S

havuART, The Well’s 
festival celebration 
of art and learning, 
returned on June 2 at Bamboo 
Royal Oak. The inaugural 
event took place last year at the 
Soul Studio.
Shavuot is traditionally cel-
ebrated by engaging in Jewish 
learning. The Well believes that 
tapping into one’s creative side 
is inherently full of learning — 
and ShavuART certainly allows 
participants to learn about 

oneself, about the creative pro-
cess and the artistic techniques 
and tools one uses. 
ShavuART participants 
engaged in hands-on art work-
shops, learning new crafts 
from local artists while being 
inspired by the artists’ self-ex-
pressions and unique styles. 
The Well’s Rabbi Jeff 
Stombaugh also led some 
learning around the Three 
Pilgrimage Festivals and Pirkei 
Avot around Shavuot. 

“It was really an amaz-
ing, diverse group of young 
adults who all got together,” 
Stombaugh said. “I was really 
proud of it.” 
Food came from Mongers’ 
Provisions and Astoria Pastry 
Shop in Royal Oak. 
Five artists were featured 
this year with a diverse range 
of styles. 
Leah Sachs’ workshop saw 
participants receive an intro to 
the art of calligraphy.
Jacob Smith’s workshop saw 
participants learn how to draw 
mazes, explore what makes 
mazes tricky and how to make 
them pop, and learn about 
maze art history.
Jenna Lopatin’s workshop 
allowed participants to explore 
the freedom and creativity of 
wire stone wrapping. 
Erik Sellstrom’s workshop 
taught cyanotype photography. 
Artists learned how to prepare 
cyanotype paper and create 
different materials to produce a 
photogram or contact print. 

ART ‘IN THE MOMENT’
Yevgeniya Gazman also led 
a workshop. Gazman is the 
founder and creative force 
behind YGazm Art LLC. She 
turns her art into products 
ranging from yoga pants to 
tote bags. 
“What I wanted my work-
shop to do is help people be in 
the moment, be inspired and 
create, rather than overthink 
the final product and feel par-
alyzed by this thought of need-
ing perfection,” Gazman said. 
One way Gazman helped 
people “live in the moment” 
was through the way she intro-
duced supplies.
For example, she had a box 
with tons of different markers 
and pens, and participants 
could reach in without looking 
and let chance dictate the next 
color they could use. 

Five artists were featured this year 
with a diverse range of styles. 

 The Well’s 
ShavuART Returns

DANNY SCHWARTZ SENIOR STAFF REPORTER

NEXT DOR
VOICES OF A NEW GENERATION

26 | JUNE 27 • 2024 

Erik Sellstrom 
carefully wraps 
wire around a 
crystal.

ABOVE: Maze art workshop 
facilitator Jacob Smith 
(fourth from left) poses with 
participants and their finished 
mazes, from left: Carlee 
Meyers, Nikki Sable, Laura 
Rosen, Anna Cihlova, Andrew 
Kaufman, Rabbi Benjamin 
Altshuler, Jennifer Gleit and 
Emma Voit.

