Showing posts with label eddy shuldman fused glass judaica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eddy shuldman fused glass judaica. Show all posts

Monday, October 24, 2022

New Chamsah Tallit Clips


 Celebration of Art '22

October 29, 7-9pm

October 30, 10a-4pm

MJCC 5561 SW Capitol Hwy~ Portland, Oregon

Come see us!

Sunday, October 23, 2022

New Business Card


Side 1

Side 2



 Just ordered new business cards....maybe they will arrive before the show next Saturday night/Sunday! 

Why did I procrastinate so long? 


CELEBRATION OF ART '22  @ MJCC 5561 SW Capitol Hwy- PDX

Saturday Oct. 29 7-9pm,   Sunday Oct 30 10a-4p

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Seder Plate Just In Time!

 

I am quite thrilled with the outcome of this seder plate. 

True Confession: The customer selected a beautiful Bullseye cranberry that had purples and blues subtly woven in.  Despite my best efforts, the cranberry glass developed a severe case of devitrification. My attempts to resolve it failed. And of course I didn't have another piece of cranberry large enough to start over. The clock was ticking and the plate had to get done .... get shipped to the mid-west....and arrive in time...IN ONE PIECE!

This amazing piece of glass revealed itself in my storage bin.... ! This piece has incredible movement and depth of color. Fortunately the customer agreed with me...and I am thrilled to report that it arrived safely...and most importantly, the recipient is delighted with it! Phew!!!

Happy Passover Everyone!


Sunday, March 13, 2022

A REALLY BIG Chamsah

 


This window was commissioned as an anniversary gift for a wonderful couple.  It was an honor to make this for them.

What doesn't show up in the photo is a sprinkling of tiny clear glass shards, remnants of their smashed wedding glass.

I hope they like it!

Friday, March 4, 2022

CHAMSAH:

 

CHAMSAH- HAMSAH: No Matter How You Spell It....

....it is a protective amulet representing the hand of God.
Hamsa in Arabic, Chamsah in Hebrew....it means 5 (as in 5 fingers)

This mystical amulet is also known by other names. 
Muslims call it The Hand of Fatimah.
Christians refer to it as The Hand of Mary.
Jews know it as the Hand of Miriam.

As a protective amulet it is thought to keep away the evil eye. 
There are many explanations for this amulet and different opinions about whether the fingers should point up or down. 

I'll let you decide!   All three of these glass items will be available for purchase at ORA's Jewish Arts Month sale at the MJCC (6651 SW Capitol Hwy- Portland, OR) March 6-11. I am also happy to accept a commission to make the Chasmal of your dreams!



12"x12" sushi style platter


6" diameter shallow dish



                                                                 6" shallow sushi style dish

Thursday, February 24, 2022

JEWISH ARTS MONTH.....starts March 6th

 


Thanks to COVID we will only celebrate with a one-week sale at the MJCC (Portland, Oregon) March 6-11 We'll be in the lobby....

Sunday 11-5:30, Mon-Thurs 8:30- 6, Friday 8:30-3pm.

We'll have a variety of media represented including photography, painting, ceramics, fabric art, wood, and my glass.

I'll post my pictures soon!



Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Seder Plates for Chanukah?

By the Sea Seder Plate


NO! There aren't any new Chanukah rituals or customs involving a seder in December....at least none I am aware of!

I did read an article in Alma (https://www.heyalma.com/the-hilarious-reason-why-this-writer-hosted-a-hanukkah-seder/) that described a Chanukah seder inspired by Bed, Bath, and Beyond.  

BUT ... Seder plates can be a lovely gift for someone...or yourself at Chanukah time! They also make great wedding gifts, birthday gifts....or a gift for ourself!

This seder plate will be available for purchase beginning November 25th at the ORA Virtual Market Place:       

https://northwestjewishartists.org

I rarely have many seder plates in stock. Most of my customers prefer commissioning a seder plate/ They want some choice in the design, color, wording...and whether or not they want little insert dishes. I love working with my clients to help them imagine what their seder plate might look like and what symbolism they would like it to carry. You can reach me at sparksofspirit@gmail.com




Sunday, November 8, 2020

FUSED GLASS JUDAICA: A Great Chanukkah or Bar/Bat Mitzvah Gift!


 These tallit clips look a bit like granite but are made of glass!
The actual clips are fabric friendly and will safely attach to your tallit.

If this pair appeals to you, I'm afraid you will have to wait until our Virtual Market Place opens November 25th. It's open 24/7 through December 17th. To shop the virtual marketplace just go to northwestjewishartists.org then click on shop.


If you can't wait, I have other clips ( a variety of colors and designs ) that are available now and you can also propose a design. I am happy to work with you on a commissioned piece. I will begin accepting commissions as soon as November 16th. Just write to me at sparksofspirit@gmail.com

Stay tuned! I will be posting new items every few days...


Thursday, June 6, 2019

Copper-ific: Finished


This is the piece commissioned as a gift for the outgoing board chairman of a local non profit jewish agency. 
It is wall mounted. 

The Words in hebrew are Mee Ha-eesh...which in common vernacular translates to "Who Da Man?" Thes are the first two words taken from Psalms 34:13-15. The entire phrase is translated as, "Who is the man, who wants life, loves all his days, and sees the goodness." It is not really a question...rather it is an instruction.  

The backing is a sheet of hand-polished copper. 1/4" above it is a sheet of clear tekta that I covered with black stringer and tack fused. 1/8" above that is a black rainbow iridescent, clear capped disk with hebrew lettering cut out of dichroic glass and a small chamsah (also dichroic.)

I hope the recipient likes it.  He worked hard to benefit the community and deserves praise and recognition.


Saturday, April 13, 2019

Completed seder plate!

This is the completed seder plate. The wood is Oregon black maple . It was turned by neighbor and art collaborator Jack Liskear.

The edging of the wooden tray slopes down gently toward the glass. The glass is an insert; it pops out so the wooden tray can be used as a separate tray.


A kiln mishap made it necessary to  make a new seder plate. Fortunately there was enough left-over glass to start over.


The letters around the edge are copper foil while the center lettering is dichroic glass. 


I wish the new owners of this seder plate a joyous Passover!

Thursday, February 21, 2019

TONIGHT!!!! FEBRUARY 21, 2019

Join us this evening at 7pm in the Isaak Foyer at Congregation Neveh Shalom.

Our Art Show is entitled ART OF SACRED COMMUNITY and represents months of study in preparation for making art that honors Kehillah....community; sacred community. We are celebrating the synagogue's 150th anniversary!

A multi-media slide show, artist talk and pop-up shuk will accompany free refreshments and an opportunity to schmooze with the artists. Who are those artists? Laura Fendel, Diane Fredgant, Wendelin Russell, and me!

Here are two of my special pieces: Torah Adornments made of glass!



Saturday, February 2, 2019

More gratitude!



In many critique groups, the artist puts herself "out there", grits her teeth and braces herself to hear what is wrong with her art work. That is a generalization and possibly an unfair one.

Our group is different. When we meet, we bring a piece to the session. We follow a format where the artist shares the piece. It could be a sketch, a rough idea, a work in progress, or even a finished piece.
The artist talks about the piece and frames a question for the group to discuss. The group takes a few minutes to ask clarifying questions ...and then they begin discussing answers to the artist's question. The artist listens and takes notes. What is great about this process is that it allows a good bit of dignity for the artist and it provides some answers! Yay!  The artist then tells the group what she heard ....and sometimes even tells us what she thinks she'll actually do. Sometimes it evolves back in her studio. Bottom line....it works!

We met several times to prepare for our upcoming show. We had four hebrew words we studied in an effort to  honor the synagogues anniversary and respond to something tangible. The original synagogues that eventually merged were Neveh Tzedek (Oasis of Justice) and Ahavai Shalom (The Love of Peace). They became Neveh Shalom (Oasis of Peace.) We brought ideas and/or works in progress and using our process we supported each other along the way.

Yesterday I spoke about Esther Liberman. Tonight more gratitude  goes to  Laura Fendel, Diane Fredgant and Wendelin Russell. Their loving support, advice, and close listening means the world to me. I hope I was able to offer some small measure of help to each of them.


Laura Fendel works magic with fabrics. In the piece she developed for this show, she blends architectural imagery from founding congregations Ahavai Shalom and Neveh Tzedek as well as the current Neveh Shalom. Remarkable in its juxtaposed architecture, it evokes a sense of past and present. There is also a holiness and the spiritual that is communicated through the textures of this piece. You have to see this in person to appreciate this work!
Silk artist Diane Fredgant has been conceptualizing her installation piece for sometime and its evolution has been a significant element in her spiritual journey as an artist. Best known for her tallitot, this installation  is a contemporary interpretation of the Mishkan (our portable sanctuary in the desert.) You will step into a holy space and a unique experience. You will find spiritual refuge, contact with holy words, and the beginnings of many questions!
Wendelin Russell is a painter. Her large-format painting (and a small piece) are wonderful interpretations of being at the Kotel, also known as the wailing wall. You won’t see tears in this exploration of this timeless structure. There is expansiveness and yet, there are tiny details that demand you give yourself to the painting, and in return you will experience something quite moving.

Sunday, January 20, 2019

CHAMSAH PLATE DONATION

My synagogue has an annual auction. This is my donation.
Hoping they get a reasonable price. 

The chamsah is made with dichroic glass. The dish is slumped into an origami mold. I might have to make another one or two of these!

The shul is about to celebrate it's 150th anniversary. If you scroll down you can see the first of two Torah Adornments I am making for the lobby art show.

More info to come...but first, I need to finish cutting the glass for the second adornment I am making.

...stay tuned!

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Tiny Letters and More

Cutting tiny hebrew letters has been my challenge. Surprisingly, I only had to re-do 2 letters. I placed one of the letters on a time for perspective.

The Asseret Hadibrot, commonly known as The Ten Commandments is more accurately translated as "The Ten Utterances." I couldn't possibly cut letters small enough to write them all out, so instead I cut just ten.
The letters are all dichroic and the centerline is a dichroic stringer.

The whole piece is in the kiln for a slow fire up to tack fusing temperature...with a slow cool down as well. 

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Copper Wire Hooks as Inclusions


The next step in assembling the project is to create hanging hooks which will be included in the fusing process. Copper is compatible with glass but one must proceed with care. The wire should be bent in some fashion in order to better be contained and offer resistance to pulling when the project is hung. Copper wire is pliable so simple pliers are enough to do the trick. Because this project uses clear glass, the hooks should match because they will be visible.
Bending copper wire

In order to make the fusing as problem free as possible, it's best to hammer the wire to flatten it, thus reducing the potential for air bubbles. I usually use a mini anvil...but it's gone missing so....I improvised! Using the head of another hammer as an anvil, I managed to hammer the wire flat. My fingers also managed to survive the process! Phew!

Hammering the wire flat

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Testing copper in the kiln


Copper is a wonderful material to use as an inclusion in fused glass projects. The color it turns is a bit unpredictable because copper will react not only to heat, but also to the chemical composition of the glass it is sandwiched between. Most often it will turn into a deep red with bluish or purplish notes. Sometimes it will turn blue. Treated with lemon juice it tends to stay true to its copper notes. Before I gamble with the star I just cut out, I need to make sure I will achieve the desired effect. 

My next project needs the the copper to turn red. Step 1 is to take pieces of sample glass and test what happens when the copper is sandwiched between 2 layers.
BEFORE


AFTER 
The top piece has two pieces of clear reactive glass.

The middle has clear reactive glass on the bottom and is capped with clear.

The bottom is 2 pieces of clear.

I fused these to a top temp of 1450° with a bubble squeeze at 1250° on the way up.



THE RESULTS:
The reactive glass causes the copper to turn quite dark....too dark for my purposes...but clear on clear is the magic I was hoping for!



Check back in a few days to see my next steps in this project.


Thursday, October 11, 2018

Why I haven't been posting!

This is the less than glamorous side of being an artist!

In nice weather I like to work outside. Both saws use water, as does my polisher so I sometimes have to work outside regardless of the weather. When it is beautiful I also like to cut my glass out there.
         The deck is old! We had half of it replaced ...then we needed to stain it. The other half needed to be power washed, sanded and stained. That meant moving all my glass, tables, saws, polisher, etc to the other side of the deck. It also meant doing all the labor involved ....phew!
         I am back to glass work now and will post things coming out of the kiln soon!
         In the mean time...check out this preview video of an upcoming show I will be in.... 
oregonmjcc.org/ora

And please....DO COME TO THE SHOW!

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Glass for the Newly Weds

I haven't had the opportunity to make one of these bowls in a while! I was thrilled to be asked to make this bowl as a gift.

The commission stated that the couple liked natural colors so I selected this amber/hint of green glass. The surface is iridized so there is a lovely rainbow sheen that is visible from certain angles.

I cut two 15" circles of the glass and placed the smooth surfaces of the glass facing each other so the rainbow surface would be accentuated on both sides.  I sprinkled a light dusting of clear powdered glass across the face of the bowl to  give the piece a sheen and to also contain the iridescence, making the bowl food safe. I full fused it once, then added the letters cut from spring green irid glass, and dichroic dots to the surface. A second visit to the kiln allowed for a tack-fuse. Using my flat lap grinder, I smoothed out the edges and then the glass was returned to the kiln one last time to be slumped into a bowl.

There is always a written statement about the glass, with some information about the gematria behind the word Ahavah, and a blessing.

The piece is now signed and sealed in bubblewrap...ready to be delivered...tomorrow. Mazal tov to the bride and groom!

Sunday, May 6, 2018

New Mezuzot for Chapel


These are the two new mezuzot I made for the remodeled chapel at Robison Jewish Home @ Cedar Sinai Park in Portland.

The Chapel has been named in memory Sarah Glasgow Cogan z"l and it also houses the ark doors I made.

The orange and the red glass is the same as was used for the flowers in the ark door windows.

Saturday, February 24, 2018


Mazal tov to a very special Bar Mitzvah boychick! 
My student was fabulous...bringing his complete heart to  his service today. 

His tallit is a hand-painted silk shawl created by Diane Fredgant. It reflects his passion for nature. His parsha, Tetzaveh, talks about the garments the high priests wore. The "choshen" were breastplates with 12 jewels representing each of the tribes of Israel. 

Each of us is thought to be a priest and I wanted to make him clips that would match in terms of color, but would also serve as a reminder that he too should see himself as a priest. 

Boychick will be a leader in his community; perhaps as an environmental activist and/or maybe a religious leader. He will be a leader regardless of his profession. Blessings to you boychick!!!! And a hearty mazal tov!!!!!

The clips are made of an aventurine green base topped with dichroic beads with a gold chain.