Maas Ado About Irving
T
During 18
summers
at camp,
sculptor
Irving Berg
has created
art for
children
to enjoy.
SUZANNE CHESSLER
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
rving Berg has often spoken the words
shalom, chaverim over the 18 years he
has worked at Tamarack's Camp Maas,
but during this past summer, he ex-
pressed the sentiment artistically.
His work — lettering joined with a meno-
rah and Star of David in a concrete sculpture
— stands tall in the flag-raising area, where
the whole camp gathers before each meal.
The phrase, chosen to be part of the latest
of nearly 40 sculptures he's created for the
camp as artist-in-residence, represents long-
time beliefs and the emotions of recent events.
"I always felt the word shalom (peace) is
the most important word in any language,"
said Berg, who supervises stu-
dent teachers at Wayne State
University during the rest of
the year. "Chaverim (friends)
is the second most important
word in any language.
"The fact that a United
States president said, 'Shalom,
chaverim,' at Yitzhak Rabin's
funeral, was very touching and
really made these words uni-
versal. In celebration of the
phrase, I wanted to bring at-
tention to Rabin and dedicate
the sculpture to this great war-
rior willing to risk everything
for peace."
Berg, who was hired at
Camp Maas after working 12
summers at Camp B'nai B'rith
in Starlight, Pa., looks to bibli-
cal times, Jewish history and
present interests for the works
he constructs for the camp.
Jacob's ladder, the burning
bush, the eternal flame, totem
poles recognizing the 12 tribes
of Israel, a Holocaust scene, a
family unit and dancers from
Fiddler on the Roof are among
the images shown through his
huge forms.
"I use wood that has been
treated to last for 30 years or
I use concrete, which will last forever," Berg
said of his statues, given administrative ap-
proval in model form before they are begun.
"Usually, I come up with an idea during the
year, but not long ago, I was asked to do some-
thing for the youngest girls [at camp]. I came
up with the idea of 'Jonah and the Whale,'
partly because it's a fun story. Also, I thought
it would be fun for the campers to climb on
the whale."
Berg, 75, a World War II combat veteran,
has devoted his career to art and art educa-
tion, putting his students' interests first. Af-
ter earning bachelor's and master's degrees
at Wayne State University, he studied sculp-
tore at the Cranbrook Academy of Art.
The Maas artist-in-residence taught his
subject for 20 years in Detroit Public Schools
before additionally becoming head of the art
department at Cass Technical High School.
His career also has included teaching ce-
ramics at the Detroit Orthopedic Clinic, hav-
ing sculptural shows in solo and group settings
and being represented in private and public
collections as prestigious as the one at the De-
troit Institute of Arts.
"During the years in which I just taught,
I saw one teacher — myself," Berg said. "When
I was head of the art department at Cass,
there were several of us teaching so I could
explained. "Last year, the older kids wanted
to make a lasting piece so we came up with
the idea for a climber. The campers did the
designs, and I took their designs and made
them functional.
"We call it 'The House of Many Ladders.'
Actually, it's like a tree house with about six
ways of climbing up to the top — angled lad-
ders, inner ladders, outer ladders. It's just
fun."
Berg, whose wife Harriet is the dance artist
at the camp, also has fun serving as a docent
at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
"For 10 months out of the year, I appreci-
ate other people's work and help others ap-
Irving Berg with his memorial to Yitzhak Rabin at Camp Maas.
see how different teachers worked.
"Now, I get around the city and suburbs
and find that art history has entered more
into teaching. I see some very exciting work
going on, and I wish that we could say that
academics are moving ahead as fast as the
arts."
Berg observes that found objects have be-
come a popular sculptural trend, and he en-
courages this approach for artists. Berg applies
his advice at camp, where he used to teach
arts and crafts. He often builds with wood he
finds on the outskirts of the campgrounds.
"If campers themselves want to make some-
thing for their village, I work with them," he
preciate it," he said. "I see a lot of students
coming into the museum, and they go on to
fashion their own artistry inspired by what
they have seen."
The Bergs, whose daughter is a dancer and
painter and whose son is a journalist, also en-
joy traveling.
While summer months find a lot of artist
in the camper, the other months find a lot of
camper in the artist.
"I swim every day," Berg said. "I believe
physical activity is very important because if
your body is not strong, you're mind isn't
strong either." El