Abbreviated Brilliance:

14 Dec
2010

Doodling for Torah Understanding

By SUDINmag | December 14, 2010 |

As an infinite source of inspiration, story, and law, the Torah gives awareness to complicated subject matter by concealing it beneath seemingly simple stories and references. The text includes only the information necessary for understanding, no more, no less.

A creative parable for understanding this concept, is through doodling.

This video (below) instructs how to create complicated design structures from a simple process of little more than a squiggle.

“Something seemingly arbitrary and confusing is actually part of something (greater). “

As being created “in the image of G-d” we as creative beings have the ability to find some reference point, no matter how minute, to connect to the original creative consciousness.

Unraveling what lies beneath the surface of seemingly straightforward series of events in the Torah is not a simple task. Each letter in Hebrew carries its meaning far greater than the weight of the word itself. All translations of the original text water down and distort, leaving most unaware that there was ever anything beyond a fairy tale or simple story.

How does the Torah, or Judaism tell a complicated concept in a simplified way? Your thoughts are encouraged.

Jerusalem Design Week “Time 02”

13 Dec
2010

Ancient City and Modern Issues Explored with Design

By Core77 |

The “Time 02” exhibition, currently on show in a decommisioned leprosy hospital, is intended as a platform for young Isreali design talent to explore the historic legacy and present realities of the city.

The “Jerusalem Clock”, pictured above—by designers Atar Brosh, Merav Schnaps and Ohad Banit— is a stylish yet strange concept that displays important local times—prayer times and the like—instead of simply displaying the hour of the day.

Read more on Core77

Psalm 67

9 Dec
2010

Design from Sinai Transported Through Tradition

By SUDINmag |

This Psalm, after introducing itself as demanding musical accompaniment, has 49 words which correspond to the 49 days counted beginning on the second day of Passover. This period, referred to as “Sfirat HaOmer” counts the days leading up to the holiday of Shavuot, which celebrates the original giving of the Torah.

According to tradition, when Moses received The Torah on Mount Sinai, the text of this Psalm was shown to him etched onto a seven branched Menorah with a golden base.

According to tradition, when Moses received The Torah on Mount Sinai, the text of this Psalm was shown to him etched onto a seven branched Menorah with a golden base. Tradition also says that King David, who would later be credited with writing down the Psalms, was given the same vision.

The seven branched Menorah would later be built out of a single solid piece of gold for the Holy Temple, one of the great artistic triumphs of the Jewish people. Its light was a constant illumination for the Jewish people and is the source of the events that led to the holiday of Chanuka. The rekindling of all seven branches for eight nights was a symbolic triumph for all time.

A Hebrew-English version can be found here.

THE RASHI EFFECT: ARTIST AS COMMENTATOR

8 Dec
2010

By The Jewish Artisti Initiative |

“The Rashi Effect, Artist as Commentator” exhibition is the culmination of Beit Midrash meetings held by several Jewish Artist Initiative (JAI) members on a monthly basis. Each member artist was asked to create new, or rethink existing, work in the context of the “Yetzer HaRa, Yetzer HaTov” or “Bad Inclination, Good Inclination,” a theme as basic as the Creation story of Adam and Eve and one frequently dealt with in Jewish texts.

Opening Reception Sunday, December 12
1 – 3 p.m
Platt/Borstein Galleries
American Jewish University
15600 Mulholland Drive
Bel Air, CA 90077
(310) 476-9777
www.ajula.edu

Elizabeth Bloom, curator
Victor Raphael, co-curator

JAI artists participating in the exhibition are Kate Alkarni, Melinda Smith Altshuler, Bill Aron, Madeleine Avirov, Elizabeth Bloom, Bruria Finkel, Shelley Gazin, Susan Gesundheit, Marcie, Kaufman, Nancy Goodman Lawrence, Eileen Levinson, Laurel Paley, Doni Silver Simons, Debra Sokolow, Ruth Weisberg.

Gallery hours: Sunday – Thursday 10 am – 4 pm, Friday 10 am – 2 pm
Galleries closed Dec. 24-31, Jan. 17 and March 20

Call for Entries – Everything Begins in the Water Film Competition

7 Dec
2010

By Pratt Gateway |

Deadline 11:59pm JANUARY 16, 2011
Submission Fee $15
Cash Prizes

The theme, “Everything Begins in the Water” is open to broad interpretation. Films of Jewish content are warmly welcomed but not required. Read on for details.

The winning films will be presented on April 3, 2011 at the Mayyim Hayyim Living Waters Annual Benefit.

Find out more and submit your work online here.

ELIGIBILITY:

* Films must be no longer than 10 minutes and must be related to the theme “Everything Begins in the Water”
* Films may capture the universal notion of water as a source of life or renewal and may draw on any faith tradition, or have no religious content, Jewish content is not required.
* All entries must be submitted via YouTube
* Films must be appropriate for a family audience
* Winners will be notified by March 15.
* Winning films will be screened on April 3, 2011 at Mayyim Hayyim’s Benefit Event
* Foreign language films must have English subtitles or be dubbed in English

JURY PRIZES:

* $750 First Place, plus entry into Boston Area Film Festival
* $500 Second Place

SUBMISSION DEADLINES/FEES:

* Deadline – 11:59 pm, January 16, 2010
* Submission Fee: $15

Click for Entry Requirements and Online Entry Form

QUESTIONS:

Please direct all questions to: film@mayyimhayyim.org or 617-244-1836 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              617-244-1836      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

“Following five years of carefully selected art exhibits in our Mayyim Hayyim Gallery, we are delighted to offer the chance to explore the universal power of water as a source of renewal through film.”
– Aliza Kline, Executive Director Mayyim Hayyim Living Waters Community Mikveh & Education Center

Generation D: Identities

6 Dec
2010

Tues Dec 14
5:30-7:30pm
Flomenhaft Gallery Annex
547 W.27th St Suite 528, NYC (Chelsea)

Curated by Elke Reva Sudin and Julian Voloj
Curatorial Advisor: Yona Verwer
Presented by the Jewish Art Salon, Be’chol Lashon, and the Flomenhaft Gallery
RSVP on the Facebook Event

Who is a Jew and what is typically Jewish? In an increasingly diverse American society, American Judaism presents itself in many different forms, and these Judiasms are as multi-layered culturally as they are ethnically or religiously. While preconcepts shape our image of ourselves and of “others” and our sense of belonging to a group, this exhibition showing diverse answers to the question of Jewish identity challenge these simplifications. -Julian Voloj

The Gallery Annex will feature the work of Siona Benjamin, orginally from Bombay, now living in the US. Her work reflects her background of being brought up Jewish in a predominantly Hindu and Muslim India. In addition, images will be projected of works by Jewish Art Salon artists and guests.

Free and Open to the Public
Wine & Snacks Provided

For more information contact;
Lacy Schwartz, Be’chol Lashon NY Director
NewYork@BecholLashon.org or 212-217-0178

Video & Photos from Art Rave & Fashion Show

3 Dec
2010

Sephardic Music Fest 2010 OPENING NIGHT from Evan Kleinman on Vimeo.

SMF Opening Night/Art Rave & Fashion Show (Sephardic Music Festival)
http://sephardicmusicfestival.com | http://shemspeed.com
Shot and edited by http://punkjews.com and http://SaulSudin.com

Checkout photos from the opening HERE.

Concrete Creations

2 Dec
2010

Israeli artist rethinks the menorah with a nontraditional material.

By SUDINmag | December 2, 2010 |

We interviewed Marit Meisler of ceMMent Design in Jaffa, Israel, to hear her thoughts on contemporary menorahs, her designs, and how everything fits together.

The menorah has been redesigned a million and one times. What challenges arise when you rethink a ritual object to suit contemporary needs?
MM: The purpose of this design is to rethink and redefine formal preconceptions of such a traditional object as the Menorah, which has been taken for granted. I then questioned formal preconceptions about it and challenge common assumptions about how a “Menorahs”, which are rooted in our collective psyches, are “supposed to look”, what materials they are made from, and how we use them. I tried to create a synthesis of everyday life with religious artifacts. The modern design allows people to identify with a religious artifact and incorporate contemporary aesthetics into their homes.

What interested you in working with concrete? How has that interest endured over time?

I decided to work with concrete as it is such an unusual material for Judaica, very contemporary and highly textural. Normally perceived as mundane, this ancient material is used by me to create everyday objects as well as holy artifacts. Used primarily in architecture on a large scale, concrete is introduced here into the home as a small, intimate object. Although concrete is often thought of as a cold and industrial substance the concrete I use is warm and tactile.

“Concrete brings an architectural quality to Judaica.”

Working with it for so long now has made me more and more attached to it. Concrete has a soul, and although it is a very difficult material to work with, its textural quality and cultural context keep me fascinated by it.

Concrete, brings an architectural quality to Judaica. The simple shapes draw attention to the materiality of the pieces and the mirror finish metal creates a contrast to the matte textural quality of the concrete. A unique mixture of cements and aggregates was developed in the studio. This concrete mixture has characteristics that differ from the common concrete mixtures found in architectural and interior design applications.It is best suited for small household objects and achieves specific qualities of strength, color and texture.

Each piece is hand-made and individually processed in the studio, providing the products with their unique qualities.

What are the key design elements of your menorah? How did you come up with this construction?
This menorah is made of nine separate individual movable pieces that can be arranged in countless configurations and allow versatility, interaction and imagination to take part in the ceremonial use. The diagonal angles give the pieces a formal rhythm and a playful  uneven wavy feel. Not a static object, but one that allows for the participation of the user, the menorah design brings creativity to a holiday ritual. Even though it is visually deceptive, the candles are all the same height except for the “Shamash”. This is the only “rule” for a “kosher”  Menorah design.

Do you find inspiration for your design work from Judaism besides the object beingfor a ritual purpose?

The dialog is mostly with the formal preconceptions of traditional object and the interest in having the holy an the mundane meet in a contemporary designed Jewish artifact.

What advice would you give artists who would like to pursue industrial design but are unsure of what possibilities that entails and what direction they would like to take it in?

The best way I feel is to enroll into a design program or a design class within a design department, where one can get to know and feel the broad spectrum of the profession: conceptual, technical, theoretical and practical. I myself did two years of “foundation design” years before my final degree in order to find out what design form suites me best.

Fun Facts!

Cement is a binder, a substance which sets and hardens, and can bind other materials together. The first concrete structures were built in 5600 BC. The name “cement” goes back to the Romans who used it 299 BC to 476 AD. Modern cement began to be developed during the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century. Portland cement is the most common type of cement in general usage. The most common use for Portland cement is in the production of concrete.

Concrete is used more than any other man-made material on the planet. It is a construction material that consists of Portland cement, aggregate and water. Cement use reached 1.3 billion tons per year – this translates into approximately one ton of concrete per human per year.

Aggregate is composed of fine and/or coarse materials (sand, gravel, crushed stone mainly) that are utilized to make up the bulk of the concrete mixture and strengthen it structurally.

Concrete Menorah (C3C5)
This Menorah was purchased by the Jewish Museum in New- York for their permanent collection and was exhibited in the Museum in 2009. The Menorah holds standard Hanukah candles (of 3/8” diameter). This contemporary menorah is made of nine separate individual movable pieces that can be arranged in countless configurations and allow versatility, interaction and imagination to take part in the ceremonial use. Not a static object, but one that allows for the participation of the user, this concrete menorah design brings creativity to a holiday ritual. The mirror finish stainless steel stands as contrast to the warm textural quality of the concrete.

Materials: Concrete, stainless steel, protective rubber bottoms.
Dimensions in milimeters: W 318 x L 35 x H 54
Dimensions in Inches: W 12½” x L 1” x H 2”
ceMMent Design is a design studio in the Old City of Jaffa, Israel featuring contemporary household objects and Judaica. Designed by Marit Meisler, the objects are made of concrete, bringing an architectural quality to household objects. The simple shapes draw attention to the materiality of the pieces and the mirror finish metal creates a contrast to the matte textural quality of the concrete.

Dreidel Designs

1 Dec
2010

Originally posted on WNYC | The Art of the Dreidel By Marlon Bishop: WNYC Culture Producer

The “Space Age Dreidel,” designed by Michael Berkowicz and Bonnie Srolovitz-Berkowicz. In the permanent collection at the Jewish Museum.

Hanukkah begins today at sundown, and for most kids that means just one thing: lots and lots of dreidels.

The game is pretty simple – spin a four-sided top, and depending on what side it lands on, collect or lose the inevitable bounty of chocolate coins. And while many parents depend on dreidels to distract small children, they’re more than just toys. To many, they are objects of art.

“It’s a ritual object,” says Michael Berkowicz, an artist and architect who designs synagogue interiors with his wife, Bonnie Srolovitz. Berkowicz says that dreidels are considered part of Judaica, objects invested with spiritual meaning, such as seder plates, menorahs, and Kiddush cups. In the case of the dreidel, that meaning comes from the four Hebrew letters inscribed on it noon, gimel, hey and shin. In addition to giving game instructions, they make an anagram of a Hebrew phrase that means “A Great Miracle Happened There,” referring to the miracle of light celebrated in Hanukkah.

Read the full article and see way more stunning dreidels HERE.

Art of Seeing – Opening in NYC

30 Nov
2010

By SUDINmag | November 30, 2010 |

The Art Installation Initiative presents

Art of Seeing
Artwork by Tanya Fredman

http://tanyafredman.com/home.html

Please join us at 520 Eighth Ave. New York Suite 1500
Thursday, December 9th  5:30 – 7:00pm
for an opening reception with the artist as we rededicate our space and reimagine our vision for creating a better Jewish future

RSVP – dseiden@TheJewishEducationProject.org
On exhibit December 9, 2010 – May 23, 2011*

Tanya Fredman is a visual artist and educator whose work explores the beauty and challenge of human connections across cultures. Tanyafredman.com
The Jewish Education Project (formerly BJENY-SAJES) pioneers new approaches in Jewish Education for every age.

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