Last week I had a wonderful time at the Union of Reform Judaism Biennial Conference. I was part of the vendor's in the Exhibition Hall which was open during the conference. My booth was simple and I sent most of the display materials via Fedex to the hotel a few days before I arrived. I think that it turned out pretty nice, but I should have invested in some lights.
The event was at the Gaylord Hotel in National Harbor, Maryland. This beautiful Hotel located in a artificial community called National Harbor which is full of shops, restaurants, hotels and residences. The hotel atrium house a 15 story atrium with a beautiful faux candy glass Christmas tree. There are overpriced restaurants and shops beneath but a nice place to people watch or grab a snack.
After the first night of the convention I invited to a meeting for the
American Guild of Judaic Art . It was wonderful to finally meet all these people I have admired for the last couple of years. The Guild provides a support system to the artist involved and also information and inspiration for artists and collectors alike.
Another exciting event at the Biennial was that Pressident Obama came to speak. The security was high, and to tell you the truth, the sales at the Exhibition Hall that day were pretty dim as most of the attendees were in line starting at 10am. Still, the president's speech was a highlight. Although I didn't actually go into the hall to see him speak, I watched it on a computer hookup with many of the other Exhibitors.
Saturday the Exhibition Hall was closed for Shabbat so I went into Washington DC with a couple of fellow Artists to visit some museums. First we went to the Renwick Gallery, the Smithsonian's American craft museum, which featured pieces from the white house collection. It was wonderful. Then we visited the Textile museum which had an exhibit of African textiles from the Kuba people who reside in area of the Republic of Congo. The textures and designs of the weavings were so inspirational.
I met so many great people at the conference. I have many new customers and I loved to hear their comments about my work. I also met a lot of artists. I want to thank each and everyone of them who were so forthcoming with information and help. I feel as though I have many new mentors and I am so grateful.
Next to my booth was
Claude Riedel, who makes the most beautiful Eternal Lights (Ner Tamids) for Temples and Synagogues. The lamps are a combination of metal and glass. He works closely with the temples and their architects to create a Light unique to the space.
Karla Gudeon's hand colored engravings are incredible. Her artwork is featured in musems and galleries as well as books. There is. nothing else like it.
Speaking of unique, check out
Joan Edelstein's scarves. They are so amazing I had to get one for myself.
Simcha Textiles is the name of Elaine Phillip's work. Her handwoven tallit and wraps are are luxurious. When Elaine and I visited the Textile Museum we were like kindred spirits.
Finally, I want to thank
Jim Cohen for all his support before and during the show. I had never met Jim before, but had bombarded him with questions via email which he gladly answered for me. Jim is a master metal smith. His designs are what I can only describe as modern classics.
I also want to thank my sister in law, Francie Kranzberg for her incredible help during the show. Francie got me to and from the airport, helped me unpack and pack, and kept me company during most of the show. Franice knew a lot of the Biennial attendees due to her work at Washington DC's Jewish Federation. It was a pleasure to have her with me.
Well, I am already excited to attend the URJ Biennial in two years, which will be in San Diego.
When I finish a piece, at first I am usually a bit disappointed. Most of the time, the result isn't quite the same as the original vision. Maybe I am a bit hard on myself because after a couple days, I get excited about the piece again. Sometimes I have the piece professionally photographed. Getting a professional pictures taken of your work is always a good idea. I wish I could afford to do it more often. I am quite sure that the quality of the photographs of the work was as important factor as the work itself in getting it published. But as I examine the work I am constantly looking at the flaws in workmanship, and the improvements I could make in the design. And, if I make a new piece based on what I think I have learned from the previous, it too has it's own list of flaws and design problems. I guess this is what artist go through and why we are constantly challenged. It one reason I love my work. I love to create, improve, problem solve and then make more problems for myself. 
Well, it's Bat Mitzvah time for me again. This time it's my daughter Tamara, who is an extraordinary artist. She is very talented, but I am most impressed by her lack of restraint. She always is coming up with a new and different way of looking at things. I have to admit that I wish I had a bit more of this quality. She does not always follow the "rules"which makes her work magical. 
Tamara designed original artwork for her invitations, and is now helping to create the centerpieces which will be used at the Luncheon following the Bat Mitzvah service. We have decided to use butterflies to symbolize the metamorphosis that has occurred this past year as Tamara studies for and becomes at Bat Mitzvah. Tamara created the colorful butterfly wings using window paint and copper wire. I will fashion then into butterflies and then make then "fly" on branches (some of which come from our own garden).
I am honored to have my brownstone mezuzah selected by the Mizel Museum in Denver to be a part of their permanent collection. The mezuzah is fine silver and is inspired by brownstone homes that I used to walk by in Boston and New York. It features a bay window and a street lamp. I am honored to be a part of this wonderful Jewish Museum. The mezuzah will be displayed as it was meant to, on a doorway. 
This week has been very busy for my mom. She's sculpted, put together, fired, oxidized, and polished seven new star necklaces. I really like these stars in particular because my mom used some new textures she made, so they're very unique. My favorite new star necklace is the one that uses the texture with the vines, scrolls, and pomegranates. From far away, it just looks like pretty swirls and lines, but close up, you can see the detail very well. I also like the star with the double layer and the star. It's simpler, but it also has the Hebrew letters in the background, which adds a really elegant design. 
My daughter's bat mitzvah is coming up in September and she has been studying and preparing for it. I decide to create a very special personalized yad for her and give it to her now so that she could use it during her practice sessions. She was so excited with the gift. The yad has her name wrapped around it and also the date of her upcoming Bat Mitzvah. I designed this yad with her personality in mind, with a whimsical top and a butterfly, which is a theme throughout her invitations and decorations for the lunch after the service. 
