting and lively conversations as we get to know one another. 

 We'll be uploading photos of the works over the next few days. Here are a few ones to begin with:

Above is Clarice Zucker's watercolor "Purim".

Marc Tasman brought in "Antique store window on the way to the Kazimiers Jewish District in Krakow ," a photograph he took while exploring the Eastern European region of Galizia:

                    

Click HERE to go to Phillip Katz's website and see the Tzedaka Box which he shared with the group.

Judith Harway's book of poems "All That Is Left" was her elected one work. Click HERE to visit her website.  

 

 

We are looking forward to seeing what those who have not yet "shown and told" will bring next time!

Also please remember that there are two assignments:

1.     Read the material Jody passed out in class about the Matriarchs. Think about: How is Abraham Jewish? How are the Matriarchs Jewish? Is their Jewishness different from Abraham’s?

2.     To be completed in the journal: Your Personal Wandermap.  Copy a definition of WANDERING and record where it’s from. Then write YOUR OWN definition of wandering. Finally, make your WANDERMAP (or wondermap!). Maps can be visual, written, or a combination or both and can include any kind of media. They should mark no less than five different “places.” These are stops you have made along the way, and can be real or imagined or geographical or spiritual or symbolic. It is all about YOU as a person and artist!

Last but not least: A big thank you to Barbara Kohl-Spiro for bringing in original early 20^th century works, from her private collection, made at the (then) “Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts”(Now the “Bezalel academy of arts and design Jerusalem” website HERE). What a treat to see and touch those beauties!

Abraham and Ephraim Moshe Lilien

Ephraim Moshe Lilien (1874-1925) was a Viennese artist and the 'official' illustrator of the Zionist Movement. Below is a postcard he produced in 1910. According to this website Lilien visited Palestine in the 1890's and took many photographs of the people and landscape. He used these to produce work back in Europe. (You can see other works by clicking here).

 

 

 The one Jody showed yesterday (above) was produced for the 5th Zionist Congress, which took place in Basel, Switzerland in 1901. The Hebrew inscription at the bottom is the prayer “May our eyes behold your return in mercy to Zion.”

 

And here is Lilien's beautiful, 1908 "Abraham":

                                                                       

The Lord said to Abram, "Go Yourself from your land, your birthland, and from your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you. I will make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. I will bless you and curse him that curses you; And all the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you." Abram went forth as the Lord had commanded him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.                                   Chapter 12. Verses 1-4

Just for fun click HERE to access wikipedia's page about Lilien

Our fist meeting

Our first official meeting took place on Monday, November 7 at the JCC. Most of the artist came, but we're still looking for a couple more who would want to join in this journey. During our time together this week, everyone shared who they are in very general terms. We hope that we will discover more about each other as we start learning, talking and sharing.

We also talked about the possibility of visiting the JMKAC in Sheboygan to view the exhibit "Hiding Places: Memory in the Arts".

Click HERE to go to the show's website

Our NEXT MEETING is scheduled take place at the JCC on Monday, November 21. Each participating artist was asked to bring ONE WORK THEY HAVE CREATED. Any size/media. The choice and format is yours: Bring the actual work, a photograph, drawing, painting, slide, or digital image of it.

Here are answers to some of the questions that came up:
Only ONE work? Yes, only one.
Would one poem or one book constitute one work? That's up to you.
How can I choose only one? Well, that's also up to you. Be mindful of what you choose. You'll be asked to talk about the reasons for your particular choice: What does this choice say about you as an artist? As a person?

START WANDERING

The theme for the 2011 - 2012 program year is: Wandering. 

How is this theme expressed in traditional Jewish texts, in the Jewish experience, in the arts, in values, in the Jewish collective, and among individual Jews? 

Is examination of the theme of wandering relevant to Jew and non-Jew; to religious and non-religious; to the community and to the individual; to the artist and the non-artist? 

The spring exhibit/showcase will present work of the participating artists relevant to the year’s theme.