eIN Fine Arts
Taking A Look
At The Art Scene...
Open-Door Studios
SUZANNE CHESSLER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
Crosscurrents Of Culture
mong 135 artifacts found at the ar-
chaeological site of the ancient city of
Sepphoris and now -touring the Unit-
d States are many that show an
intercultural mix of the inhabitants —
Jews, Romans and Christians.
That mix will be stressed as
the University of Michi-
gan Museum of Art and
the Kelsey Museum of
Archaeology in Ann
Arbor present "Sepphoris in
Galilee: Crosscurrents of Culture"
Sept. 7-Dec. 14.
"The groups of objects that high-
light the intermingling of cultures
in the city are what I especially
like about this exhibit," said Elise
Friedland, visiting assistant cu-
rator, whose yearlong appoint-
ment is specifically for this
exhibit.
"Eight bronze coins minted at
Sepphoris (Zippori in Hebrew)
have symbols that show the rela-
tionship between the Jewish
community and Rome as the con-
trolling power. Mythological figures in
bronze were found in a water reservoir
under a Jewish house. The pottery in-
cludes plates with crosses."
The excavation of Sepphoris was
begun in 1931 by Leroy Waterman Figure
of the University of Michigan and of Prometheus,
continues under the direction of mul- Roman Period.
tiple Israeli and American univer-
sities.
"Sepphoris in Galilee," organized by the
Ae
North Carolina Museum of Art in consultation
with site archaeologists and the Israel Antiq-
uities Authority, features maps, videos, pho-
tomurals and three-dimensional models of
buildings to help viewers envision the ar-
tifacts in their original context.
"I come and go to Israel all the
time and did doctoral research
there," said Friedland, who has
visited the museum at Zip-
pori National Park and
the satellite museums
constructed to
protect new dis-
coveries such as
mosaics.
"Every time I go
there, the place takes
on a new appearance because
more layers are peeled away,"
she said.
Recent work at the site
where the Mishnah was
-= edited had the assistance of
34 university students from
Michigan as part of the
Michigan/Central Galilee
ig Partnership 2000.
`L' Erin Schwartz, a member
of Temple Shir Shalom, was
with a team that discovered
8 a doorway, walls, pottery
ri3 and glass. Melissa Schaum-
berg, a member of Congre-
gation Shaarey Zedek,
found six coins, an animal skele-
ton and nails.
Returning to the third century will be made
more real with the use of actors trained and
dressed to capture the people of the time.
"There will be a peddler trying to
sell amulets to visitors, a rabbi who
1 doesn't want people going to theater
'i- and many others trained for this liv-
ing history experience," Friedland
said.
(See pamphlet inserted in this is-
sue of The Jewish News for more in-
formation.)
Stephanie Zack: The Spirit Within,
handmade paper and charcoal.
Uncommon Art for
Common Ground
At the 23rd annual Common Ground
"Art in the Park," more than 150 artists
from 28 states and England will offer
mixed media, paintings, basketry, glass,
ceramics, fiber, photography, jewelry,
metals and wood. Proceeds from the
sale of juried works benefit Common
Ground's 24-hour telephone crisis line
and other community service programs
including victim assistance. The art will
be featured from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat-
urday, Sept. 6, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun-
day, Sept. 7, at Shain Park in downtown
Birmingham. Other event attractions
include a Pewabic Pottery tile-making Lou Zale: Later Than You Think,
demonstration, children's art with photograph.
hands-on painting and sculpting, silent auctions, continuous live en-
tertainment and refreshments from local restaurants. (248) 456-8150.
Diving In
Fedora Horowitz contributed to
this story.
-
"
Lead Weight with Market Inscription, Roman Period (third century).
"Sepphoris in Galilee: Cross-
currents of Culture" runs Sept. 7-
Dec. 14 at the University of
Michigan Museum of Art and the
Kelsey Museum of Archaeology. For
• information, call (313) 764- 0395 or
(313) 764 9304.
-
Artists working out of Pontiac studios
are opening their doors for P-ART 97,
the second annual tour that allows art
enthusiasts to see works in progress
as well as completed pieces. Paper pro
Stephanie Zack is one of 30 individu-
als showing the steps that lead to a fi-
nal form. Among the newer hosts and
hostesses are a video artist and a con-
ceptual artist. This year's tour, which
runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday,
Sept. 20, also has some out-of-doors
ambience — with many works placed
throughout the city as part of Sculp-
ture Pontiac '97. Free parking, shut-
tle buses and maps make the
experience all that more comfortable.
The three centers for getting maps
and shuttle information are at 7
North Saginaw, 40 W. Howard and
120 E. Wide Track. (248) 333-1810.
Lyn Parker:
Whale Tail,
-
mixed media.
A fascination with the sea coupled with
an early training in textile design have
led to Lyn Parker's current exhibition:
Sculptural Paintings — Sea-Life
Forms. The three-dimensional pieces
are abstract and contain natural and
recycled objects with iridescent col-
ors to suggest myriad ocean hues.
While her work is displayed Sept. 5-
27 at the Uzelac Gallery, 7 N. Sagi-
naw, Pontiac, viewers will see
mottled metal, as if the object had
aged and weathered naturally. Atop
the found sea objects is rhoplex, a soft,
milky medium that adds dimension. The
artist will discuss her technique during an opening re-
ception scheduled 7-10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5. (248) 332-5257.