arts & life

Beauty Of Ritual

A BBAC exhibit
unites diverse
religions in a
collection of
ritual objects.

+plus

"Sacred Treasures: Religious

Traditions, Rites and Rituals"

runs Jan. 24-March 27 at the

Birmingham Bloomfield Art

Center, Birmingham. (248)

644-0866; bbartcenter.com .

Celebrity Jews

I

Nate Bloom

Special to the Jewish News

AT THE MOVIES

Opening this week: The mys-
tery/thriller Mortdecai is based
on the first of a trilogy of
acclaimed 1970s novels by the
late Kyril Bonfiglioli. Charles
Mortdecai (Johnny Depp) is a
debonair English art dealer of
Dutch Jewish ancestry. He is
also a bit of a rogue. Johanna,
his randy wife, is played by
Gwyneth Paltrow, 42. The basic
plot: Mortdecai must travel the
globe in a race to recover a sto-
len painting rumored to contain

34

January 22 • 2015

I

Suzanne Chessler

Contributing Writer

p

rayer books, candlehold-
ers and head coverings
— used by a number of
faiths in distinctive ways — will
be among spiritual objects on loan
for an exhibit showcasing artistry
expressed in religious observance.
"Sacred Treasures: Religious
Traditions, Rites and Rituals:'
curated by Nancy Thayer,
runs Jan. 24-March 27 at the
Birmingham Bloomfield Art
Center (BBAC), which also is co-
sponsor of the exhibit with the
InterFaith Leadership Council of
Metropolitan Detroit (IFLC).
Some 60 objects will highlight
the beauty of ritual across reli-
gious communities while also
informing viewers about what
each item represents. The objects
span Jewish, Christian, Muslim,
Hindu, Sikh, Baha'i and Native
American practices.
The exhibit will open with a
reception 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Jan.
24, at the Birmingham art center,
established for teaching and view-
ing. The free program will include
members of each faith community
to greet attendees and answer
questions.
"I want this exhibit to become
an opportunity to bring accu-
rate information, understanding
and respect to people of various
religions:' says Thayer, a lecturer
in painting and drawing at the
University of Michigan and IFLC
board member.
"The Metro Detroit community

the code to
a lost bank
account filled
with Nazi
gold. Armed
only with
good looks
and charm, he
has to fend
off angry Russians, a terrorist
and the British MI5. Co-stars
include Ewan McGregor and Jeff
Goldblum, 62.
A Most Violent Year is set
in New York City in 1981, when
crime still raged in the Big
Apple. Oscar Isaac plays Abel
Morales, who is beset by cor-
ruption and violence as he
tries to expand his heating-oil

has a rich variety of faith tradi-
tions, and the BBAC is gathering
information about the objects rep-
resenting those traditions so that
understanding can be advanced:"
Thayer, who serves on the IFLC
board with Jewish members Kari
Alterman and Gail Katz, looked to
all affiliates in gathering the pieces
that will be shown. They include
wall hangings, sculptures, jewelry,
prayer rugs and vestments, each
shown with a posted explanation
of usage and symbols.
"By collaborating with the
BBAC, we are able to reach a
new audience and further IFLC
goals:' says Thayer, a member of
the Christian Science community,
which will showcase a copy of

Above: An assortment of

Islamic men's head coverings

are included. Right: A

monstrance was given by

Pope John Paul II to the city

of Detroit. Far left: A silver

Kiddush cup is from a private

collection.

Science and Health with Key
to the Scriptures by Mary Baker

Eddy, founder of the faith.
Among the Jewish works
on display will be an oil vessel
from the Second Temple era on
loan from Temple Israel in West
Bloomfield. There also will be a
menorah, seder plate and Shabbat
candlesticks passed down through
generations of one family.
"Our sources for objects have
been houses of worship and pri-
vate homes:' Thayer says. "The
Archdiocese of Detroit, with
the help of IFLC board member
Michael Hovey, has provided some
very valuable objects:'
Visitors will see a reliquary
(relic holder) from Pope John
Paul II, a monstrance (holder of a
relic or communion wafer) in the
shape of a ship to pay tribute to
Polish artisans and a head cover-

business. His
wife (Jessica
Chastain)
wonders if
the family can
endure his
troubles. Also
worrying is
Brooks
Morales' law-
yer, played by Albert Brooks, 67.

(MOSTLY) HOCKEY TIME

The following Jewish players
are currently playing in the
NHL: Mike Brown, 29 (San
Jose Sharks). Brown played
two years for the University of
Michigan; Andre Burakovsky,
19 (Washington Capitals), is
a Swede of Russian-Jewish

ing worn at the Second Vatican
Council.
While the Muslim community
will showcase head coverings for
both men and women, prayer rugs
and a collection of holy books, the
Sift and Hindu communities will
display images of gods and god-
desses that are part of their faiths.
Thayer, organizing this display
for nearly two years, was chosen
as curator because of experience
with a similar project five years
ago at the University of Michigan
in Dearborn. Artists displayed
works that related to their reli-
gious backgrounds.
"We want to promote interfaith
education so that the Metropolitan
Detroit community can benefit
from the synergies and creative

energies that knowledge and
understanding can provide:'
Thayer says.
"Our interfaith organization
encourages and nurtures inter-
faith groups and networks, and
we hope viewers will learn about
those initiatives as well as the
objects shown.
"Because there is so much mis-
information with attention given
to extremists, I see this exhibit as
a unique and important oppor-
tunity to counteract all that and
overcome misunderstandings
regarding our various faiths:' ❑

descent; Michael Cammalleri,
32 (New Jersey Devils); and
Jason Zucker, 22 (Minnesota
Wild). (David Warsofsky, 24,
briefly played for Boston last fall
and may return). Of local inter-
est: The University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, has two Jewish play-
ers on its top-rated team: Steve
Racine, 23, and Zach Hyman,
22. Hyman attended a Jewish
day school
in Toronto;
has visited
Israel on a
Birthright
trip; and next
year, Random
House will
publish two
Hyman

kids' books (with a sports'
theme) that he wrote. Michigan
natives playing for other
Division I college-hockey pro-
grams include: Jacob Friedman,
a senior at Penn State, from
West Bloomfield – and Joe
Schecter, a freshman at Army,
from Farmington Hills.
Josh Zeid, 27, a relief pitcher,
was claimed off waivers by the
Tigers on Nov. 30. He appeared
in 23 Houston Astros' games
in 2014 before being injured.
He played for Israel in the 2013
World Baseball Classic, where
he established a relationship
with Tigers' manager Brad
Ausmus, 45, who coached
Israel's team. ❑