JULY 28 • 2022 | 49

J

ames Wilbat is bringing 
artistic glass Judaica 
objects to Michigan 
for the summer art fairs. 
Although he doesn’t practice 
Judaism, his wife and 
children do; and he joins in 
the traditions.
Menorahs and dreidels 
will be among the pieces he 
will display at the Orchard 
Lake Fine Art Show, July 
30-31, near Maple and 
Orchard Lake roads in West 
Bloomfield. He also regularly 
brings his work to Ann 
Arbor and Birmingham 
events.
“I started making 
Judaica products after I 
got married in 1986 to 
my lovely wife, Cara, who 
runs my business,” Wilbat 
said. “I surprised her with 
a menorah for Chanukah, 
and her relatives started 
seeing what I did. They 
urged me to do other 

things for presents.
“I started doing dreidels 
because I have a familiar 
design in one or two of my 
paperweights. After the 
menorahs and dreidels, I 
started doing personalized 
kiddish cups for the relatives 
for bar mitzvahs and bat 
mitzvahs and yads to read 
the Torah. 
“Each time I conquered 
something that I was happy 
with, I would push myself 
with one more. What other 
items could I make out of 

glass? They’ve been a big hit 
for me.”
Wilbat, 68, has been 
showing his work in 
Michigan for decades and 
has made many friends. 
“I have continuing Jewish 
customers in Michigan,” said 
Wilbat, whose work also is 
shown in galleries. “They’ve 
become friends and invited 
me to their houses. I can 
stay and save on hotel bills 
or just have dinner with 
them. They’re no longer just 
clients. They’re supportive 

of my work, and I really 
appreciate that. 
“I’ve been doing summer 
art fairs since 1985. I get to 
see a lot of wonderful people 
because of the relationships 
I’ve had. I see all my friends 
on the circuit. Even battling 
the weather, it’s fun being 
outside on weekends.”
Wilbat, who is attracted to 
color, started out painting. 
He moved to ceramics with 
an urge to enter three-
dimensional work but was 
not satisfied with the glazing. 
A friend encouraged him to 
move into glass.
In 2022, he earned prizes 
that included an Award of 
Excellence from the Boca 
Raton Museum of Art 
Show, Award of Excellence 
from the Lincoln Roscoe 
Art Show in Chicago and 
a Judges Selection Award 
from the Cain Park Arts 
Festival in Cleveland 

Artist James Wilbat will be showcasing menorahs and 
dreidels at the Orchard Lake Fine Art Show.
Judaica in Glass

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ARTS&LIFE
ART

COURTESY OF JAMES WILBAT

A collection 
of glass 
dreidels

Menorah 
with swirl

continued on page 50

