MICHIGAN

David DiChiera, General Director

TREASURES

The compelling story of
SISTER HELEN PREJEAN,
a Louisiana nun who
becomes the spiritual
advisor to a convicted
murderer on death row.

from page 71

Amidst the grief, tragedy,
loss and anger, it is LOVE
that transcends, unites
and redeems.

*Performed in English

*FREE OPERA TALKS one
hour prior to performance

laGenerai Motors.

The 2003 Spring Season
is sponsored by
General Motors Corporation

SOME MAY BE DISTURBED BY CONTENT OF THIS OPERA,
PARENTAL DISCRETION IS STRONGLY ADVISED.

JAKE HECtGIE

Eli Avisera:
"Dreidel
Boxes"

DEAD MAN
WiLEAMEATOr

Howard
Werner:
"Eucalyptus
Vessel"

JUNE 7-1S

TICKETS:

AT THE DETROIT OPERA HOUSE

(313) 237-SING

OR...www.michiganopera.org

Ice cream/

9W,

Ice cream Soups • Sandwiches Desserts • Gourmet
Coffee • Tea

25849 Lahser Rd. • In the Majestic Market Plaza

(248) 945-9464

32418 Northwestern HWY • Farmington Hills
between Middlebelt & 14 Mile Road

6/ 6

2003

72

to hold dreidels.
"I love the feel and taste of wood,"
explains Avisera, whose work is
being exhibited in Michigan for the
first time. "I love taking a plain
piece of wood and watching it turn
into something beautiful as the chips
and shavings come off."
Avisera, who has worked with
wood since 1973, started out making
furniture and then went into the
smaller pieces, incorporating wood-
turning and carving techniques. He
began teaching in 1988 and travels
to other countries to demonstrate his
'style.
Dan Kvitka, based in Oregon,
turns and carves exotic woods
inspired by ancient Jewish vessels.
"My work sometimes looks like
ceramic forms," explains Kvitka, an
American Craft Council trustee who
creates jar an•spitcher forms. "I also
do metal work and have made Judaic
pieces that are shown at the Jewish
Museum of San Francisco."
Kvitka, who learned about his
favorite material through his father's
wood shop, adds detailed designs to
his vessels.
"I like collaborating with a beauti-
ful, alive material," he says. " I also
like to show off the grains in the
wood."

Howard Werner, an artist
who works out of studios in
upstate New York and
Arizona, creates his vessel
forms by first working with
a chain saw and then carv-
ing. The artist appreciates
the element of surprise in
the material.
"My work is sculptural
and not functional," says the
artist, who makes pedestals
he considers part of the
pieces and also designs
tables. "I use a variety of
woods, including palm,
maple and eucalyptus."
Varied works by more
than 15 artists will be show-
cased at both galleries with
more artists represented
through the pieces on loan
from Jewish collectors Gayle
and Andrew Camden, Lili
and Howard Camden,
Lenore and Stanley
Dorfman, Dede and Ozzie
.Feldman, Dottie and Bud
Gerson, Alice and Joel
Goldberg, Bobbye and
David Goldberg, Lillian and
Bernie Hirsch, Joyce and
Myron LaBan, Susan and
Ben Morris, Sue and Burt Shifman,
Jean Sosin and Janis and Bill
Wetsman.
"I'm hoping these exhibits and
programs will expose the community
to what can be done with wood art,"
Nachman says. "I also hope the
exhibits will inspire a larger cache of
collectors in the Detroit area."

❑

"Turning Wood Into Art" runs June
8-July 31, at the Janice Charach
Epstein Gallery in the West
Bloomfield Jewish Community
Center. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Mondays-Thursdays and 11 a.m.-4
p.m. Sundays. Opening reception:
noon-3 p.m. Sunday, June 8.
"Coffee, Culture and Conversation"
lecture by Sean Ulman, curator of
modern and contemporary art, U-
M Museum of Art: 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 19 (reservations
required). (248) 432-5448.
"Your Turn — Collecting
Wood Art" and "Material
Interest — Wood Jewelry" run
June 7-July 12 at the Sybaris
Gallery, 202 E. Third, Royal
Oak. Hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Tuesdays-Saturdays. Opening
reception: 5-7 p.m. Saturday,
June 7. (248) 544-3388.