Two Israeli Artists, Two Worlds of Art (Part 4)
By Moshe Mikanovsky
Shalom Toronto, March 4, 2010 

The Israeli Artists Group of Greater Toronto brings together Israeli artists in different disciplines of visual arts, to work, socialize and enhance the Israeli and Jewish culture in Toronto. In this series of articles, we will open a window to some of our artists who live and work in our midst.  

Artist Miriam Sion, who is also known to her friends and family as Miki, a name she also uses to sign her paintings, is an Israeli native, who 40 years ago arrived to Canada with her family “for 4 years only”, and like many of us, these stretched to many more. An accountant by profession, Miki started painting back in Israel, and never stopped. She attended courses in many art schools and with some of the best artists in Toronto. 

When Miki moved to Canada, she was astounded by the extreme seasonal changes, especially during autumn, with its vibrant array of red, orange and yellow hues of the foliage. These colours and the effect of the sun on them, influences Miki’s work throughout the years. This can be seen in the way she treats her subject matter, mostly images from her travels around the world. Orange and yellow are dominating her Venice paintings series, reflecting the warm dusk sun on the elegant walls, canal water and gondolas. Her Prague roof tops, rendered in clean pop-art lines and shapes, and a busy cubist design, emphasize a broad range of warm oranges, reflecting the warm sun, with blue highlights to cool down the shadows.  

Miki Sion with her Venice paintings collection at the Galleria Adonis in Woodbridge

Miki Sion, Roofs of Prague, 22’’x28’’, Acrylic on canvas

Miki is active in many artist groups in the GTA, amongst them Richmond Hill Group of Artists, with whom she participated in its yearly juried shows since 1995, Bayview Watercolour Society, in which she showed and awarded prizes for her artwork, and of course, the Israeli Artists Group of Greater Toronto, of which she served as president in 2007-2008. 

Being a member since 1998, I asked Miki how it influences her:  “Most of my friends are Israelis and the general feeling is that we are Israelis living in Toronto, feeling and breathing Israeli culture in our daily lives. Belonging to the group was a natural reaction to this connection, and to staying in touch with Israel.” 

Rikki Blitt, another one of our community artists, has been in Canada for almost 50 years. Born in the former soviet union post World War II, Rikki moved to Israel in 1950, and then to Canada in her teens. Now in her retirement, Rikki immerses herself in a new found love – designing and creating three dimensions decorative and practical objects from beads and wire. She remembers herself always doing some type of creative work: knitting, embroidery, macramé and weaving. In recent years, her collection focuses on Jewelry and Judaica objects such as Mezuzot and beaded wire Kipot. 

Rikki is fascinated by the process of creation:

Rikki Blitt, Chain mail bracelet, sterling silver

In addition to her involvement with the Israeli Artists Group, Rikki is very active in the Pomegranate Guild of Judaic Textiles, Toronto (http://pomegranateguild.ca), where she is currently the President of the Guild. The Guild unites artisans who are interested in textile art and needlework based on Judaic themes. Together they created several projects which were donated to the community, mostly to Baycrest. Over the years Rikki learned a great deal from its members and guest presenters.   She was also involved in the mounting of an exhibition of the 

Guild members’ work in 2007 (in the Koffler gallery), in coordinating the Mezuzot Exhibit (in Baycrest) in 2009, and is currently working on a future exhibit of Tzedakah boxes (also in Baycrest). The beautiful Mezuzot exhibit can be seen on the Guild’s website (under Members’ Work). 

 

 

 

Rikki Blitt, Mezuzot, beads and Swarovski crystals

Miki’s paintings can be viewed and purchased in her studio by appointment. Please contact Miki by email at msion@rogers.com. 

Rikki’s jewelry can be purchased at Made You Look a jewelry store on Queen St. W (http://madeyoulook.ca/). She will participate in the group show “Tzedakah – The Beauty Outside the Box, in Memory of Beverley Colman Lokash” at Baycrest, starting September 1^st, 2010.  Rikki also takes commissions for jewelry, mezuzot and beaded wire kippot. To contact her please email to rikki_blitt@yahoo.ca.   

Both Miki and Rikki will be participating in the Israeli Artists Group show in May 15-18 at the MacDonald House, 121 Centre Street, Thornhill. 

 Moshe Mikanovsky is a member of the Israeli Artists Group of Greater Toronto (moshe@mikanovsky.com, www.mikanovsky.com) 

Artists Interview, Hebrew

Artists Interview, English

 Related posts: 

• Two Israeli Artists, Two Worlds of Arts (Suzi Phillipsohn and Myriam Levy)
• Two Israeli Artists, Two Worlds of Arts (2) (Irit Lepkin and Inna Gorshtein)
• Two Israeli Artists, Two Worlds of Arts (3) (Bianka Guna and Dorit Elbaz)

Last week I had some good news about an artwork that the UJA of Toronto has licensed to use on their tribute cards for Passover. This week I took the time to upload the artwork to my Zazzle store, and create several items (not cards, as the UJA has now the licensed rights to use this specific artwork for their cards) featuring the art.

Here are some examples of what is available. Please check the store as well, and if you like what you see, I would love to have you as a customer. I included also some promotional codes!!!

A customizable binder for your Haggadah- great gift idea! Also available as your Passover Recipes binder for all the Kosher for Passover dishes….

For 10% off binders, use Promotional Code: BINDERSDEAL1. Expires 4/1/2010.

Passover grocery tote - buy your Kosher for Passover groceries in style! Available in many other bags and totes designs:

Kosher for Passover stickers - use it on packages, food bags, kitchen cabinets, or anywhere you would like to show a “Kosher for Passover” signs. Can also be used as gift labels. Just customize the text to say whatever you want:

Need a travel coffee mug for Passover? try “My Passover Mug” travel mug, or maybe even a set of coffee mugs (available in many colors and designs)?

More available at the store: mouse pads, aprons, magnets and key chains. Once Zazzle approves the US Postage design, the Passover stamps will be available as well.

If you would like to purchase another product with the Passover design, and you don’t see it in the store, just contact me and I will be happy to help you. Ideas for new products and designs are always welcome.

One last thing: don’t forget to check Zazzle’s coupons page before ordering.
Happy Passover shopping,
Moshe

Related posts:

• Passover Cards with Seder Plate design – art licensed to UJA
• Zodiac Ketubah – old tradition in new contemporary way
• Bags for Shalach Manot and more Purim art products
• Hanukkah card special mention in Most Unusual Christmas Cards
• My Zazzle store – first week recap and new products
• Launching my Zazzle online store and thoughts about Self Art Licensing

Yesterday, one of the online galleries that sold original art since 2003, Boundless Gallery, had to close its virtual doors. The company is still there, and are doing their best to wrap up things nicely to all their sellers and buyers, but the site is not operational any longer.

Both EmptyEasel and Fine Art Views have wrote about it yesterday, quoting the reasons for Boundless Gallery shutting down, but more over, offering specials discounts for Boundless Gallery’s sellers to join their own services, FolioTwist (by EmptyEasel) and FineArtStudioOnline (by Fine Art Views). I was very impressed and command both generosity, as well as camaraderie that both owners showed in their blogs as well as on Twitter:

@EmptyEasel BoundlessGallery.com shuts down after 7 years of connecting art buyers and art sellers – Read more: http://bit.ly/b16Yke

@clintavo Sad news, boundless gallery closes- we’ve put together special offer if any BG artists need new web presence http://bit.ly/9fTbTH

@EmptyEaselBoundlessGallery artists, you’ve got options. Read my post, http://bit.ly/b16Yke, and Clint’s post, http://bit.ly/ddgW1q

@clintavo Dan’s got an offer for Boundless Artists too http://bit.ly/b16Yke

One thing in particular that came to mind while reading through this, was what should artists learn from that? And where is the future of Content Management Systems (CMS) for artists?

Clint from FAV mentioned this in his blog post:

While we’re very sad by the loss of such an innovative art service, closings such as this illustrate why we have always recommended that artists control their own online web site.  It’s somewhat risky to rely totally on another site for the bulk of your online presence.  The site could close down (as in this case), change their business model, change their design, or customer targeting.  Similarly relying on free services to provide you with an online presence can be risky too.  If you’re not paying for the service (as in the case of something like Facebook, Blogger, Wordpress, etc), then you are not truly a customer, and you have virtually no sway with the company.

 

We’ve always felt that artists should own their own domain name and host their own website as the hub of their online marketing.  Then other sites become “spokes” designed to promote your artwork and drive people back to your main website, your “hub.”

I can’t agree more on this statement – like any other business, putting your assets in someone else’s basket creates a liability or risk, and to be successful, you have to weigh the risk and mitigate it. The Internet, for the non-technical, can be very overwhelming, and creating the proper online presence takes time and efforts, and yes, it also cost money, if you want to do it right. But here is what I found missing from both posts, and I am bringing it up not to bash them (which is definitely not my intention) but to see how this can enhance the next generation of CMS systems for artists. And the point is simple – both systems offered by FolioTwist and FASO have the same inherited issue that Boundless Gallery had. Both are not Open Source systems, and are controlled by their perspective companies. That means that if (God forbid!) they will decide to close shop, the same thing will happen to their clients!

To better illustrate this, consider the difference between WordPress and Blogger. Although WordPress has their hosted solution, Wordpress.com, they also support the Open Source of the WordPress platform, available for anyone to be downloaded from Wordpress.org. Once you download it, you can install it on any host provider, and configure it any way you want. You do not have to be a Software Developer to use it. It is a full CMS system to build pretty nice blogs and websites. On the other hand, a blog on Blogger is hosted by Blogger (which is actually Google). If for any reason Google will decide to turn the plug off – it will be off for the entire Blogger community. Note: Blogger does have the FTP option, which allow you to transfer your Blogger’s blog from their site to your site, but they recently decided to discontinue it, and they discourage anyone from using it, so in essence, it doesn’t exist any longer. Moreover, it illustrates the control they have over all Blogger’s users. If WordPress will decide to close shop, anyone who has the framework hosted on their own server, will be able to continue hosting and using it, and even change and enhance it with no interruption. 

Now, there are very good reasons for each type of service, based on the companies’ business model. I am not going to delve into this here. Similarly, FolioTwist and FineArtStudioOnline are in business to be successful, help their clients, the artists, and also build a viable and successful businesses.

So how does the artist mitigate the risk of loosing overnight his or her main “hub”?

I believe that the main requirement is to make sure that a site that host your main website will be able to guarantee continuity. That could be in the form of Export and Import options, from one platform to another one. Or it could be in the form of a Backup and Restore options, with basic or extended CMS management functionality. Another option can be to package the CMS application and sell it like any other software package. And of course, there is the option to make it available for all…

For the artist, there is of course the option to go with a dedicated site designer and development company who will build a site from scratch. This option is usually more expensive, both the initial setup and maintenance in the long run. But, it reduces the risk of relying on a service provider. Even when going this route, it is imperative that you receive regular backups of your sites, so if the site developer cease to exist, you can take the backup package and find another developer who will be able to help you quickly.

I would love to hear what you think about it, and if you have other suggestions and insights.

Cheers

Moshe

Related reading:

• EmptyEasel’s Why Boundless Gallery Closed Down
• Fine Art View’s Boundless Gallery Closes, What’s Next and a Special Offer from FASO
• Art Is Broken: Boundless Gallery closing – what does this mean for artists, galleries, and collectors? 
• List of 66+ websites for artists to build online presence now includes more than 120, minus Boundless Gallery

Last summerI have licensed couple of my Rosh Hashana card designs to the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto for their tribute cards. These cards are sold to their contributors, who send them to their love ones, denoting a donation was made in their name.

This time of the year is time to think already about Passover, another family oriented Holiday that many people are celebrating together. I am privileged again to been chosen by the UJA for their Passover campaign. Following are the design accepted by the UJA, and the final card design. I included also the flier that the UJA are distributing around the city, promoting this campaign, with my card design in it.

Passover, Watercolors, 6''x8'', 2010

The art on the card depicts a stylized version of the Seder Plate, zoomed in and cropped out. The word פסח in Hebrew (Pesach, or Passover in English) is written in the center of the plate. The circles around it (in yellow) are usually small bowls or recesses in the plate (depends of course on the plate design and materials) where few food items are placed during the Seder – the meal at the first night of Passover (and also second night in the diaspora).

UJA Passover Tribute Card

UJA Flier Passover

Here is a Passover Seder Plate that I made back  in 2004 out of Stained Glass and Clay. The bottom yellow part is a stained glass construction, with 6 holes on the top to hold 6 small bowls, made of clay.

Seder Plate, Stained Glass and Pottery, size 12.5" x 13.5" x 2.5", 2004

I hope you like this new artwork and that the UJA campaign will be successful.

Cheers

Moshe

PS I am looking for new licensing opportunities, similar to this one (cards), or any other type, such as art reproductions, calendars, puzzles, benchers, etc. Please contact me at moshe@mikanovsky.com for more information.

Related posts:

This week I interviewed two abstract artists, our most prolific member of the Israeli Artists Group of Toronto, painter Bianka Guna, and a newer addition who started painting less than a year ago, Dorit Elbaz.  Here is the English version of the article. You can also read the PDF version of the article, as well as download the entire paper from Shalom Toronto’s site (this week the paper only published the English version).

Two Israeli Artists, Two Worlds of Art (Part 3)
By Moshe Mikanovsky
Shalom Toronto, February 25, 2010

The Israeli Artists Group of Greater Toronto brings together Israeli artists in different disciplines of visual arts, to work, socialize and enhance the Israeli and Jewish culture in Toronto. In this series of articles, we will open a window to some of our artists who live and work in our midst.

In this installment of our series, I would like to introduce two very talented abstract painters.

First, the prolific painter Bianka Guna, who produces new paintings faster than I can write this article! Bianka was born in Romania, from where she made Aliya to Israel in the late 80s. By the end of the 90s Bianka moved to Toronto. Although academically trained as Mechanical Engineer and Software Developer, as well as Art Illustrator, Bianka’s art style is free and fluent, exploded with movement and deep rich colours, devoid of any representation of familiar objects. 

 Living in different continents and countries, and traveling extensively around the world, freed Bianka’s spirit, allowing her to explore and change. She defines herself as Conceptual Artist, continually researching fresh and unique ways to express – and materialize- renewed growth and ongoing spiritual development by way of new methods, means and revelatory techniques. Her work is also influences by other abstract artists, some of which she admires, like Kandinsky, Gorky, Pollack, and Rothko

Artist Bianka Guna

Bianka shows her work in many venues – galleries, group shows, international art projects – going by

the motto that you are not a serious painter if you are not at any moment in at least five projects or shows. One of the interesting projects she is part of is the “Planet Earth, Planet Art”, an Art Book Project (due March 1^st)  in support of the environmental and social grassroots network Friends Of The Earth International. Ninety-five artists from all over the world present their artwork as a voice raised to bring awareness of the urgent problems of the imbalanced lifestyles and unsustainable environmental consumption we humans face, accompanied by a personal statement which brings the clarity of the artist to these problems.

Another international project she is participating in is The Sketchbook Project. Her sketchbook, titled “A Million Little..Trips” is on tour, showing throughout the USA in 5 different cities.

Bianka Guna, “Rikudim ,Bossa Nova” , Acrylic on watercolour paper , 22”X30”

The second artist is Dorit Elbaz. Dorit started only recently exploring her artistic side, after working for many years in the travel industry. Dorit was born in Israel and moved to Toronto with her family after completing her army service. Dorit started her professional career as a special education teacher, working with children with disabilities. Then she followed her parents into the family business. After eighteen years as a travel agent Dorit felt she needs new direction and start looking for a change, this is when she found the power of creativity. Helping and supporting her on this new journey are her husband and three handsome boys, whom she makes sure to remind me, are the most important thing in her life.

Artist Dorit Elbaz

Her first exposure to painting was in a mixed media workshop she took with artist Jill Segal, following a visit to the Spiritual Diva organized art show at the MacDonald house. She fell in love with the colours and possibilities they introduced to her. Crimson, purple and turquoise found ways to her canvases, along with many other materials. In addition to the paint and mediums, Dorit uses mix media – broken and torn objects from around her home and life, items that finished their normal usage and now create the basis for her art works – and the process of trial and error, to create her “In the Moment” art. Here is how she explains it: “I feel that the only place I can create is my home. When I am inspired, I make myself nana tea, put on some Israeli music and start creating. I converted my Shabbat room to be my studio. I don’t always know how the empty canvas in front of me will look like by the end of the process… I flow with the paint and the mixed media, listening to my feelings in that moment…” 

Dorit is very involved in the community. In the past she took part in organizing many events and fund raisers, supporting organizations such as JWIC, Ending Violence Against Women and One Family Fund. While finding her love for the arts, she started representing several local artists, helping them sell their artwork to galleries and other vendors. This month she is showing her artwork at the new Aroma Espresso Café on Yonge and Eglinton, supporting the Israeli business in the GTA.

Dorit Elbaz, Journey, Mixed Media on canvas, 36’’x12’’

Bianka is represented by several galleries and will show in the near future in number of shows, such as the 25th Toronto Watercolour Society Anniversary Spring Juried Show at the Papermill Art Gallery (March 17th-28th), the 5th Annual Heintzman Invitational at Bay Thorn Street, Markham (April 23rd-25^th) , and  a Two Artists Show , Odgers  Berndson, RBC building , 200  Bay Street  (1st May-31st July 2010)

Bianka also teaches many seminars and courses in the GTA. For more information and to view more of her art, please visit www.biankaguna.com.

Dorit’s work is currently shown at Aroma Espresso Café, Yonge and Eglinton (2300 Yonge) until February 28^th, 6:30AM – 11:00PM. Prints of her works can be purchased at Heart to Find and at Orchid Florist, both in Thornhill. She will be participating at the Diva Artist Show “Spiritual Expressions Through Art”, MacDonald House, Thornhill, April 13-18.

To contact Dorit please call 416 520 4351 or email her at doritelbaz@yahoo.ca

Both Bianka and Dorit will be participating in the Israeli Artists Group show in May 15-18 at the MacDonald House, 121 Centre Street, Thornhill.

 Moshe Mikanovsky is a member of the Israeli Artists Group of Greater Toronto (moshe@mikanovsky.com, www.mikanovsky.com)

Artists Interview, English

Related posts:

• Two Israeli Artists, Two Worlds of Arts (Suzi Phillipsohn and Myriam Levy)
• Two Israeli Artists, Two Worlds of Arts (2) (Irit Lepkin and Inna Gorshtein)

Until recently I read and knew what is SEO, and I applied SEO techniques in my website (to some extent) and blog (much more “by the book”), but I didn’t see it really working, meaning – how it translates to someone finding my products and buying them. Moreover, looking at my site and blog stats, most of the people visiting are coming from comments I posted  on other blogs and forums, which are mostly related to Art and the business of Art Marketing and Art Licensing, and these entries are not interested in my art but in what I have learned about marketing it. Which means, there are no direct sales from these visits. So my hasty conclusion, which I even stated loudly to some people, is that SEO is over rated! How can I compare 1-5% visits by search engines finds, to 95-99% visits by forums, social networking, emails etc?

Until I saw for my own eyes how sales are actually made because of the SEO efforts. Here is the example:

1. Yesterday at around 11AM someone searched on Google for “mishloach  manot bags”  which lists my post “Bags for Shalach Manot and more Purim art products” on the first page.

SEO Example: Google Search for "Mishloach Manot Bags". My blog post listed second

2. Visiting the post, the user saw my Zazzle widget embedded within the post, and clicked on it to get to my Zazzle store.

SEO Example: Zazzle widget within my blog post

3. Once in the Zazzle store, the soon-to-be-buyer probably saw what he or she was looking for, a bag for Shalach Manot (or Mishloach Manot), but eventually ended up purchasing another item – thirteen sheets of Happy Purim stickers. 

4. The store made few bucks on product royalty, but also on referrals – because the buyer got to the site from a link on my blog that has my referral number. The referral program is another great way to earn some income online.

I know that this happened because of couple of tools I am using:

1. First, the Feedjit “Live Traffic Feed” on my blog, the one that shows where readers come from around the world. When using the “Watch in Real-Time” option, more details are available. One of them shows that someone searched on Google for “mishloach manot bags” and that they were from Hackensack, New Jersey.

SEO Example: Feedjit history

2. Then, Zazzle’s Royalty History shows who bought the stickers, and I see in there that the buyer is from Hackensack, New Jersey.

SEO Example: Zazzle Royalty History

So here it is exactly how SEO works. Writing in your blog about the art and products for sale, using key words that other people will use for their searches, eventually placing your site, and products, in the right place at the right time.

There are many ways to do it. Not doing any of them will get you nowhere. Making some of them is a great way to start. No one can really do all of them, but being consistent and as time goes by, it does work!

Here is for location, location, location,

Moshe

Note:  this article is also aimed to score some SEO points… guess where?

If you are interested to learn more about SEO for artists, check out these great resources:

• EmptyEasel.com articles about SEO
• “SEO for Artists” by Beautiful Artist Websites
• Recording from the SEO for Artists call by Tara Reed and Daniel Tardent 
• FineArtViews - search for the keyword SEO to find all SEO related articles

Few weeks ago Shalom Toronto started publishing my articles about the artists of the Israeli Artists Group of Greater Toronto. The first article was about two painters, Suzy Philippsohn and Myriam Levy.

This week I interviewed two artists who mainly work in 3 dimension materials – ceramic sculpture artist Irit Lepkin and Jewelry artist Inna Gorshtein. Here is the English version of the article. You can also check the PDF version of the Hebrew articles, as well as download the entire paper from Shalom Toronto’s site.

Two Israeli Artists, Two Worlds of Art
By Moshe Mikanovsky
Shalom Toronto, February 18, 2010

 The Israeli Artists Group of Greater Toronto brings together Israeli artists in different disciplines of visual arts, to work, socialize and enhance the Israeli and Jewish culture in Toronto. In this series of articles, we will open a window to some of our artists who live and work in our midst.

 This week I had the opportunity to interview two artists who mainly work in 3 dimension materials. First, one of the founding members of the group, award winning ceramic sculpture and photography artist Irit Lepkin. And second, a more recent addition to the group, Jewelry artist Inna Gorshtein.

Irit was born in Israel to an artistic family. Her father is one of the first graduates from Bezalel art school in Jerusalem and is a well-known artist in Israel. A Fine Arts under-graduate from Haifa University, Irit moved to Canada in 1981 with her husband and two children, where she continued her art studies at the Ontario College of Art and Design, and later opened her studio in Toronto. Participating in many art shows featured at the Gardiner Museum, Burlington Art Centre and Visual Arts Ontario, Irit’s work has also been published in books and magazines. She has won several awards, grants and scholarships

Irit’s ceramic sculptures are inspired by organic forms found in nature, and have many political connotations involving social issues. Much of her inspiration comes from her photography and her personal background. She often incorporates mixed media such as rusted metal or barbed wire in order to juxtapose the harshness of reality with the softness of clay. Her piece entitled ‘Shattered Dreams’ is an example of this kind of work. Some of her recent work includes sculptural shoes made in clay and mixed media.

Shattered Dreams (detail) by Irit Lepkin, 30x30cm, clay and barbed wire

Shoes 2 by Irit Lepkin, L 23cm X W 8cm X H 13cm, clay

Irit is active in the community through her involvement with the Israeli Women Division of the UJA, several ceramic associations in Toronto, and the Israeli Artists Group. Being one of its founding members in 1992, and served as President in 2006, Irit is proud and excited that the group not only lasted for that long, but is thriving with many new members and activities planned for the future.

The second artist works in very different materials, but her Jewelry pieces are miniature sculptures, ready to be wear and adore any woman’s neck or ear. Inna Gorshtein is a self taught jewelry artist. Born in Ukraine, Inna moved to Israel in 1991, and then to Toronto in 1999. Inna’s one of a kind jewelry is made of quality gemstones, Swarovski crystals, pearls, lamp work glass, sterling silver, copper and leather. Her elegant designs feature many curvy and round shapes, swirls and wire wrapped circles, dotted with colorful centerpiece gems, a very feminine and lavish addition to any jewelry lover’s collection.

 Her international background influences Inna’s work, bringing her clients designs that are both elegant and has some oriental hints. In her own words: “I am always inspired by Israeli jewelry artists. I own many jewelry pieces from Israel which influences my own designs. I incorporate a lot of Judaic elements in my jewelry.”

With a full day job in technology, Inna’s plan is to become a full time artist, creating and developing her designs which she is very passionate about. Starting to work into that direction, she utilizes the power of Internet online marketing, and has created an online shop on Etsy, one of the major online marketplaces for artisans. Her clients come from near and far, virtually from all over the world. In addition, Inna sells her collection at few stores around the GTA, as well as in art and craft shows.

Inna Gorshtein and her Be My Valentine Necklace. Sterling silver and Swarovski crystal

Irit Lepkin’s recent work can be seen in the Distillery District Dish Gallery. She was recently invited to participate in a show with six ceramic artists from across Canada; the show is at Burlington Art Centre starting in February for 3 months.

For more information you can e-mail her: ilepkin@rogers.com. Her website is under construction and will be completed shortly.

Inna’s collection can be viewed and purchased via her website and Etsy store, at www.ingojewelry.com. Visit her blog for monthly jewelry giveaway http://ingojewelry.blogspot.com. For commissioned work or special requests, she can be reached via email innag@ingojewelry.com or by phone at 416 803 7131 

Both Irit and Inna will be participating in the Israeli Artists Group show in May 15-18 at the MacDonald House, 121 Centre Street, Thornhill.

Moshe Mikanovsky is a member of the Israeli Artists Group of Greater Toronto (moshe@mikanovsky.com, www.mikanovsky.com)

Artists Interview, Hebrew

 Related posts:

• Two Israeli Artists, Two Worlds of Arts

Ketubah Artists – more one of a kind

In previous posts about Katubah Artists, I wrote about three artists whose business is centered around the Ketubah products, and about artists and designers who made one-of-a-kind Ketubah, using their unique styles, usually commissioned by their close family or friends, or by their collectors. I have found few additional artists that made one of a kind Ketubahs, and here are their designs and stories.

Jonathan Lu

This one is by far one of the most fabulous and unique Ketubahs I have ever seen! I would love to see it in person, it looks so incredible. An Architecture graduate, Jonathan Lu built a three dimensional relief design around the circular Ketubah text. Here is what he told me about it:

I made it for a friend’s wedding as a gift. I planned the design in Autocad, and made some small test models. I constructed the final product with basswood, by hand – very time consuming, but I had a long time to work on it. I then coated it with a polyurethane varnish. In talking with the couple, they preferred geometric Ketubah designs over the ones with scenery. I wasn’t sure how well a complex painted pattern would turn out, so I tried a sculptural pattern.

 This Ketubah is so unique - the design is dynamic and decorative, full with depth and rhythm. You just have to see it to understand what I mean.

Ketubah by Jonathan Lu

Ketubah by Jonathan Lu

Mike Wenthe

Mike Wenthe is a comics artist, working in collaboration with Isaac Cates on their Satisfactory Comics. In this Ketubah, created for his brother-in-law and his bride, Mike included several fantastic and crazy beasts, all by requirements of the couple. The end result is a very unique Ketubah, utilizing Mike’s talent for comics and design, and the commissioning clients’ special taste in fantasy. Like I always say – get the Ketubah and art you love, not what everyone else is doing… Check out Mike’s blog post describing how he created the Ketubah, with some more zoomed in pictures of The Creatures.

Ketubah by Mike Wenthe

 David Silverberg

Artist David Silverberg is a notable Canadian print-maker with 50 years history of making and exhibiting his artwork. Many of his images, mostly etchings and engravings, are influenced by his Jewish heritage. I found this Ketubah which features several etching prints of birds, butterflies and a Sofer Stam (scribe writing a Torah scroll). I personally love the art of printmaking, both the process and the end results. David’s flair for drawing, details and design shines in this medium, and his Ketubah is no exception.

Ketubah by David Silverberg

Here is another beautiful Ketubah by David Silverberg (I am not sure what it is made of, as unfortunately there are not details on his site):

Ketubah by David Silverberg

Heather Hurzeler

Heather Hurzeler, an artist and the creator of the Luvaroo Wrap Carriers (check them out, they are very cute!) was challenged by her cousin to create a Ketubah for her wedding. Now it seems that the family is not Jewish, but the tradition and beauty of it was something that they wanted to celebrate. This is when Heather created this beautiful artwork. I love the colour scheme and the way that the Ketubah text is wrapped by the roots. Also rendering the tree like a huge knot of thick multi color cables make it a very powerful image. Read more about the creation of the Ketubah at Heather’s blog.

Ketubah by Heather Hurzeler

Now let me repeat something I already wrote before – whether you love a specific Ketubah Artist work, or just love any artist’s style, don’t shy away from commissioning the art you love to your special day. After all, this is one of the most important pieces of art you will ever buy, a symbol of your love and unity, which will proudly decorate your home in a prominent place.

Here is for Art and for Love.

Moshe

Related posts:

• Ketubah Artists – one of a kind
• Ketubah Artists – find the one you love
• Ketubah, Art, Love, and the “Moshe Was in Our Wedding” Lifetime Promotion
• Ketubah Connections – Join us on LinkedIn

Here are some examples of the amazing work from the show:

Yael Novak, In Between the Pots

In her work, Yael Novak combines her love for pottery and architecture. She “draws” in the negative space between the pots some of the common Israeli landscape icons – small and large city houses, modern high-rises, muslim and Arabic dome-covered buildings, minarets, and cypress trees (click on the image to see a better view).

Yael Novak, In Between the Pots, 2006, Slip-cast earthenware, terra sigilatta, 30x360x40 cm

Avner Singer and Varda Bar Shamai, The Building Blocks of Memory/Monument to the Hebrew Language

Built of 30 earthenware cubes, Singer’s and Bar Shamai’s work represents the letters of the Hebrew language, and on each it depicts different symbols from the far and near history of the Hebrew revival, such as ancient Hebrew letters, a Mizrach (East) paper-cut design, daily newspapers title logos, and more. The work can be arranged in many different ways, and views from all around, giving new meanings to each representation.

Avner Singer and Varda Bar Shamai, The Building Blocks of Memory/Monument to the Hebrew Language, 2006, Earthenware, 30 cubes: 27x27x27 cm each

Dora Zanger Schechtel, Hand Warmers

This colourful artwork reminds us of primitive mandalas, fully painted with repeating designs of primitive symbols. Using the hand warmers on a circular platform close to the ground, Dora Zanger Schechtel invites us to come around, sit down, warm our hands, and listen to her stories of immigration, culture, friendship, roots and prosperity.

Dora Zanger Schechtel, Hand Warmers, 2006, Mold-pressed earthenware, wooden base, slabs, glazing. 120 cm diameter

Leah Sheves, Essence of an Ornament

In this work, Leah Sheves combines west and east – the simple forms of the Bauhaus, an architecture style originated from Germany, and of which many of the buildings in Tel Aviv and other cities in Israel are based on, with decorative patterns and motives from the east, such as the Mashrabiya (Arabic term for a type of window enclosed with carved wood).

Leah Sheves, Essence of an Ornament, 2006, hand-built stoneware, under glazes, 7x42x22 cm

This show is highly recommended, so if you happen to be in Toronto between now and May 9th 2010, go see it! And when you do, come back and let me know how you liked it…

Enjoy it

Moshe

To read more about this show, visit the Gardiner Museum website

Also, Christopher Jones article from TO Live With Culture, Home Is Where the Art Is, February 3rd, 2010   

I have recently joined a local artist group, the Israeli Artists Group of Greater Toronto. The group brings together Israeli artists in different disciplines of visual arts, to work, socialize and enhance the Israeli and Jewish culture in Toronto.

In May this year the group will have its annual group show. In participation for the show, we have partnered with Shalom Toronto, a local weekly newspaper in Hebrew and English (distributed in 17,000 copies), to write a series of articles about the group and its artists. Last Hanukkah, Elad Benari from Shalom Toronto visited Hanukkah potluck group meeting. Elad had the opportunity to see first hand the wonderful people in this group, and he wrote about it in the paper.

Starting this week, the paper will publish several articles, written by me. Each article will feature couple of artists working in different mediums.

This week I interviewed landscape painter Suzy Philippsohn, and abstract encaustic painter Myriam Levy. Here is the English version of the article as published on Shalom Toronto. You can also check the PDF version of the English and Hebrew articles, as well as download the entire paper from Shalom Toronto’s site.

Two Israeli Artists, Two Worlds of Art

By Moshe Mikanovsky
Shalom Toronto, January 28, 2010

The Israeli Artists Group of Greater Toronto brings together Israeli artists in different disciplines of visual arts, to work, socialize and enhance the Israeli and Jewish culture in Toronto. In this series of articles, we will open a window to some of our artists who live and work in our midst.

This week, I have met with two very talented artists, both have lived in several countries before finally settling in Toronto, both influenced by their multi-cultural experiences, and diverse art education background. But each has developed in a very different way.

First, landscape artist Silvia Philippsohn. Born in Argentina, Silvia, who is better known to her friends as Suzy, made Aliya in her teens with her parents, and in the mid eighties immigrated to Canada with her husband and children. Professionally educated as an interior designer, Suzy always painted and created artwork in different mediums – watercolors, acrylics, ink, sculpting, jewelry making and glasswork. But her love for color and subject matter drew her to focus on painting.

Suzy with her painting “Returning Home”

Her inspiration comes from landscapes, floral and still life, mainly of fruits and animals. Throughout her landscapes and seascapes, an untold story direct the viewer through the usage of bold colors, whether it is a sunset in the Mediterranean or rocky beach on Lake Huron, Californian poppies field, or an unknown path, you can’t keep but wondering what memories these beautiful paintings are based on. And in Suzy’s own words: “The inspiration to my paintings comes from my love to nature and the sea, which symbolizes for me freedom and relaxation. I express my feelings through the warm colors I use and the light emerges from them. It all brings me to my childhood scenery”.

The Path, Acrylic on gallery canvas, 24”x20”x1.5”

Suzy is a member of several artists group in the GTA. Her excited spirit is a blessing in the Israeli Artists Group meetings, helping and welcoming all new artists and making everyone feels at home. In her own words: “My friends at the group influence my art in many ways. We learn from each other, and discuss many artists’ related topics.  Everyone is treated equally and it’s a great pleasure!”

The second artist I interviewed is abstract painter Myriam Levy. Born in Switzerland, Myriam first started her artistic education in Lucerne, and later on continued in Avni Institute of Fine Arts in Israel. Thanks to her talent, she had the opportunity to train in painting, modeling and sculpting with distinguished artists such as Israel Hershberg and Zvi Lachman. Myriam lived in Israel for many years, where her work was shown both in solo and group exhibitions. In 2006 she moved to Toronto with her husband and 3 sons as the family wanted to face new opportunities and encounter different atmosphere in a multicultural society.

Contemporary artist Myriam Levy

As an abstract painter, Myriam’s medium of choice is encaustic. Encaustic is an ancient technique also known as hot wax painting, which involves using heated wax to which colored pigments are added. The encaustic medium has a unique ability to be worked and reworked. Modeling, scraping, incising and incorporating different materials are some of the exciting possibilities this medium can offer.

Myriam’s multicultural life experience shows beautifully throughout her body of work. In her own words: “I am interested in rhythm, color and texture and try to achieve a universal language in my paintings through repetition and minimal forms.”

Go, encaustic, 20’’x20’’, 2009

Myriam is involved in the local community in social and artistic events. She has started offering encaustic classes in her studio and would love to teach members of the community this unique artistic medium.

Suzy’s art can be viewed online at http://silviaphilippsohn.webs.com/ and in person upon appointment at her studio. To contact Suzy please email her at silvia2000il@yahoo.com

Myriam’s art can be seen and purchased at the Engine Gallery at the
Distillery District in Toronto, Townesquare Gallery in Oakville, Ontario, and at the Halde Gallery, Widen, Switzerland. Her work is presently shown at the Engine Gallery in a group show until January 24^th, and in June 2010 the gallery will have a solo show of her work. Myriam can be reached at 416.627.0182 or by email at mflevy@rogers.com. To view more of her work visit www.mflevy.com

Both Suzy and Myriam will be participating in the Israeli Artists Group show in May 15-18 at the MacDonald House, 121 Centre Street, Thornhill.

Moshe Mikanovsky is a member of the Israeli Artists Group of Greater Toronto (moshe@mikanovsky.com)

Artists Interview, Hebrew

Artists Interview, English