ALMOST!....so close!

This is Harold Vail, the amazing craftsman who built the ark and the reading table. He's pictured here checking the fit of the glass panes.
The right door fits perfectly but the left panes will need a bit of grinding.

Harold is a perfectionist and you can see the value of his craftsmanship in everything he makes! The doors weren't closing as well as he wanted (without the glass) so, the doors were taken home with him. On Thursday morning he will install the doors along with the glass panels. 

Next on the agenda is to cut and affix glass to a mid-century modern light fixture and convert it into our Ner Tamid; our Eternal Light.  One might think that should be our very last step in completing this beautiful chapel....but nope....more yet to come!
Stu Luxenberg will be adding some gorgeous polished steel lettering to be affixed to the ark, and Diane Fredgant is hard at work designing new Torah mantles.  She has shared some of her thoughts with me....and I think it will be positively thrilling to see and use these new items!

Kudos again to Gary Pearlman for his visionary designs and to Harold for his remarkable craftsmanship.

More gratitude goes to Dave Becker at CSP for coordinating between the architects, designers, contractors, and us humble artists.

I'll devote a later column to the Cogan and Glasgow families who have sponsored the remodeling of this holy space.... they are a blessing to our community and deserve to have much more said about their efforts.

Knowing When to Stop!

Knowing when to stop or at least when to take a break can be challenging when you want to just push through and "git 'er done!"

If I cut myself (even a little bit) it's time to take a break. Where there are competing projects....like Thanksgiving Dinner, I stop.

I raced against the clock today, but it is almost Shabbat...so I stop.

Leaves and vines have been cut out of paper and glued into place.
My father's tailoring tape measure served as inspiration and a reminder today to place the pieces as closely as possible to conserve glass. I don't want to have to go buy another piece in order to finish the project. Sunday I will resume my efforts and hope that pane #2 (middle left door) will be ready for the kiln by Monday at the latest.

In case you are tuning in to my blog now, let me catch you up.
Robison Jewish Home has been renovated thanks to the generosity of many....especially the Schnitzer Family. The new building is the Harold Schnitzer Health and Rehabilitation Center. The Chapel is currently also being renovated thanks to the generosity of the Glasgow/Cogan Families in memory of Sarah Glasgow Cogan. 

The ark has been designed (by Gary Pearlman) and it is complete, save for the glass window inserts (which I a making.) It's an exciting opportunity...and I will talk more about the people who are making this project happen in future blogs....but...I have to race against sundown, so for now....

...Shabbat Shalom Y'all!