Local Sculptor's Creativity Spurred by Faith
playwright, who was his cousin. THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Granville-Jackson sees his role
Friday, June 4, 197141
of contemporary/religious artist as
stop."
compatible in a profession that
One of his 12-foot-high deter- often tends to make its own rules
gent churning sculpture-machines, for spiritual life as well as for
displayed at the Michigan Artists art. He has reconciled such con-
and his ORCHESTRA
Exhibition at the Detroit Institute flict: "I believe being observant
"Music at its Best
of Arts this year, won the Ros- has made my work stronger. Now
for Your Guests"
setti Prize.
I have a clear identity—an aware-
Busy with his work, the sculp-
ness of who I am."
tor said he doesn't plan a visit
soon to South Africa—origin of
"hundreds" of the prominent
Jackson family. The George F.
Jackson family of Birmingham
is his link to a clan spread
throughbut the world—including
the late George S. Kaufman,
By ESTHER ALLWEISS
South African-born sculptor Alas-
tair Granville-Jackson, come to
grips with his Jewish heritage in
his late 30s, now adds the ingredi-
ent of timeless tradition to his in-
terpretations of the contemporary
scene.
Granville-Jackson, who holds a
masters degree from Cranbrook
Academy, is professor of sculpture
at Wayne State University.
The same man who plans to
adapt his large mechanized deter-
gent-spouting "ecologiCal state-
ments" for the consumer market,
also turns his imagination to new
workings of ancient Jewish themes.
.
son said he found this requirement
difficult to fulfill at first. He
claimed the discipline of a day set
aside to reflection and study alone
has given "an added depth" to his
work.
In another respect, the visit
with Feinberg proved significant
for the sculptor: Feinberg con-
vinced him of the need for artists
to develop the field of Jewish
ceremonial art.
He began his research into
religious law in fall of 1968,
learning the exact specifications
for creating objects of Judaica
before attempting to add his own
individual touches. Granville-
Jackson's first project was a
hanukia (menora), commissioned
by Mr. and Mrs. Harold Good-
man of Franklin to provide a
"Jewish presence" for their
three small children.
After making sure basic halak-
hic requirements were met, Gran-
ville-Jackson was able to use free
rein in creating a hand-finished
and polished 41/2 -foot-high bronze
cast sculpture, standing on a stone
base.
Granville-Jackson now is com-
pleting another hanukia, different
in character from the Goodmans',
for Gilbert Silverman of Southfield.
It will be a birthday present for
Silverman's friend David B. Her-
melin, also of Southfield.
ALASTAHt GRANVILLE-
Silverman also recently pur-
JACKSON AT WORK
chased a quarter-ton welded
His 10 - foot - high, 20 - foot - long steel sculpture by Jackson, a
welded steel memorial to the vic- memorial to the Jews massacred
times of last year's Kent Rate Uni-
at Babi Tar.
versity demonstrations, to be offi-
Other religious art created by
cially dedicated there Thursday, is Granville-Jackson includes a 16-
an expression of our time that is foot-high aluminum hanukia that
styled with religious symbolism, to was exhibited at Cong. Shaarey
reflect the faiths of the three Jews Zedek, two other hanukiot and a
and one Christian killed—as well bronze mezuza.
as Jackson's own link to God.
Before becoming interested in
First lit at anniversary sere- Jewish ceremonial art and state-
monies May 4, the sculpture ments on ecology, Granville-Jack-
rests on a large cross. Four long son primarily was involved with
tubes, symbolizing gun barrels,
abstract sculpture, plastics, steel
fan out into a shofar design.
and kinetics—which he still does
There are two separate sets of
on occasion. He painted for 10
memorial lights on either end of years before switching to sculp-
the tubes: one perpetually lit as ture.
a public memorial; the other i
Granville-Jackson received his
smaller set to be lit only on undergraduate degree at the Uni-
May 4 — yarzeit — for "private versity of Capetown. At age 27 he
mourning."
left South Africa to study at the
Hooks bolted onto the shofar I Academy of Fine Arts in Flor-
tubes are shaped like the Hebrew ence, under Italian sculptor Peri:_
letter "shin," symbolizing Divinity cle Fazzini; visited Paris briefly;
—as "a reminder." As Granville- and revamped his techniques and
Jackson explained: "Although we philosophy of sculpture while at
don't know why the events (stu- the St. Martin's School of Art in -l-
dents' deaths) took place, the let- England—then the center of the
ter shin conveys that there is a New British _Movement in sculp- 4 4 01
meaning beyond human trader- ture.
standing."
Granville-Jackson also - spent. - iw-
Granville-Jackson's specially cre-
cre- year on Kibutz Ma'ayan
ated "dialogue between myself and Israel, calling the art scene - 061'e'
ashem" is represented in the Ro- "vital" with many "high quality
-:',.Tglrian numeral one, visible only artists." •
"I had a studio in an airy _
from above. Granville-Jackson said
that this symbol is a link between raid shelter and lit
lampSjo
him and God alone.
work at night," he .-3*ealled.
The sculptor said he had "drop- - Granville-Jackson said he de-
cided to leave Israel because -
ped out of religion'' in the 20-odd
years since his Bar Mitzva in "in that year (1958) the country
South Africa. He said his return to • was not in good financial shape;
it was not the time to buy luxury
Judaism has come in "slow stages,"
spurred by a . conversation in the
goods (like art)."
Boston Blvd. home of art patron
The sculptor reached the United
Charles Feinberg 21. ,2 years ago. States almost six years ago and
During a tour of his extensive came to this area to study under
art collection, Feinberg, corn- Julius Schmidt at Cranbrook.
menting on the religiosity of noted After receiving his masters de-
Jewish sculptor Jacques Lipchitz.- gree there in 1967. Granville Jack
said that "He (Lipschitz) put on son spent a year teaching at Kent
tefillin every morning." State in Ohio.
Granville-Jackson said the in-
Familiar with the campus and
formation had surprised him;
actual site of the student shoot-
ings. Granville-Jackson felt par-
that Lipchitz, whom he considers
to be "one of the greatest sculp-
ticularly moved to do his memorial
sculpture.
tors of the 20th Century," should
"take time off to think about
His memorial. he hoped. would
such things."
"make some kind of lasting state-
From this point on, with growing ment strong enough to remain
interest, Granville-Jackson turned meaningful beyond political com-
to religion. to "re-learn Judaism." ment." After creating the sculp-
Now careful about Sabbath oh- ture. Jackson sent photographs to
servance and food regulations, Kent State, whose fine arts com-
Granville-Jackson conceded he is mittee made the decision to ac-
"not through yet" in his education. cept the gift.
Especially challenging to him is
Granville-Jackson does his work
the religious obligation to put in the 17-artist Common Ground
aside creative work on the Sabbath : studios, a commune of top local
day. As an artist, Granville-Jack- I artists. There he sculpts "non-
FRANK PAUL
557-7986
LUGGAGE
For All
Your Travels
CUSTOM
TABLE PADS
Smart looking matched luggage
and single pieces are great travel
wardrobe builders and ideal for
• HAND-CRAFTED
• CUSTOM STYLING
• PROMPT DELIVERY
all types of travel.
Robinson's Leather Shop, Inc.
PHONE 345-5350
MADE IN MICHIGAN
KAN DBAG & LUGGAGE REPAIR
UNITED PAD CO.
25250 GREENFIELD, OAK PARKK, MICH. 548-5590
Our 30th Year
Four weight problems...
One simple
solution.
Stop worrying and let Diet Watchers lose
20
pounds
overweight
your weight once and for all. A special
diet for only you. A small personal class
to give you individual attention for quick-
er weight loss. You won't have to stand
in line an hour. Plus a trained leader who
is more than a lecturer. Call now for free
further information.
Celery is a weight reducing food that is
water retentive. You could be on a strict
water
retention
diet that may not work just because you
eat some celery. Want to learn the rest
of the simple foods that keep you full of
excessive water? Only Diet Watchers has
this information. Call now.
fussy
eating
habits
:
You can eat spaghetti, bagels and pota-
toes and still lose weight! Diet Watchers
understands you. The only diet where
you can eat fobd your body craves and
still lose weight naturally. Plus recipes
your whole family can enjoy. You too
can learn the facts. Join Diet Watchers.
It's the fault of your diet. Diet Watchers
has a total diet and weight loss program
that follows your individual progress each
week. Eat good food: all you want and
lose weight naturally. Unbelievable? We
have records of many, many 100 pound
losers in our 16 years of experience. Call
100
pounds
overweight
now for information.
626-3397
TROY
Somerset Apts.
One bik. S. of Somerset Mall
Recreation Bldg.
Wednesday
9:30 A.M.
7:30 P.M.
Nursery Care Provided
SOUTHFIELD
Howard Johnson's
to Mile & NW Highway
Monday-10:30 A.M.
Tuesday-7:30 P.M.
Nursery Care Provided
C,//
(e- it ,,ak hevid
Worth Your Time