A stroke has hampered
Reva Lederman,
but not her painting.

SUZANNE CHESSLER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

Prone
Painter

E

fight years ago,
when she was in
her 40s, Reva Led-
erman decided to
take a class in
Oriental painting.
She had been interested in art
throughout her life and even
did copper enameling, but
she had not studied painting
seriously.
Despite a stroke that had left
her without the use of one arm,
she was determined to master the
skill.
On a rubber mat stretched out
on the floor of her makeshift
studio in her home, Mrs. Leder-
man has worked during the day
and into the night, often to the
sounds of classical music played
softly on a nearby radio.
First she concentrated on the
Japanese style, which is domi-
nated by black and white tones.
Comfortable with that technique,
she moved on to the Chinese

mode and brought more color into
her designs.
While Mrs. Lederman includes
people in some of her paintings,
she generally chooses to form
flowers, birds and bamboo in
different combinations applied to
traditional rice paper.
"I find these very relaxing to
paint, and I like the symbolism,"
said the wife, mother of three,
grandmother and former ele-
mentary school teacher. "I like
working into the night, when it
is quiet and restful."
Many of Mrs. Lederman's pic-
tures, each identified with both
her signature and the completion
time, fill the walls of her Oak
Park home. Some have been sold
as parts of commissions and hang
in lawyers' and doctors' offices
in the metro area. Others are
given as gifts to family members
and friends celebrating special
occasions.
Two paintings have been pur-

chased for public view, thanks to
the assistance of Very Special
Arts Michigan (VSAJMI), an
affiliate of an international
organization founded in 1974 by
Jean Kennedy Smith. The asso-
ciation helps enrich the lives of
the disabled by encouraging
creativity and promoting artistic
opportunities.
Mrs. Lederman had read an
article in an organization news-
paper soliciting ideas for paint-
ings to commemorate the 200th
anniversary of the U.S. Capitol,
and she proposed a work show-
ing the building surrounded by
cherry blossoms.
After the painting was among
those finally commissioned to be
on exhibit at the Washington
celebration, which Mrs. Leder-
man attended last fall with
VSA/MI executive director Lora
Frankel, the painting found a
home in the conference room of
Michigan Sen. Carl Levin.

"I think Reva Lederman's
`Cherry Blossom Time at the
Capitol' is beautiful," Sen. Levin
said.
Earlier this year, when repre-
sentatives of the Hurley Reha-
bilitation Center in Flint were
looking for artwork to dress up
their facility and inspire patients,
they looked to VSA/MI, which in
turn recommended Mrs. Leder-
man.
"I think it's amazing how well
she has done," Ms. Frankel said.
"She really has found her avenue
of expression, and I was happy to
refer her."
For the Flint facility, the Oak
Park artist completed "Strength
and Dignity," which includes
bamboo to symbolize unbending
strength and a pink peony to
symbolize dignity and courage.
The painting also appears on
note paper sold to raise funds for
the center.
Mrs. Lederman, who loves to
talk about her work, is reluctant
to talk about the struggles en-
dured to reach her successes.
"I was 34 when I had my
stroke, and I was determined to
remain a productive human
being," said the artist.
"I fought back, and I fought
hard. I planned my oldest son's
bar mitzvah from my hospital
bed."
The artist credits her husband,
Sheldon, principal of Hawthorn
Center, and close members of her
family for giving her the support

she needed to continue looking
after her children during re-
covery.
Mrs. Lederman said having a
family to think about was the
motivation she needed to keep
going, and she takes pride in the
achievements of her now-grown
children — Martin, an attor-
ney; Ruth, a Jewish communal
worker in Boston; and David, a
retailing specialist.
"I wasn't going to sit around
and do nothing, and I took up
copper enameling and started
doing art shows," explained Mrs.
Lederman, who gave up this craft

She paints while
lying on the floor.

because transporting the mate-
rials to various shows became too
cumbersome and required too
much time of others.
Last year, she taught an adult
art class in Ferndale.
Because painting often can be
a lonely pursuit, Mrs. Lederman
has found a way to spend part of
her time painting with others.
She has made arrangements for
bus transportation once a week
so she can go to the Jimmy Pren-
tis Morris Jewish Community
Center, where she keeps up her
own style while working side-by-
side with students taking paint-
ing lessons.

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