Arts & Enter a n
',,Cohn-Haddow Center for Judaic Studies
INTERNATIONAL :;CONFERENCE
ON NEW APPROACHES TO
THE HEBREW BIBLE
.
it
"Generation to
Generation" is part
of artist Michael
Bogdanow's "Visions
of Torah" series of
contemporary art-
works inspired by
the Torah, which can
be seen on www.
MichaelBogdanow.
coin. Reprinted with
permission of the
artist.
SUNDAY, MARCH 25:
Keynote lecture with internationally acclaimed
Prof. James Kugel, Bar Ilan University
How Are We To Read the Bible Today?
7:30 p.m • Congregation Beth Shalom,
14601 Lincoln, Oak Park • Free and open to the public
MONDAY, MARCH 26: A Day of Study
with renowned scholars from the United States and Israel
discussing archaeology, natural history, contemporary Jewish art,
religious lives of Israelite women, and modern translations
8:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
$35/general public, $15/student, includes lunch and materials
McGregor Memorial Conference Center,
Wayne State, 495 West Ferry Mall
Registration deadline
March 21
Call (313) 577-2679
for further information.
)
Ruth Weisberg: The Story of Ruth and Naomi.
The Human
Experience
WAYNE STATE
UNIVERSITY
1222030
"TtI Zo
ruil771111m
1 itt nad "
ccording to Michele Cairgle, before she and her husband
Roderick hired Gittleman to complete basement renovations
on their Franklin home, it was bare bones, to say the least.
A
"Essentially, our basement was completely unfinished. It was
just concrete and one wall. We wanted a place that would
extend our home for our family — a place for the kids to play,
a place to entertain. And we wanted it to be a reflection of our
upper level," she explained.
Why Gittleman? Michele said the decision was an easy one.
"We interviewed several contractors based on referrals, their
reputation and qualifications," she said, noting that Gittleman
struck them as being the most forthright.
"They were totally upfront about setting expectations and
about the costs. I've heard horror stories about renovation
projects, but Gittleman respected our family's privacy and
always cleaned up at the end of the day."
Furthermore, Michele said she enjoyed the fact that everyone at Gittleman worked together as a team to
complete the renovations.
"I liked their approach. Everyone we had contact with seemed to be familiar with our project. Everyone was on
the same page, and the staff was pleasant."
Today, the Cairgles enjoy a fully remodeled lower level that offers a whole new dimension of living space, yet
blends perfectly with the rest of their home. Gittleman redesigned their basement to include a kitchen with bar
area, a family room, bathroom, game room, play area, gym and a walkout with Jacuzzi.
Though the renovations have only been complete for a month, the Cairgles wasted no time and have already
hosted a gathering in their new basement.
"My favorite part is probably the kitchen — but I like it all!"
So the next time you want to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, call the team you can trust to meet
your family's needs...Call Gittleman.
JUST ASK THE CAIRGLE'S.
11111GITTLEMAN
1••••• CONSTRUCTION inc
28580 ORCHARD LAKE RD., SUITE 102
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334
248.538.5400
www.gittleman.net
11873.10
CUSTOM
42
March 8 2007 •
RENOVATIONS
Exhibit celebrates career in
narrative and figurative art.
Suzanne Chessler
Special to the Jewish News
T
he Story of Ruth and
Naomi, an intaglio image
in the exhibit "Michigan
Collects Ruth Weisberg:' offers more
than biblical connections. The reli-
gious figures are portrayed through
the artist, Ruth Weisberg, as the model
for the figure of Ruth, and her sister,
Naomi Harrison, as the model for the
depiction of Naomi.
Overlapping references, such as
the two Ruths and two Naomis and
a landscape that could be seen in
Israel or among the Indiana sand
dunes where the sisters spent time,
are integral to Weisberg's body of
work celebrated March 12-April 27 at
the University Art Gallery at Eastern
Michigan University.
Curator Julia Myers, an EMU art
historian, planned the display of 40
paintings, prints and drawings span-
ning Weisberg's 40-year career, and
she wrote the catalog essay that delves
into the artist's style that has gained
international recognition.
For Weisberg, who earned a bache-
lor's and a master's at the University of
Michigan before teaching at EMU clur-
ing the 1960s, the exhibit is an oppor-
tunity to meet up with old friends as
they learn about her projects and far-
reaching accomplishments.
"This exhibit is weighted toward
my early work," says the 64-year-old
Weisberg, who has been represented in
more than 70 solo exhibits and more
than 150 group exhibits. "In some
ways, my work has remained remark-
ably consistent.
"I've always had a strong historical
sense, and my themes of time and
memory that arose in the late '60s
have been with me ever since —
although I do try to challenge myself
and explore new themes and topics.
"I started doing narrative and figu-
rative work when it was extremely
unpopular. Now, the art world is much
more accepting of those things, but
I would be doing them no matter
whether they were accepted or not.
These are not a matter of choice but a
matter of need."
Among Weisberg's needs are oppor-
tunities to express aspects of the
human experience, Jewish history and
women's issues — all represented in
the pieces owned by Michigan col-
lectors. Some works are on loan from
Naomi Harrison, an architect and