JN Fine Arts Real Images When Dodi Sikevitz's niece had her bat mitzvah, the artist gave a gift that sure- ly would be part of herself— a watercol- or rendering. Sike- vitz's paintings move from the dram , low 1eiYerf with - a - touch of humor. With her career as an ad- vertising art director in the background, SikeVitz devotes full- time energy to fine art projects, commissions and teaching. The Palette and Brush Club's Artist of the Year in 1991, 1992 and 1996, Sikevitz is a past president of the organization. A solo show is scheduled Dodi Sikevitz: Enlightenment, watercolor. through Sept. 26 at the Birmingham Unitarian Church, 651 Woodward, Bloomfield Hills. (248) 647-2380. Painter and Teacher Paula Wager: Feelings of Beauty in My World, pastels. Paula Wager works out of a Commerce Township studio, where she completes creative projects with oils and watercolors, mingles pen- cil drawings, takes on commissioned portraits, works with painted clothes and teaches classes and private students. In August, she showed more than 50 of her paintings at the Swann Gallery, 1250 Library Street, Detroit, where she continuously has some on view. Colorful and representational, many of her works brighten the area in which they are placed. More From The Mideast R t ecently found art- works from the an- t iquities of Israel — some pieces making their first trip out of their native land — '.-0 cue _c e in, t o en s r n '' a- - ofthree exhi- i'lle Columbus (Ohio) Museum of .,6,-, “A.Keiciarna Tombs: Trea- sures of the Jerusalem Aris- tocracy" features more than 60 rare objects telling the story of the Second Temple period, first through the lives of two Syrian Jewish families buried in the caves. Later objects represent the time after the destruc- Second Temple Period (first century C.E.), limestone. tion of the Second Temple Ossuary, in 70 C.E., when the tombs were reused by the pa- gans (2nd-4th cen- turies) followed by the Christians (5th-6th centuries). "Roman Sculpture from Bet Shean" fea- tures works that adorned temples, the- aters, public squares, baths and monumental buildings of this old world city in the Jordan Valley during the Ro- man and Byzantine empires. The city was buried by an earth- quake in 749 C.E. "Dig It!" offers chil- dren an interactive ex- perience that informs Vessels, third-fourth centuries C.E., Roman, glass. about Israel, archaeolo- customs practiced then and now, according to gy and the religions and languages of the Middle East. Genshaft. Glass vessels, stone ossuaries, gold jewel- Decorated stone ossuaries, which held bones collected by family ry and marble statuary will be among members a year after the death the pieces on view from Sept. 19- of a loved one, were saved in the Jan. 4 with associated films and belief the bones expiated sins. programs. "Dig It!" continues The glass vessels and hoop through May 30. earrings made long ago could "Some of the objects give be mistaken for similar items us a very personal insight used and worn today. into the individuals who "The oil lamps and their de- made and used them al- velopment provided a way for most 2,000 years ago," ,_ dating objects," Genshaft ex- said Carole Genshaft, .3 plained. the museum's director of education and curator of the exhibitions. "Over the centuries, S' e The two archaeological ex- Bet Shean was an in- -„`=-; hibits from Israel —"Akeldama tense area of civiliza- Tombs" and "Bet Shean" — rim tion. The entire area Sept. 19-Jan. 4 at the Columbus represented seemed t,-±-4 Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad a huge, outdoor mu- Street. The museum is open 10 seum, and the exhi- :_cg a.m.-8:30 p.m. Thursdays and bitions give a hint of until 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, this." Wednesdays and Fridays-Sun- The objects allow days. For information, call (614) viewers to make 221-6801. comparisons be- tween lifestyle Tyche, third century, Roman, marble. 5_ E_ Suzanne Chessler is a freelance writer who compiles and writes our "Hanging Around" Fine Arts pages. If you have information about art happenings you wish to have considered for our Fine Arts section, including show openings and ongoing exhibits, please send your information, including photos or slides, three weeks prior to publication date, to Gail Zimmerman, Arts and Entertain- ment Editor, do The Jewish News, 27676 Franklin Road, South- field, MI 48034; information may be faxed to (810) 354-6069.