The Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit Jimmy
Prentis Morris Building/Target Concert Series presents
OY VEY CHANUKAH!
A totally klezmer Chanukah concert for kids starring
Sruli and Lisa
Dr. Joel Stillman uses trickshis tr y
in pursuing an artistic passion.
Joel Stillman: 'My work is about exploring the enigmatic and contradictory
qualities of glass."
SUZANNE CHESSLER
Special to the Jewish News
4 11 oel Stillman
learned the science
of sculpting before he tackled
its artistry.
A Dearborn dentist who has
been molding teeth for more than 25
years, the West Bloomfield resident
began forming glass objects about nine
years ago and will have his work show-
cased at Temple Israel through Jan. 16.
The exhibit, "Looking Through Glass
With Jewish Eyes," also features glass
collected by four couples who are temple
members — Eleanor and Lawrence
Jackier, Teri and Mark Goodman, Carol
and Gersh Cooper and Lenore and
Stanley Doifinan. All pieces were either
made by Jewish sculptors or are exam-
ples of Judaica.
"I know a number of dentists who
also are glass blowers, and I think there
definitely is a relationship between the
two professions," says Stillman, 52, who
has shown his work at Gallery:
FunctionArt in Pontiac and Art Loft in
Birmingham. "Dentists have to be artists
when they work on teeth in a way that's
similar to shaping glass.
"When we work on patients, we have
a concept of what their teeth will look
like when we finish, and when we work
with glass, we also have a finished image
in mind. Both require a great deal of
eye-hand coordination, the ability to
stay focused and an interest in details."
Stillman has 20 pieces of his work on
display at Temple Israel, where an evolu-
tion in style can be noticed. Many of the
works are vessel forms, but others are
more abstract shapes. Although his vases,
baskets and perfume bottles are func-
tional objects, his intent was decorative.
"My work is about exploring the enig-
matic and contradictory qualities of
glass," says Stillman, who sculpts one
night a week at Michigan Hot Glass
Workshop in Detroit. "Because it is fluid
yet solid, opaque yet transparent, glass
offers a unique perspective that couples
both form and medium."
Stillman collected glass before he
decided to take on his hobby. After talk-
ing to a friend who attended classes at
the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center,
he enrolled as well, moving on to the
Center for Creative Studies in Detroit
and workshops held outside Michigan.
"While I love blowing glass, I have
recently been exploring the art of cast-
ing," says Stillman, who is able to do
preliminary work at home. "This
method involves pouring molten glass
into a carved, brick mold. When I carve
the mold, I add intricate details, which
are not possible in glass blowing."
Stillman, who has been a Temple
Israel member for about 20 years, shares
his dentistry interest with his family. His
father and two brothers have worked in
the same building, where his wife,
Renee, helps with office responsibilities.
Son Jonathon attends medical school in
Pennsylvania, and daughter Sara is a
publicist in New York.
"It is the spiritual aspect of creating
sculpture that I find most fulfilling," says
Stillman. ❑
Sunday, Dec. 17 at 4 p.m.
Jimmy Prentis Morris Building
A. Alfred Taubman Jewish Community Campus
15110 W. 10 Mile, Oak Park
Bring the whole family to this unique concert experience.
It's a new way to celebrate Chanukah. Fee: $3 for child member, $4
for adult member, $4 for child non-member and $5 for adult non-
member.
Tickets available at the JPM Building front desk.
Call (248) 967-4030 for information.
Sponsored by: The Charles and Frances Driker Fund for Yiddish Culture
JCC
TARGET
Weekend
Dinner
Special
Served Friday.
Saturday and
Sunday
r
ONDAY THRU THURSDAY • DEC. 11-14 • AFTER 3:00 '.M.
20c)/c3 OFF
ENTIRE FOOD BILL
"Looking Through Glass With
Jewish Eyes" will be on display
through Jan. 16 at Temple
Israel. The public can view the
display during normal business
hours, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Mondays-Fridays, and before
and after services Friday
evenings and Saturday morn-
ings. (248) 661 5700.
-
c,* ,•k*",
•
,
Valid with coupon only
• 1 coupon per couple • Not valid with any other discount
L
• Excludes dinner for two • Dine in only • Expires 12/14/00
Newly Remodeled
SIEISIMS
FAMILY RESTAURANT
29221 NORTHWESTERN HWY. (Corner of 12 Mile Rd.)
Smithfield • (2483 3633 -2353
music reviews
OM Entertainment
Catch the best