arts & entertainment

Ellsworth Kelly At 90

Jewish philanthropist makes possible
a retrospective of legendary abstract
artist's prints at the DIA.

I

Suzanne Chessler

Contributing Writer

j

ordan Schnitzer, an Oregon real
estate developer with leadership
roles in the Portland Jewish com-
munity, makes no special effort to meet
the artists whose works are part of his vast
contemporary collection.
The concern is that personalities might
distract from the creative expressions he
admires.
Ellsworth Kelly, painter and printmaker
as well as sculptor, did make a special
effort to meet Schnitzer, known for acquir-
ing Kelly's works and initiating exhibitions
to showcase works of many other artists.
The intent was to add to Schnitzer's
holdings and encourage sponsorship to
tour them.
Schnitzer, after accepting an invitation
to visit the artist's studio in New York
State, was glad that Kelly's intellect and
humanity could be admired as much as
the iconic designs which he then agreed to
showcase.
Many of the Kelly prints that became part
of the Schnitzer holdings before and since
that visit can be seen May 24-Sept. 8 at the
Detroit Institute of Arts, where Schnitzer is
scheduled to speak this evening in a dinner
program introducing the display.
"Ellsworth Kelly: Prints" has become
one of 10 traveling exhibits initiated by
the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation,
which has put together more than 80
exhibits that have been shown at more
than 50 museums. "Ellsworth Kelly's art

ON THE STAGE

The terrific Jewish Ensemble Theatre
production of My Name is Asher Lev,
directed by JET Artistic Director David
Magidson, winner of the 2013 Benard
L. Maas Prize for Achievement in Jewish
Culture and Continuity, has been extended,
with additional performances at 5 and
8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 25, in the Aaron
DeRoy Theatre in the Jewish Community
Center in West Bloomfield. $38-$45/
discounts for seniors, students and groups.
(248) 788-2900; jettheatre.org . (JET is
now a part of the Kroger Community
Rewards Program; help support JET by
enrolling with your Kroger Plus Card at
krogercommunityrewards.com.)
The 1971 musical comedy 70, Girls, 70,
with music by John Kander and lyrics by
Fred Ebb, is based on the 1958 play Breath

128

May 23 • 2013

reflects the issues, mores and values of
post-World War II America:' Schnitzer
explains during a phone conversation
from his home state.
"While I collect the works of 250 art-
ists, his work has a particular effect on
me that is transformational. When I'm
in a room with just one of his pieces, let
alone this exhibit with 130, I feel an inner
calm, almost a meditative state.
"He takes forms and shapes and colors
around for thousands of years and puts
them together with his own personal
style and message?'
Kelly, turning 90 on May 31 and still
working, has developed more than 330
editions of individual prints. This spring,
galleries all over the world are presenting
his work in celebration of his birthday.
While best known for colorful geo-
metric images, Kelly simultaneously has
worked on black and white projects. He
has used a realistic drawing style to cre-
ate plant and flower lithographs as well as
portraits.
The DIA exhibit, showing the breadth of
Kelly's prints, also will feature a film about
the artist. Richard Axsom, who has taught
art history at the University of Michigan,
will discuss the exhibit in a free presenta-
tion at 7 p.m. Friday, May 24.
Axsom has written The Prints of

Ellsworth Kelly: A Catalogue Raisonne
and edited Letters to Ellsworth, a compi-
lation of tributes from friends and critics
requested by Schnitzer. Both books will
be available at the DIA.
Black and White, one of Kelly's large oil

"If we're concerned about passing on our
Jewish values, a key component of that
is a passion for art." - Jordan Schnitzer

paintings in the DIA collection, will be on
view during the Motor City showing.
"Ellsworth Kelly is one of our great-
est living artists:' says Nancy Sojka, DIA
curator arranging the exhibition original-
ly organized by the Los Angeles County
Museum of Art.
"He has had a sustained career with
impact on contemporary styles. He wants
his work to look easy, but he demon-
strates an astounding thought process?'
This will be the third extensive Kelly
exhibition in Detroit, with additional
support provided by Dede and Oscar
Feldman, Marjorie & Maxwell Jospey
Foundation, Lisa and Robert Katzman,
Marianne and Alan Schwartz, Marc
Schwartz, Lori and J. Patrick Stillwagon,
Ileane and Bruce Thal, and the city of
Detroit.
The DIA, one of four venues to feature
Kelly's first retrospective, in 1973, opened
his first prints-only retrospective in 1987
before its countrywide tour.
The current display, covering the 1960s
to the present, will bring Schnitzer to the
DIA for the first time.
"I will talk about why I started col-
lecting and why this artist in particular;'

Ab

of Spring, about a group
of larcenous seniors
who steal furs from
various New York City
shops with the intent
of using proceeds from
their resale to purchase
their Upper West Side
retirement hotel, which
is slated to be sold to
developers. See the
show May 29-June 23 at
Meadow Brook Theatre in Rochester Hills.
$25-$40. Show times and tickets: (248)
377-3300; mbtheatre.com .

THE ART SCENE

Ken Aptekar: Don't Stop, an exhibit of
new digital works and paintings by the
Detroit native (he now splits his time

0 U t between New York and
Paris) who uses the history
of art, primarily classical
painting, as his lexicon
to bring the past into the
present, runs through June
21 at WassermanProjects,
2163 Cole St., in
Birmingham. (248) 220-
4628; wassermanprojects.

COM.

WHATNOT

The 50th Annual Birmingham Village
Fair, featuring entertainment, carnival
rides, games, prizes and food, runs
Thursday-Sunday, May 30-June 2, on
the surrounding streets of Shain Park in
downtown Birmingham. (248) 644-1700,
ext. 24; ci.birmingham.mi.com .

says Schnitzer, 62, president of Harsch
Investment Properties and the Jordan
Schnitzer Family Foundation.
"I love contemporary art because it
speaks to our time. It is the art that's been
produced during my lifetime.
"Works on paper often are thought of
as a distant relative of oil paintings and
sculpture, but for me, all of an artist's
work is important. With Ellsworth Kelly,
the graphics are so powerful:'
Schnitzer, who grew up in Portland,
became interested in art through his
mother, Arlene Schnitzer, who owned
a gallery that introduced artists of the
Pacific Northwest. Her son made his first
artistic purchase when he was 14, choos-
ing Sanctuary by Louis Bunce.
Schnitzer's interest in contemporary
works grew while he served on the board
of the Portland Art Museum. Stopping
to look at one special print exhibit, he
decided to enlarge his holdings with
works by artists outside home territory,
such as Frank Stella and Andy Warhol.
"I've become the largest private con-
temporary print collector, and I like col-
lecting artists' works in depth:' he says.
"I'm building a public collection, like a

The Huntington Woods Home
Tour, in its 21st year and featuring six
homes in a variety of architectural styles
(three from Jewish homeowners), will
be held 1-5 p.m. Sunday, June 2, with
ticket proceeds going to local charities
and community projects. Tickets: $15
advance/$20 day of at the Huntington
Woods Library, 26415 Scotia. hwwl.org .
Detroit's Music Hall Center for the
Performing Arts celebrates Broadway
legend Elaine Stritch's return home to
Detroit with her appearance as special
guest in Cars & Stars 2013, a circus-
themed performing arts education
fundraiser, at 7 p.m. Friday, June 7, at
Music Hall. Creative black tie. $150
supporter tickets include an open bar,
buffet of light fare and performance.
(313) 887-8501; musichall.org .

❑