The circle plays a big part in Judaism, which is why, as we are less than a month from the High Holidays, the seemingly simple shape is going to be the focus of the next Jewish Arts Collective Quarterly Art Materials Swap + Collage Drop-In for Jewish Creatives.
The event at the Minnesota JCC Capp Center in St. Paul is free to attend and requires no experience – just come create! The Aug. 16 event, from 2-4 p.m., and features J-Pride Coordinator and artist Hunter Wengersky, and artist/educator Lynda Monick-Isenberg. This event is planned in partnership with TC Jewfolk, Rimon, Minnesota JCC, JPride and Heritage Judaica.
“Collaging is not my main art form in any way, shape, or form, but I’m very excited to see what happens,” said Wengersky. “I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to do art in community.”
Wengersky generally focuses on fiber arts; they said they have “numerous” drop spindles, a spinning wheel, a rigid heddle weaving loom, and is teaching themself the Viking-era craft of nalbinding.
Participants will explore the circle as a symbol of wholeness, continuity, and endless possibility. Through collage, colors, textures and imagery will be layered to create compositions that celebrate connection, renewal, and the beauty of beginnings without end.
Monick-Isenberg, who is co-leading the collage workshop, knows the circle well. At least most of the circle. Her work based on the Enso, a Japanese brushstroke that is a single circular stroke of an incomplete circle, is on display at the Capp Center gallery; Robyn Awend, the JCC’s director of arts engagement, said a reception for Monick-Isenberg’s exhibit will be part of the gallery.
“It signifies anything from the universe to eternity to emptiness to imperfection because you can’t ever do it perfectly,” Monick-Isenberg said. “There’s something beautiful about that practice.”
Monick-Isenberg said events like this are important whether you’re an experienced artist or not.
“To think about what can come from a piece or the action within a piece,” she said. “Instead of having this idea of what something should look like, and I think that’s how collage also connects to this idea of this enso or this circle. It gives you a starting place, but it’s going to move and it’s going to cycle into something totally new.”
Make art, find (or donate) Judaica
some of the items available at Heritage Judaica’s event on Aug. 16.
Heritage Judaica is one of the community partners hosting the event, and is a free clearinghouse for surplus Judaica. Donate mezuzot, tallitot, daily ritual items, Shabbat ritual items, holiday items, etc., and they become available to those in need.
Some of the items that will be available include candlesticks, a hanukiah, and challah covers.
Donations to Heritage Judaica aren’t tax deductible, but think of the nachas you get knowing that Judaica you aren’t using will get to be rehomed!