Jews in the D

34 | NOVEMBER 14 • 2019 

New Exhibit at Soul Studio

A new exhibit, Cultivating Overlap, which 
explores common threads in artwork made at 
the Dresner Foundation Soul Studio in West 
Bloomfield, runs through Dec. 29.
Whether a fascination with rainbows, a 
drive for assertive mark-making or a love 
for pastels, the overlap cultivated by sharing 
creative space provides a fertile ground for 
conversation. 
In this show, groupings of artwork by two to 
three artists are installed in close proximity to 
highlight artistic and material similarities and 
emphasize the collective studio environment.
This is the first exhibition curated by Soul 
Studio facilitating artists Olivia Dixon (fibers) 
and Vicki Shaheen (ceramics/woodshop), who 
have worked closely with all the artists with 
artwork in the exhibition. 
The two curators were inspired by the 
immediate similarities in the subject matter 
and aesthetic strategies shared between the 
artists. Even though many of the artists work 
in the studio on different days and have never 
met each other, a clear cross pollination hap-
pens within this group environment. 

Area artists are releasing a unique 
series of 15-25 small paintings on 
canvas, paper or board in a range 
of 5 to 14 inches, each inspired by 
life here in Michigan. This collec-
tion of paintings not only reflects 
different life experiences but also 
the styles and personalities of 
each of the artists.
The show has been 
curated by artist 
Cheryl Widener of 
West Bloomfield to 
celebrate and bring 
together the exuber-
ance of the arts in the 
area. She is an area-
based artist known 
for her creative spirit 
and a lifetime love of 
painting. 
 The Small Works 
Series will be on dis-

play at an open house show from 
5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, 
in the offices of New York Life 
Insurance, 27777 Franklin Road, 
Suite 2200, Southfield. The space 
was designed to host such shows, 
Widener says. 
For details, contact Widener at 
(248) 890-3519. 

Artists Capture Michigan Living

A painting by 
Chery Widener 
that will be in 
the show 

COURTESY CHERYL WIDENER

Sara Schwartz is the winner of the 
12th annual David Hermelin Award, 
sponsored by Nancy and Sam Shamie 
and family. This is the third time 
a Yeshivah Beth Yehudah student 
received the award. 
The award provides one $12,000 
tuition scholarship to a student who 
will be in the highest or next to 
highest grade in a Jewish day school 
affiliated with the Jewish Federation 
of Metropolitan Detroit. The award 
is based on both a student’
s academic 
excellence as well as his/her com-
munity leadership either within the 
school community or within the gen-
eral community. 

In recommending Sara, Rochel 
Schwartz (no relation), Girls High 
School principal of Bais Yaakov, wrote 
about her commitment to bringing 
others toward acts of loving kindness. 
“She is intelligent, conscientious and 
determined. In her unassuming fash-
ion,
” Schwartz said, “she accomplishes 
much and encourages others to join 
her in reaching their goals.
”
Each Jewish day school affiliated 
with the Jewish Federation nomi-
nated one student for the award. A 
presentation of the award took place 
Oct. 7 at Bais Yaakov on the Nancy 
Grosfeld Campus of Yeshiva Beth 
Yehudah in Oak Park. 

Sara Schwartz Earns Hermelin Award

JOHN HARDWICK

Nancy Grosfeld, Sam Shamie, Marcie Orley, 
Doreen Hermelin, Sara Schwartz and Nancy Shamie

Calling All Snowbirds!

The Area Agency on Aging 1-B is calling on 
snowbirds, older adults who winter in warmer states, 
to use their Michigan address when responding to 
Census 2020. Billions of federal dollars are at stake for 
critical programs that serve seniors.
By April 2020, every home in the U.S. will receive 
an invitation to participate in Census 2020 using a 
unique Census ID code. Older adults who spend 
most of the year in Michigan need to use the code 
they receive at their Michigan address to be counted 
as Michigan residents. They may respond to the short 
census questionnaire online or by phone.
For every resident not counted, Michigan loses 
$1,800 annually — or $18,000 over the 10 years until 
the next census. The money supports Medicaid, 
home-delivered meals, Section 8 housing subsidy 
vouchers, planning for hospitals, nursing homes, 
health care clinics and senior living facilities, among 
other programs. In 2015, Michigan received $14 
billion based on accurate population figures.
The Area Agency on Aging 1-B will be offering help 
to older adults at various senior centers in the coming 
months with Census 2020. The census is designed 
to provide data that will help the government plan 
for transportation, education, community-based and 
facility needs.
For details on Census 2020, visit aaa1b.org/
census-2020. 

