28 July 11 • 2019
jn
celebrating Jewish holidays.
“I never wanted a regular table with
a head and a tail,” says Pescovitz, also
at ease hosting dinners for university
guests about three times a week. “I’
ve
always wanted a round table so that
everyone could be equal, comfortable
and together. While there are 12 chairs
around that table now, it can actually
seat 18 comfortably.”
The art surrounding visitors, regard-
less of room location, does not give a
complete sense of what she owns. There
just isn’
t enough space so some pieces
are stored in the basement.
“I was married for 31 years to a won-
derful guy who was a transplant sur-
geon [the late Mark Pescovitz, whose
mother was an artist],” the OU presi-
dent says. “The moment we were mar-
ried until the day he died, we collected
art together. We shared a passion for
all kinds of art. We started collecting
art before we ever had a dining room
table.”
The collection includes five pieces by
Chuck Close, including four self-por-
traits, a muscular body image by Robert
Mapplethorpe and the abstract paint-
ing “Winter Solstice Cloud” by James
Cunningham; its acquisition comes with
a personal story.
The painter, right after selling this
piece, was killed in a plane accident;
the Pescovitzes promised the artist’
s
widow they would take special care of
his last work.
A sculpture of a young girl reading
has sentimental value because it came
from the more realistic collection of the
OU president’
s in-laws.
In most rooms, there is an artistic
mezuzah on the doorway.
“There
’
s a lot of art from Israel and a
lot of local art as well,” Pescovitz says.
“I have a trunk, covered with brass and
bronze and maybe silver, with Passover
words, that came from the mountains of
Morocco.
“I was on a trip to Marrakech to give
a talk, and we took a side trip into the
Atlas Mountains.
“Many Jews lived in Morocco and left
in the ’
50s and ’
60s for Israel. They left
behind many belongings, including the
Judaica they had. We were taken to a
store where we saw hundreds of pieces
of Judaica, and I felt like we were sav-
ing some of these pieces by purchasing
them.”
Of more direct significance is a
menorah made by son Ari, an architect
and artist.
“This menorah is shown in a
book called 500 Judaica: Innovative
Contemporary Ritual Art,” she says.
“My son won an award for this piece
— it’
s made of silver, and the blue is
expired suture material that my husband
brought back from the operating room.”
The art collection, according to
Pescovitz, probably expresses her curios-
ity and commitment to diversity, beauty,
tolerance and warmth. When she wants
an actual outside view, she can go to a
window and see the top of the Meadow
Brook Amphitheater.
“Sunset Terrace, the university home,
is a wonderful place, and I enjoy seeing
people there,” she says. “It’
s a welcoming
place for people to enjoy.” ■
TOP: The spacious curved living
room offers many places for con-
versation and good views of art in
the hallway beyond. ABOVE: One of
many artistic mezuzot in the home.
continued from page 27
at home/on the cover
arts&life