ENTERTAINMENT

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Judith Dresner wouldn't let ailments and age stand in
the way of her new gallery.

SUSAN WEINGARDEN

Special to The Jewish News

ooking back, Judith
Dresner says there
were probably a
million reasons for
er not to open an art
gallery. Foremost among
them were her age, her

limited income and her long
history of health problems.
Five years ago, she had
most of her stomach removed
during cancer surgery. Two
hip surgeries followed. In ad-
dition, a heart condition and
angina have plagued her for
years.
Though she's had more
than her share of aches and

pains, she claims she is not
ready to spend the rest of her
life in a rocking chair. At an
age when most people start
winding down, the 76-year-
old artist recently fulfilled a
life-long dream when she
opened the Judith Dresner
Gallery in Southfield.
"I was going to name the
gallery The Last Hurrah,"
she says with a smile. "I've
always been a bit of a rebel.
I can't stand being idle. If I sit
around and do nothing I have
more to kvetch about.
"My doctor says nothing
can stop me because I have a
positive attitude. Everyone
has problems, but it's how you
handle them that makes the
difference. You can fall apart
or you can pick yourself up
and keep going. Opening this
gallery was just something I
had to do."
A self-described "flower
child," Mrs. Dresner
discovered her artistic talents
while recuperating from her
first heart attack over 30

years ago. But owning a
gallery seemed out of reach
until recently when things
just fell into place.
When a space opened in the
Claymoor apartment build-
ing where she lives, she decid-
ed to take the plunge. "I don't
drive, so this location was my
only option!' she explains. "I
was working at a boutique in
the building for the past year
and decided I should use my
energy by doing something
for myself."
The reaction to her plans
ranged from "that's wonder-
ful" to "are you crazy? at your
age?" The first person she
told was her daughter, Birm-
ingham potter Carole
Berhorst.
"I thought it was a wonder-
ful idea but I was concerned
whether she could physically
handle it," Mrs. Berhorst
says. "I didn't want her to
stay up worrying at night.
But she loves what she's do-
ing and I'm very proud of her.
She's focused on positive

energy and she looks 10 years
younger."
Though Mrs. Dresner was
apprehensive after making
the commitment, her anxiety
soon turned to excitement.
Each day gives her something
new to look forward to. "Even
if I'm hurting and exhausted,
I can't wait to get into the
gallery in the morning!' she
says. "It's very peaceful and I
love to be surrounded by
beautiful things!'
Many of the artists she
represents were found by her
daughter. Gallery selections
range from hand-painted silk
apparel to paintings and pot-
tery. Though she is eager to
promote Michigan artists
such as Sybil Mintz and Lori
Seltzer, she is always on the
lookout for new talent.
"I'm a very good critic," she
claims, "and I'm very selec-
tive about what I show. I look
for a creativity that expresses
the artist's soul. It's exciting
to find new artists."

Continued on Page 87

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