turing the Jerusalem skyline,
her smaller works suggest well-
known classical paintings.
The wall hangings of
Barbara Altwerger give a sense
of depth, texture and trans-
Below: "Byzantium"
parency
and reveal a new direc-
is byquitter
tion
for
the
artist, whose past
Marilyn Henrion.
efforts have been in clothing.
"I'm always aware of color,
design, balance and harmony,"
says Altwerger, now working
out of a Pontiac studio. "I
used to do appliqued sweat-
shirts under the label Annie
Alls, but I didn't consider that
art; it was embellishment and
decoration."
"Extraordinary Stitches" will
feature 10 Altwerger pieces.
Many start with a black cotton
background and continue
through a process that removes
dye and then adds color, often
repeating designs that have
jewel tones. Appliques bring
special effects.
"I've gone from clothing to
wall hangings because I feel
artists should push themselves
into new territories," says
Altwerger, who earned a mas-
ter's degree from Wayne State
University, studied fashion
West Bloomfield artist, who com-
design privately with Christiane
pletes projects on commission. "I
McCormack and recently won two
want my work to have a feeling of
juror awards and an honorable men-
movement.
tion from Michigan Surface
Kocherovsky, who often does very
Designers.
large wall hangings, has created some
Michael Daitch, secretary and cal-
smaller, framed works for this show.
endar coordinator for the Jewish
In contrast to a large fiber piece cap-
Community Council, brings 25 years
Top right: Carol Hamoys
feminine garments
become artful statements;
shown is a detail of her
"Four Mothers/Sarah."
\- squares and applies them to a materi-
al backdrop for final sewing.
"Just like viewing large paintings,
people have to step back to appreci-
ate the designs," she says.
Anna Kocherovsky offers tapestries.
"I use vibrant colors and tech-
niques learned in Russia," says the
of experience to his woven wear.
Through his Macomb Township stu-
dio, Coat of Many Colors, he does
tableware, women's clothing, scarves
and gloves. Besides selling through
art fairs, he completes tallitot and
chuppot on commission.
"My weavings are very affordable,
and right now, I'm concentrating on
chenille, which looks nice, feels nice
and wears well," Daitch says. "Scarves
are parts of series, and each one is a
little different."
Also part of "Extraordinary
Stitches" are the quilts of Morris and
Helen Bruck, N. Amanda Ford,
Vivian Gottlieb, Sheila Groman,
Marilyn Henrion, Jan and Muriel
Jacobs, Estelle Nelson, Robin
Schwalb, Louise Silk, Karen Willing
and Carol Wineman; clothing of Celia
Block, Anita Sudakin and Carol
Hamoy; dolls of Julie Langensiepen;
and needlepoint of Ann Aronowitz.
"Extraordinary Stitches" runs
Jan. 14-Feb. 25 at the Janice
Charach Epstein
Museum/Gallery at the D. Dan
and Betty Kahn Building of the
Jewish Community Center in
West Bloomfield. An opening
reception to meet the artists
will be held 6-8 p.m. Thursday,
Jan. 14. Gallery hours are 11
a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays, 11 a.m.-6
p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays and
11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays.
(248) 661-7641.
1/S
1999
Detroit Jewish News
69