Hang ■ 11 Talun . g A Look At The Art Scene... SUZANNE CHESSLER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS Palette of Plates I eremonial objects have be- come the centerpieces for artis- tic competition and display at the Spertus Museum in Chicago, where this year's focus is seder plates. Three prize-winning plates and 22 other entries will be on display through April 30. New York architects Brian Kaye and David Kesler were awarded $10,000 for their Torah-like, geometrical design that can be stored in a self-contained structure. The artistic team used angled lines to create a cone-shaped Elijah's Cup and a cone-shaped Matriarch Cup as well as four brass surfaces that hold the various seder foods. "Since the plate requires assembly, the participant takes an active role in the intellectual creation of the seder," the first-prize winners commented in the catalogue that accompanies the ex- hibition. The other entries --- from metal to wood in a variety of colors, from round to square shapes, from concrete figures to abstract designs — offer new ways to represent the symbols of the holiday and communi- cate its meaning. Below left: Brian Kaye and David Kesler: Seder Plate, sanded aluminum, sandblasted brass and satin brass. Glass Reaches Silver Below right: Dan Dailey: Nude in Sticker Bushes Lamp, gold-plate with patina, vitrolite base and cream globe at Habatat Galleries. -he 25th Annual International Glass Invitational has been an- nounced by Habatat Galleries in Pontiac. Exhibitions, demonstra- tions and workshops will be featured April 3-May 4 at Habatat as well as other gal- leries and showrooms throughout the metro area. `This year's exhibition will have a strong focus on the new glass artists of the Czech Republic," revealed Kathy Hampson of Ha- batat, 7 N. Saginaw. "Many of the artists have never exhibited in the United States." The following special displays and events have been arranged to add to the celebra- tion of April as Michigan Glass Month: • A "Botanical Glass Sculpting Workshop" with Frederick Birkhill and Shane Fero will be held April 4-6 at the University of Michigan in Dearborn. • "Glass Roots: The Glass Artists of North Carolina" showcases the work of 20 artists at the Ariana Gallery in Royal Oak. • "A Glass Act '9T' at Gallery: FunctionArt in Pontiac features functional and sculp- tural objects formed from both traditional and radical techniques. e For information on events as- sociated with the 25th Interna- tional Glass Invitational, call Habatat Galleries at (810) 333- 2060. Tattoos Become Holocaust Reminders IT The Spertus Judaica Prize Exhibition contin- ues through April 30 at the Spertus Museum, 618 S. Michigan Ave.,' Chicago. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays- Thursdays and 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Fridays. For information, call (312) 322-1747. Israeli Sculptor at Temple Fair sraeli sculptor Victor Halvani will partici- pate in Temple Israel's Art Fair '97, which also will feature the work of 50 local artists. Among those displaying original pieces are painters Andrea Tama and Patti Tap- per, potters Joane Arkin and Sara B. Frank, glass builder Stan Megdall, out- door sculptor Lawrence Tazol and glass etcher Ken Pellar. During the fair, which runs April 12- 14, boutiques will showcase handmade dolls, jewelry and clothing. "Halvani will be showing his work around the country, and this will be his starting point," said Suzi Malach, who is on the committee organizing the artwork. The Halvani Exhibition, which contin- ues through April 18, will spotlight orig- • "Exotics: The Glass Collection of Patricia Hill Barnett" will be at the Alfred Berkowitz Gallery at the University of Michigan in Dearborn. final bronze, limited-edition sculp- tures. Inspired by biblical stories and ancient Egyptian art, Halvani forges a link between the past, present and future, introducing elements inspired by space tech- nology. Proceeds from the fair, spon- sored by the sisterhood, benefit temple and community projects. e Art Fair '97 runs 8-11:30 p.m. Sat- urday, April 12; 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Sun- day, April 13; and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, April 14. For information, call (810) 661-5700. Above: Holocaust tattoos will be explored in "Getting Inked: The Art of the Tattoo." Above left: Victor Halvani: David Playing the Harp, bronze with green patina. olocaust tattoos covering the body of a California photographer will be the - _ topic of Wayne State Uni- versity art historian Dora Apel as she addresses the Detroit Institute of Arts conference "Getting Inked: The Art of Tattoo." Scheduled Saturday, April 5, the conference explores the history of tat- too as an art form and its manifes- tations in contemporary culture. Marina Vainshtein, 23, who has the Holocaust tattoos, represents a postmodernist rejection of the sanc- tity of the body, according to Apel. Af- ter the first Star of David body painting was applied at age 18, Vainshtein went on to honific Holocaust im- ages including trains transporting people to the concentration camps. "I've conducted phone interviews with Marina Vainshtein," said Apel. "She believes the images physically place the body between the past and fu- ture as a barrier to forget- ting." Other conference topics include "Framing Tattoos: From Bodily Disfigure- ment to Work of Are'; 'Tat- tooing and Youth Cultures"; 'Tattooing as a Medium"; and "Skin and Site." e Preregistration is required for "Get- ting Inked: The Art of the Tattoo," a con- ference scheduled between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at the Detroit Institute of Arts. For information, call (313) 833-2323.