Arts&Life

continued from page 41

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: At the MOCAD Gala: Elysia Borowy-Reeder (executive 
director) and Julie Reyes Taubman; Roz Jacobson, Elyse Foltyn (campaign 
chair), Elle Elder and Kelle Ilitch; and Marsha Miro, a MOCAD founder.

42 | NOVEMBER 28 • 2019 

and was a close friend of 
Reyes Taubman.
“I had been working on 
MOCAD for 10 years, and 
I brought Julie to the build-
ing to find out what she 
thought of it because Richard 
Manoogian said he would buy 
it for MOCAD,” Miro recalls. 
“She was a nonstop thinker, 
and she said she loved it and 
wanted to be involved. She 
did our first benefit at her 
house before we even opened, 
and raised enough money, 
with some grants, to start. She 
became critical to everything 
we did.”
Among the diversity of 
programming over the years 
has been a representation of 
artists with Jewish ties, includ-
ing painter Nancy Mitchnick, 
filmmaker Dara Friedman, 
installation artist Dor Guez 
and poet Matvei Yankelevich.
A current installation, 
“Robolights Detroit,” is based 
on a Palm Springs project 

showcased in book form with 
photos by Reyes Taubman.
“I feel people should see 
MOCAD as a place where 
creativity is hallowed and 
nurtured,” Miro says. “
Artists 
are so good at interpreting the 
world and making sense of it. 
“With Julie, those of us 
active with MOCAD felt 
strongly about building an 
endowment in order to make 
sure MOCAD is around as an 
institution for a long time.”
Elysia Borowy-Reeder, 
MOCAD executive director, 
has been with the museum for 
six years and worked closely 
with Reyes Taubman.
“Julie was a visionary,” 
Borowy-Reeder says. “She 
wanted MOCAD to be ambi-
tious and at the edge of con-
temporary art while creating 
dialogue. She loved to talk 
about art; and when MOCAD 
does exhibitions and public 
programming, we think about 
the dialogue of art.” 

COURTESY MOCAD

2 0 1 9 H O L I D A Y S H O W

FRIDAY, DEC. 6, 4-8 PM | SAT-SUN, DEC. 7-8, 12-6 PM

One-of-a-Kind

Sculptures 

and Gifts

Free, public event with 
live glassblowing 
demonstrations

Portion of the proceeds 
donated to the Michigan 
Humane Society

Call 248.745.3786 | epiphanyglass.com | 770 Orchard Lake Rd, Pontiac, MI 48341

Dine at 
Steve and Rocky’s 
for the holidays.

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43150 Grand River Avenue
Novi, MI 48375
248.374.0688
steveandrockys.com

GIFT CARDS
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