Meet the Artist

I enjoy seeing the potential in found objects and antique elements. Combining my metalsmithing skills with my artistic vision, I often transform these components into unique Jewish ritual objects.

 Stylish Hebrew calligraphy, blended with the masterful use of pewter, brass, copper, and glass, make for my unique Judaica. My work acknowledges the past, yet offers new and unusual forms which satisfy the demands of ritual requirements.

 I take great pleasure in knowing that my Judaica will be lovingly used by individuals or families as they perform ancient rituals linking past and present.

 Working independently in my own studio I enjoy creating specially commissioned ceremonial pieces for individuals as well as for institutions. I am happy to incorporate your family's treasured heirlooms into a piece of Judaica.

 My work has been published in 10 books, The NY Times, the Boston Globe, Moment Magazine, Handmade Business Magazine, calendars and greeting cards. I am a NICHE Award winner for fine craft, and the runner up for Handmade Business Magazine's "Entrepreneur of the Year Award".

I am honored to have my Judaica in the permanent collections of the Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, the Bernard Museum of Judaica of Temple Emanuel-El, New York, the Mizel Museum in Denver, and the Oregon Jewish Museum in Portland.

Coming Full Circle

 

I have been a scavenger all my life. From the time I could walk I would pick up things from the ground; dirty, rusty, or broken, for later use in a collage or construction. Growing up at the Jersey Shore, shells, driftwood, and beach glass were also fair game. My bedroom was always cluttered with potential material for some future art project. My mother who was a professional artist and had a studio in our home, was always very encouraging.

After graduating with a BA in Art History from Skidmore College, I went on to pursue an MFA in metalsmithing at Cranbrook Academy of Art. While there, I happened to read an inspirational article that became the turning point in my professional career. Bernard Bernstein, the author, felt there was a need for contemporary design in Judaica, because there was little available at that time that complemented modern architecture. That article inspired me to do research, and I ultimately wrote my thesis on Judaica's history and evolution. It is this research that became the basis for my lecture/slide presentation, "The History of Jewish Ceremonial Objects Used in the Home" . In 1980 I began creating Judaica full time, and that same year was fortunate to get my work published in The New Jewish Yellow Pages book ~ a resource for anything related to Judaism. Several photos of my Judaica, a photo of me at work in my studio, and my address were included, which resulted in my receiving orders from all over the country. After filling wholesale orders for over 10 years, however, I became extremely bored, as I had been repeating the same designs over and over.  I needed a break.

After at least a 15 year hiatus I returned to creating my Judaica, only no more production. Believing that I wanted to love my work again, I decided to focus on just making one-of-a-kind or very limited edition Jewish Ritual Objects. And now I have returned to my scavenger roots. I comb antique shops, flea markets, yard sales, and the town dump, looking for interesting elements to incorporate into my pieces.

I have come full circle. I am still making collages, but now they are collages/assemblages with tradition, a purpose, and with meaning.