COVID Art Show part 2

 As I mentioned in the December 21st post, my amazing daughter-in-law  sent me an essay titled : 

“Translating Black Lives Matter into Yiddish”. You can find the article here: https://jewishcurrents.org/translating-black-lives-matter-into-yiddish/

Yiddish~ יידיש

Yiddish was spoken by my parents- both survivors of the holocaust. My childhood home was filled with the sounds of mamaloshen…which translates to mother tongue, but as a young child I thought it meant My mothers lotion…like a soothing balm, it covers you

After I read this article,  I knew that Yiddish was my connection. I thought I knew what I had to do. I journaled, sketched, researched, had lots of false starts…  My first notion was to create a Black Lives Matter Seder...develop a seder plate that would be the centerpiece for a seder (ceremonial service during Passover that teaches the story of the holiday.)

The seder plate would carry symbols that would serve as a visual guide through the history of Blacks in America, After lots of drawing, thinking, research...I came away realizing that while I am may be able to recount the story (ies) ; it isn't my story to tell as part of a service, ritual or ceremony.  It also wasn't taking me on the journey I needed to take in understanding my privilege, my sorrow, my responsibility. It isn't my turn to tell this story. It is my turn to listen, to learn, and to journey. Below is the seder plate I thought about making.

Avadim Ha-yinu means ..."we were slaves. "It's a part of our Passover seder, recalling the biblical tale of how Jews were enslaved by a Pharaoh.  We struggle to know what that means...because as contemporary Jews, we don't know about enslaveme

We may understand persecution because that is more recent. But every day we PASS. We are mostly white women and men who have assimilated sufficiently to receive the privileges accorded to white people. Only the very few holocaust survivors still alive can truly know what it means to walk in fear every second, minute, and hour of their lives in fear of the sort of bigotry and hatred that could cost them their lives.

I found this yiddish song shown above in the Workman's Circle Haggadah...a third night "Seder For A Better World." Their website explains that "In 1933, 30 Workmen’s Circle students and their families gathered in Crown Heights celebrating Peysakh in Yiddish poetry, song, and social justice debate. And it’s been going on ever since."   Zoom in on the Black Lives Matter Fist on the plate and you will see Yiddish words written in Hebrew letters. It says Black Lives Matter. I wanted the Yiddish there because this is our language our "Mama Loshun"; our mother tongue.

But the seder plate isn't what I ended up doing. Perhaps I will make it some day...perhaps for the third night of Passover this year. I'll need to study the Workman's Haggadah and perhaps add to it, as well.

There were numerous  groups of people targeted by the Nazi regime. Although there weren't many Blacks in Germany at the time, there was a star intended for them as well. 

Sitting on my deck one sunny summer afternoon, sitting 6 feet away from a fellow artist, I described my journey, shared the article I had read and...that's when it  finally all came together for me.  

My "Aha Moment!" I was searching for what we had in common. How do I overcome the need to say  "I identify with your pain" rather than... If I say or do nothing, I am contributing to your pain. I don't need to feel your pain  and you don't need my empathy or sympathy. I need to be an ally and I need to find a way to communicate and teach others about our responsibility to create a better world. 

Tomorrow I will complete this three part story....thanks for bearing with me!

COVID-ART-SHOW part 1

 

Back in September, I posted about a Virtual Art Show sponsored by the Mittleman Jewish Community Center and ORA Northwest Jewish Artists. 

So much has happened since this pandemic launched us all into hermit status...or at least, semi hermit status!

The focus of the show was..."What did you create between March and September?" Submit one entry!

 This is the first of a several part series of postings about my process leading to the largest fused glass wall piece I built and displayed in the COVID ART SHOW.  This first one is a lot of words...the rest will have images of my notes, research, and execution of the project. I am proud of my work...it links my usual focus of judaica with social justice activism. I learned a lot...I would humbly like to share.

Hmmm...what was going on back then? Elections!!! First the primary and then the seemingly endless campaigning for the upcoming election in November. Politics became a team sport. Cheering and jeering crowds no longer think of their behavior as inappropriate. All the anti-bullying lessons teachers valiantly try to offer school children have been eroded- replaced by adults who think nothing of public name calling, shaming, and bullying. Blind loyalty to an individual and/or party rather than being open to the possibility that your candidate may have sufficient flaws to alter the way you vote. "It's my candidate/my party...right or wrong!" Thankfully, there were exceptions. I only hope that our children will have the strength to emulate the few adults in their world who have modeled ways in which to disagree in a civil manner.  I considered this a theme for my work. I came up blank.

And then there was COVID. The COVID pandemic demonstrated how little support our frontline medical teams were receiving....and then how our federal government was failing us. We witnessed a State of Emergency declared in country after country, including our own. We watching the numbers of deaths rise and rise and rise much like we would standing at the bank of a rising river, knowing we could do nothing to prevent the flood. And all the while, many of our fellow citizens poo-poo'ed the idea of a deadly virus, scoffed at taking preventative measures....and now, several months later (late December), we are back at the banks of this viral river, watching the banks again overflowing with record-setting deaths.             My heart grieves for these lost lives. What have we as a country lost as the result of their souls; the contributions they would have made to their families, to their neighbors, to our world? What could I say, using glass as my medium, to express my anger....and my sorrow?

....And still....more sorrow. Black Lives Matter. No more denial America! Racism in the U.S.A is alive and sadly flourishing. Our citizens of color, particularly (but not exclusively) African Americans live with in-your-face discrimination every day of their lives. STILL!      I wanted to advocate for Black communities across our nation. The challenge was that despite feeling like I am still a young person...I AM NOT YOUNG!                                        I wanted to be on the streets of downtown Portland protesting....and yet, I am deeply vulnerable. I had to stay home, watching our fine youth and a few very brave elders take a public stand. My activism seemed limited to making financial donations to the social justice organizations I believed could best address the on-going and quite lame denial proclaimed by government official and the police.       And then I understood. Politics, COVID, Black Lives Matter ...they are all linked. The lives of our citizens of color are impacted so directly by inaction and bigotry in our government, among those of us who are privileged, and even in the world of medicine where doctors take an oath to do no harm....that they are dying in greater numbers than any other group of people.     

I am a retired school teacher....I came into the world of glass art late. I am not a Bansky or a Margaret Bourke-White, or Kara Walker (look her up!!! She is amazing!) How could I communicate...no, how could I create a metaphor in glass and use it to teach...?

My daughter-in-law had no idea that she would launch my research when she texted me a link to an article that became pivotal to my focus.

Teaching and preaching rhyme...but they aren't the same.  Admittedly, I can be prone to the preaching side of things....so with that warning swirling in my head and a link to an article, my COVID art journey began.   I hope you will join me in my next posting. More images, less talk!

If you look at the COVID Word Cloud above, and then this one how 
many words could be shifted from above to bring into this  BLM cloud?
Think about it.

 

Featured Artist: CHEF LANI RAIDER!

Spend 5 minutes talking with Lani about cooking and you will go home inspired to make fantastic food that is nutritious and delicicious! 

Food is an art form unto itself. Chef Lani Raider is a food innovator as well as a superb chef. I'm not talking about decorating a cake....although she probably also does that supremely well!    

Meet her in person and discover some amazing foods. You will be able to buy FRESHLY Smoked Salmon and Chicken all in cryovac packaging. She has also made some superb schmears you must buy. These schmears aren't just for bagels! You will be amazed!

Lani will also have a menu list available that you can peruse and even take home with you. Placing an order for salmon, chicken, and/or a variety of treats and sides could make your meal choices less challenging.... and so tasty!

FOOD safety is a number one priority. Feel free to chat with her about what precautions she takes! Galettes for example will be available to order but due to food safety requirements, they can not be sold at our event.

POP-UP INFO: Sunday December 20th , 11-4 ...                                                                           check this site for updates if the rain forces us to close early!

Location: Between 02 and 16 SW Canby Street Portland Oregon

COVID SAFE Precautions will be implemented. MASKS required!

Outdoor venue, market booths with heat and ventilation... 1 family allowed to enter at a time.

Featured Artist: JACK LISKEAR ~Pop-up Sale This Week-end!

 

Jack has been turning wood for decades! He loves the natural beauty of wood and primarily sources his wood locally. Typically the wood comes from fallen trees. The wood needs to dry, sometimes for a few years before it is ready to be turned on his lathe.

Each chunk of wood has its own personality so Jack has become adept at seeing the potential in each piece and designs each piece in response to the wood. 

The pop-up sale is SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20th, 2020. We open at 11am and close at 4pm.

Rain is predicted but we have heated and sheltered booths! We will implement every Covid-safe practice possible. Ventilated booths, restricted entry for family groupings only, masks required, hand sanitizer available...and TREATS! Hot beverages and small individual snacks are free.

If we suffer torrential rains, we may close early...check this blog to find out our status. If you don't see anything to the contrary...we will be open! 

Come check us out!!!! Shop small businesses PLEASE! The big box stores will survive!

Christmas, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries...You will always be looking for special gifts. Hand made, unique, and affordable. Stock up this Sunday!

POP-UP SALE: Featured Artist DIANE FREDGANT

 POP UP ART SHOW : 

Sunday December 20, 2020 

           11am-4pm

 Look for the market booths in the turn-around between

             02  and  16 SW Canby Street...Portland Oregon.

                check yesterday's post for more information

              check this blog tomorrow to meet another artist!

                                         MEET SILK ARTIST: Diane Fredgant

Diane is an accomplished sculptor and fabric artist. Her focus has been developing new techniques in silk painting that allow her to create majestic and brilliantly colorful items. I own an amazing prayer shawl that I commissioned from her. It is going to become a family heirloom. It is stunning beyond words! The challah cover above is just one of many, many designs she has available for purchase

Although Diane is well known for her Judaica items, she also has developed uniquely layered framed silk paintings that not only convey a sense of surreal depth, but they shift in the light, offering shifts in mood and perspective. Diane will have several hand-painted 3-D silk and wood  designs in a variety of colors and moods. 

In this age of COVID, we all need to wear masks. Diane began mask making early on last spring, recognizing that not only was there a shortage at that time, but that the quality of available masks was poor.  Diane's mask reflect a rare quality of materials. Each is hand made using two layers of sturdy quilter's cotton and has a sewn-in surgical grade interfacing to extend the filtering capabilities of the mask. Masks are available in a variety of sizes , colors and patterns. I bought 4 immediately and discovered that these masks are also adjustable, They fit better than any other mask I own. While other masks have faded with use, these masks remain vibrant!

A POP-UP SALE!!!! Last Minute Shopping!

 

It's a pop-up in our neighborhood! This is what happens when two artists (Jack and Eddy) live next to each other and like to collaborate!  It's what happens when there is a pandemic, you have been making art but you can't be in show. 

We've invited two other friends: a silk artist (Diane Fredgant) who also has incredibly lovely and well made face masks using surgical-grade filters for sale, and a chef (Lani Raider) who will have beautifully prepared treats available for purchase as well as a menu of items that can be ordered for future consumption.

Virtual Shows are great, but often customers want to handle the merchandise or at least see it up close- personal!  WHAT KIND OF MERCHANDISE? I'm so glad you asked! Turned wood, fused glass, hand-painted silk, and chef prepared freshly smoked salmon (cryovac packaging) and an assortment of holiday treats.  I'll feature information about each artist on this site, beginning Tuesday evening.  Check this site on Sunday if it's raining. We plan to be open unless there is a deluge. This is Oregon after all....it does rain. We'll stay open during showers

So on Sunday December 20th we will set up some open air booths with heaters...and invite friends and neighbors to browse through our work. COVID SAFETY is our main concern!

LOCATION: The turn-around space between 02 SW Canby and 16 SW Canby,

•We will limit the number of guests entering at one time to members of a single pod or if alone, just one customer at a time. If you are a drive up guest, you may be asked to wait in your car for a few minutes...if customers are already in our booths.

•We're offering hot drinks and small nibbles that are individually wrapped

•We will accept  payment for art via cash, check, PayPal, or credit card

• Hand sanitizer will be available for your use.