Conveying
Ancient Ideals

Filled with the handmade
ritual and ornamental works
of 79 artists, new book is
a valuable guide for anyone
inspired to collect
contemporary Judaica.

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SUZANNE CHESSLER
Special to the Jewish News

athryn Morton nearly always wears a pendant
made by New York artist Bernard Bernstein. She
likes the way the word "Shalom" is sculpted; it
can look like a hand or flower, depending on how
it is viewed. When people see the laaliere from a distance,
it's an intriguing design, but if they see it. up close, they can
discern the greeting.
Morton found the pendant while working on the book

9/27
2002

72

Judaic Artisans Today: Contemporary Judaica in the United
States and Those Who Crafted It (Flower Valley Press; $49.95).
The author did extensive traveling to find what she considers
among the best examples of Judaica, and she did extensive
interviews to tell the artists' stories.
She introduces readers to Katya Apekina's ceramic figures,
Fred Fenster's silver candlesticks, Marian Slepian's mixed
media wall hangings, Harvey Buchalter's wooden menorahs
and Ina Golub's Torah mantle among the works of 79 artists
she showcases. The book, filled with colorful pictures, is
divided according to materials used — ceramics, metals and
mixed media, glass and enamel, paper, wood, fiber and
scrimshaw.
"I was looking for good pieces of art, variety of media and
people of different backgrounds from all over," says Morton,
whose artistic odyssey made her wish she had more money to
support a stronger personal collection.
"I -
--- qft shows and museum gift shops to look at