24 | DECEMBER 2 • 2021 

to make large paintings,
” she 
says of the cards, which were 
originally 24- by 36-inch pieces 
of art.
Then, having the paintings 
professionally photographed, 
Zausmer was able to create 
smaller versions in printed 
cards that are emblazoned with 
menorahs, Jewish sayings and 
more.
The Temple Israel member 
has been inspired by the classes 
she’s taken at the synagogue, 
where she’s learned about 
Jewish studies, life and culture. 
“I have been guided into some 
of the things I want to write on 
the paintings that I make,
” she 
says of her education.
Zausmer’s Jewish gifts are 
colorful and often abstract. The 
cards are sold in boxed sets or 
individually. 

LINDA BUCK
Linda Buck has built a personal 
and professional life around 
art. Working as an art teacher 
for 20 years in both public and 
private schools, she continued 
to practice different forms of 
drawing — her go-to medium 
— throughout retirement and 
beyond.
“I’ve drawn all my life,
” the 
artist says. 
Just before retiring, she 

took a creative workshop that 
introduced her to a new form 
of drawing that involved draw-
ing on clay. “I really liked the 
texture and the final product,
” 
Buck explains, “so I stuck with 
it.
”
Now, Buck has been making 
clay-backed drawings for near-
ly two decades. Yet when some 
of her Jewish clients suggested 
making Judaica pieces to com-
plement the candleholders she 
was creating at the time, Buck 
realized there was a new way to 
evolve her art even further.
Though Buck isn’t Jewish, 
she designs one-of-a-kind 
menorah and mezuzah draw-
ings created on clay that she 
says have a “positive view of 
life.
” For sale at the BBAC 
Holiday Show will be Buck’s 
Judaica artwork that includes 
beautiful blue and black mezu-
zahs, among others. 
“One of the things I really 
enjoy about being in an art 
show is that many people will 
ask me what a mezuzah is,
” she 
explains. “I feel privileged to 
be able to tell them the signif-
icance.
“It really warms my heart to 
see so many people nod their 
heads and say, ‘Oh, that’s a real-
ly nice tradition.
’ And I’m glad 
that I know it.
” 

OUR COMMUNITY

Patti Tapper’s 
jewelry

continued from page 23

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