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"ABBASOLUTFI T GREAT FUN."
A Beautiful Mitzvah
A new exhibit at the JCC's Janice
Charach Gallery highlights objects
of beauty and function.
Elizabeth Applebaum
Special to the Jewish News
T
he menorah has its rules:
It must have eight candles,
plus one more to light. The
candles should be in a straight line
and placed so that they are seen by
passersby to fulfill the mitzvah of pub-
licizing the miracle.
But, after that, a menorah can be
anything, and in the hands of artists a
menorah or a kiddush cup or Shabbat
candlesticks can become works of
incredible beauty.
"Hiddur Mitzvah" ("Beautifying the
Commandment") is an exhibit and
sale showcasing Jewish ritual objects
created by some of Metro Detroit's
leading artists, both Jewish and gen-
tile. It opens 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan.
17, and continues through March 6
at the Janice Charach Gallery in the
Jewish Community Center in West
Bloomfield.
Artists whose works will be shown
in the exhibit are Susan Adelman, Dani
Katsir, Miles Steam, Joanne Bellet,
Deanna Sperka, Arlene Gendelman,
Shawn Steam, Genevieve Sylvia, David
Helm and JCC Executive Director
Mark Lit.
"Many years ago I heard of an
exhibit that taught artists how to cre-
ate Jewish ceremonial objects:' said
Lit. "We did it in Houston, then in San
Antonio and Austin, each time with
fabulous art created by some of Texas'
leading artists. We thought it would be
fun to try here."
The artists began by hearing a pre-
sentation from Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov
of the Shul, who explained the hala-
chic (Jewish law) guidelines for ritual
objects. Gallery Director Terri Stearn
loved the explanations and loved see-
ing the variety of artists who attended,
from potters to painters to those who
work with glass.
"The artists took inspiration from
Rabbi Shemtov's talk, and I can't wait
to see what they created:' she said.
Among those participating in the
exhibit is Stearns' brother-in-law Miles
Steam, whose studio is in Pontiac.
Miles Steam is that rare soul who
can actually make a living as an art-
ist. Though raised in a Conservative
home, he hadn't really considered the
intricacies of Jewish ritual objects
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Miles Stearn works in his studio.
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until he signed up to participate in
"Hiddur Mitzvah."
But now he's working on kiddush
cups and a menorah, and he's pleased
with the idea that these items, once
completed, won't simply sit around on
a shelf.
"I like it when an object is unique
and artistic, but it can also be used:'
he said.
Steam begins with an idea, then a
drawing, then he's off to work in his
large, airy studio, filled with pots and
clay and color.
He chose to do a menorah "because
I've never really been able to find one
that I like
His vision: "A menorah made with
a terracotta base and bright glazes,
but with a theme of the Old City of
Jerusalem:' His goal: A menorah that
fuses functionality with design, that
is both Old World and contemporary
and, of course, with its candles in one
straight line.
❑
Elizabeth Applebaum is a marketing spe-
cialist at the Jewish Community Center of
Metropolitan Detroit.
The "Hiddur Mitzvah" exhibit
and sale runs Jan.17-March 6
at the Janice Charach Gallery in
the Jewish Community Center in
West Bloomfield. There will be an
opening night reception beginning
6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan.17. For
more information, call (248) 432-
5448 or go to www.jccdet.org .
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January 10 • 2008 B7