Art Alone Endures
DOER
PROFILE
eauty is in the eye of
the beholder." 'A thing
of beauty is a joy forev-
”
AARON/KAI \
er.
City: Oak Park
Kudos: Chess Champ
Aaron Kahn, 15, enjoys his friends and swimming on
Berkley High's team. But Marcie andJack Kahn's son is
also a 2003 Michigan Chess Association Scholastic
Junior Champion and United States Chess Federation
National Ninth-Grade Collegiate Chess Champion.
Staff photo by Angie Baan
How did you
become a multi-
title holder?
"I learned to play
chess from my dad.
Then I started
playing at the chess
club All the King's
Men in the
Universal Mall (in
Warren). I found a
teacher, took chess
lessons every week
and I've been play-
ing tournament
chess for the last
three-and-a-half
years."
Last month you were featured in a chess exhibition-
challenge at your synagogue, Congregation Beth
Shalom, with a promotion that read, "Test your
prowess against our expert. Try to beat the champ."
How did it work?
"I played chess against eight people at the same
time. Some were kids; some were adults. They all sat
at tables set up like a horseshoe and I walked from
board to board. If some games were finished before
others, we started a second one."
How did you do?
"I won all the games."
In addition to exhibitions, what do you get out of
competitive chess matches?
"Playing chess is fun for me. I like to do it, but
playing in tournaments is almost like my job.
Sometimes I get cash for winning, but mostly I play
for college scholarships. I also teach chess lessons, like
after the Beth Shalom exhibition some of the kids
realized they needed some work at their chess playing
and were interested in taking lessons from me."
— Shelli Liebman Dorfman, staff writer
REPORT A DOER...
Know a Doer -- someone of any age doing interest-
ing, meaningful things in their life outside of their
job? Share suggestions with Keri Guten Cohen, story
development editor, at (248) 351-5144 or e-mail:
kcohen@thejewishnews.com
4/23
2004
10
SY
MANELLO
Editorial.
Assistant
Sure, these sound great; but
how close to the mark are they
when we are dealing with "art
appreciation?" It is interesting to
note that when people are faced
with art in a social setting (muse-
um, art gallery, sale), they say
things to disguise what they are
really thinking and feeling about
the art.
Consider the
following "transla-
tions"•from the
art critics in all of
us:
• I know what I
like. What I like
is something that
is $40 "dollars or
less. Starving
artists sales are
right up my alley.
• I don't know
much about styles,
but that strikes me.
I really like those
colors; they go
with the couch.
• Sculpture is
interesting and
that one really
makes a statement.
Yes, I would say
that a bronze 8-
foot Kodiak bear
says something.
• Who would have thought you could work in
that medium? What patience it must have taken
to glue all those Popsicle sticks together and then
use the glitter and feathers in that interesting way.
• I really prefer realism. I don't think I've seen
many people with three eyes and melting arms
and would not want them on my wall.
• Ifyou stand back, you get the full impact of the
piece. It would be great to cover up that ding in
the wall over the end table.
• The artist has really captured life as we know it.
Obviously, you have not seen "Dogs Playing
Poker" on black velvet.
• What lovely colors. The frame is
nice.
• What fantastic lines. The matting is cut neatly.
• What a visual impact. I wouldn't own that on
a bet.
• Such beautiful use of brush strokes. I knew
Beethoven was deaf; this artist must have been
blind.
• The raw emotion
of the piece is over-
whelming. I see a
black square on a
white square.
• The symbolism is
so subtle. I see a
white canvas;
"Snowstorm" does-
n't cut it with me.
• My nephew
could paint better
than that. My
nephew could paint
better than that.
• Have you ever
heard of that artist?
Will it be a good
investment?
• Where is it in
the number of re-
prints?Will it be a
good investment?
• You should buy
art because you like
it, not as an investment. If you think I'm throwing
my money away on that, you're wrong.
If someone says to you "art" and you reply "Art
who?" you know you're in trouble and will proba-
bly find that many of the above will echo your
thoughts. ❑
Shabbat Candlelighting
"When I light Shabbat candles, I remember my commitments to my,family, myself and our God
and hope'that I filter the light and warmth of the candles into our gatherings and interactions."
— Randi Burken, Ann Arbor, marketing professional
Candlelighting
Friday, April 23, 8:06 p.
Candlelighting
Friday, April 30, 8:14 p.m.
Shabbat Ends
Saturday, April 24, 9:11 p.
Shabbat Ends
Saturday, May 1, 9:20 p.m.
To submit a candlelighting message, call Miriam Amzalak of the Lubavitch Women's Organization at (248) 548-6771 or e-mai• mamzalak@juno.com