Temple Treasures
"Tops on my list...
their Filet Mignon"
Temple Israel Sisterhood's annual art fair
features new examples ofJudaica.
SUZANNE CHESSLER
Special to the Jewish News
udaica carved from wood in
Native American style, or
formed from clay to capture a
person or family, are among
the works featured at Art Fair 2001,
arranged by Temple Israel Sisterhood
for April 28-30.
Gabe Bass, a graduate of Andover
High School who went on to study at
Hampshire College, and Shoshanna, a
one-name-only ceramics specialist who
studied at the Art Institute of Atlanta,
are new to the fair this year
and amono- b 40 exhibitors
showcasing a mixture of
wall hangings, photogra-
phy, jewelry, furniture, bas-
kets and pottery.
Thirty-four vendors also
will participate in boutiques of
clothing, gifrware, jewelry and
purses in an event co-
chaired by Dorothy Collens
and Sara Hoffman.
"I learned to carve from
a native man on the
Musqueam reserve in
Vancouver, and with
much research and
practice adapted my
carving skills to a
unique style of Jewish
woodwork," says Bass, 24,
who offers candle holders, chal-
lah boards and seder plates as well
as larger structures for synagogues.
Bass, who has been carving for five
years, started working on Judaica almost
two years ago. His introduction to
artistry was unexpectedly found during
a different kind of study- program on
the reserve, where he was taught w'th
yellow cedar but went on to experiment
with many other types of wood.
"I don't know how to do any other
kind of art," says Bass, a Seattle resi-
dent who will inscribe his work,
whether ceremonial or decorative.
Shoshanna, who chose one name to
avoid being confused with another
artist who had her full name, doesn't
think about inscriptions because her
designs are highly personalized.
"It's all about the people receiving
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the artwork, not about me," says
Shoshanna, 40, who works out of a
studio on her Alabama property
"Every piece tells a story."
Shoshanna, who uses the business
name Shoshanna Art, did a menorah
for a family that
remembered
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Above: Gabe Bass:
Judaica in wood.
Left: As in this ceramic
mezuzah, Shoshana
captures family
images in art.
having food fights
when the children
were quite young.
That kind of scene
was designed into the
piece. Sometimes, she
will work from photos
and carve likenesses into
the Judaic forms.
Although she has been
interested in art since first
grade, her Judaic work started
10 years ago. She is represented at art
fairs by her parents, Max and Millie
Rosenthal.
"I also have some standard pieces
that I base on Kabbalah readings,"
Shoshanna says.
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The art fair at Temple Israel runs
8-11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-
4 p.m. Sunday and Monday
April 28-30. $3 at door Sunday
and Monday/for ticket informa-
tion on Saturday's preview, call
the temple at (248) 661-5700.
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