Tag: calling all artists

Calling All Artists 2024

Thursday, January 11, 7:00 pm, on Zoom –  Now in its 19th year, Calling All Artists is a project which invites artists of many kinds—visual, textile, multi-media, music, poetry—to study a biblical or rabbinical text with Rabbi Harry, and to interpret this learning through their art. A kind of midrash, as the Rabbi explains it. Later in the year, the artists will celebrate their interpretations with a delicious and gorgeous Gala in the Social Hall.

We will meet for learning sessions with the Rabbi, beginning on Thursday, January 11, 2024, and continuing once a month for five months, on Thursday evenings on Zoom, starting at 7:00 pm.

For more information and to register, contact Barbara Pelman at barbarapelman@gmail.com.

Fees are $80.00 for non-members, $50.00 for members.

Once you are registered, you can pay through the Synagogue Office, and a Zoom link will be sent to you, as well as updated information.

We are looking forward to learning and sharing together!

Summary of event details

Coffee and Viewing Artwork from “Light, Colour and Mystery”

Wednesdays, starting September 13 –  from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm at Congregation Emanu-El Social Hall. Coffee and Tea and Art!

Join us for coffee and a chat about art! Each Wednesday, one of the artists from the Calling All Artists project 2023 will be available to show you around the Gallery, and talk about the artwork on display. Over a cup of tea or coffee, you can find out more about each work of art and how the artist interpreted this year’s topic, “Light, Colour, and Mystery.” Bring your friends and family and enjoy the beauty of the work, as well as a peek at our historic synagogue.

For more information, contact the synagogue office, 250-382-0615

Summary of event details

  • Date: September 13 to October 25, 2023
  • Time: 10:30 am to 2:30 pm
  • Where: Congregation Emanu-El Social Hall
  • Cost: none
  • Registration: none
  • Contact: info@congregationemanuel.ca

Gala, Calling All Artists 2023: Light Colour and Mystery

“Through a Tiny Window” by Barbara Wilson

Sunday, August 27 – 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Artist presentations at 3:00 pm.

What happens when Midrash is not generated by the Sages of the distant past but rather by contemporary artists?  This question, posed by Rabbi Harry, is the basis of the project, Calling All Artists, which has been continuing every year since 2005. This year, artists of various media gathered on Zoom to explore Torah that relates to light, darkness, and the colours of the universe seen through the lens of Kabbalah.  Then they hastened to their studios, desks, kitchen tables, cafes, to consider how the words of Rabbi Harry helped inspire their own work. Now they are ready to show you the results: in beautiful paintings, fabric sculpture, poetry, collage, paper art, in glorious and meaningful colour, and to talk a bit about their creative process- as well as offer you refreshments and a chance to buy their work. The chapbook/catalogue that accompanies the exhibit will also be on sale for $15, payable by cash, cheque, or Visa/Mastercard. Come to the synagogue on Sunday August 27 and enjoy an afternoon of art and colour and wonder.

Summary of event details

  • Date: August 27, 2023
  • Time: 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
  • Where: Congregation Emanu-El Social Hall
  • Cost: $15

Calling All Artists 2023

“Utopia” by Dahlia Beck: section of mosaic

Starts Tuesday, January 17, 2023 – We will meet for learning sessions with the Rabbi, beginning on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, and continuing once a month for five months, on Tuesday evenings on Zoom.

Now in its 18th year, Calling All Artists is a project which invites artists of many kinds – visual, textile, multi-media, music, poetry – to study a biblical or rabbinical text with Rabbi Harry, and to interpret this learning through their art. A kind of midrash, the Rabbi explains it. In the fall, the artists will celebrate their work with a delicious and gorgeous Gala in the Social Hall.

For more information and to register, contact Barbara Pelman at barbarapelman@gmail.com.

Fees are $70.00 for non-members, $50.00 for members. Once you are registered, you can pay through the Synagogue Office, and a Zoom link will be sent to you, as well as updated information.

Summary of event details

Calling All Artists 2022 Gala

“Utopia” by Dahlia Beck: section of mosaic

Sunday, September 18 – In 2022, the Calling All Artists Project, now in its fifteenth year, explored the meaning of Jewish symbols as well as the meaning of symbols themselves. Symbols are understood through intuition, are part of ritual, and in Rabbi Harry’s words, “help us to transcend reality, pointing us toward the infinite.” Now that the work is done, the artists who have studied with Rabbi Harry since January and have created their interpretations of this learning, invite you to see their work on September 18, 2022 from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., in the Social Hall of Congregation Emanu-El 1461 Blanshard Street. Visual art, textiles, poetry, wood creation, book-making—such beauty and wisdom! Join the artists to share what has been earned, nosh a little on some symbolic food, buy the chapbooks which serve as a catalogue of the show, and perhaps purchase some of the beautiful work!

The show will remain on the walls of the Social Hall until the beginning of November 2022.

Masks are appreciated.  Hope to see you there!

Summary of event details

  • Date: September 18. 2022
  • Time: 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • Where: Social Hall of Congregation Emanu-El 1461 Blanshard Street
  • Cost: n/a
  • Registration: n/a
  • Contact: n/a

Signs and Symbols: Calling All Artists Returns!

Beginning January 20, 2022: Calling All Artists is a project inviting artists of many kinds—visual, textile, multi-media, music, poetry—to study a biblical or rabbinical text with Rabbi Harry, and to interpret this learning through their art. “The class is a kind of midrash (interpretation of Torah)”, Rabbi Harry explains. This year, we will study Jewish symbolism, and the significance of using symbols. 

We will meet once a month for learning sessions with the Rabbi, beginning January 20, 2022, and continuing on February 24, March 24, April 7, and May 12, 2022. Meetings will be a hybrid of in-person and Zoom sessions, beginning on Zoom until the news improves.

In the fall, the artists, if it is possible to meet again, will celebrate their work with a delicious and gorgeous Gala in the Social Hall. If not, the Gala will still happen, but zooming.

For more information and to register, contact Barbara Pelman.

Fees are $70.00 for non-members, $50.00 for members.

Once you are registered, you can pay through the Synagogue Office, and a Zoom link and any update information will be sent to you. 

Summary of event details

  • Dates: January 20, 2022 – May 12, 2022
  • Where: Hybrid of in-person and Zoom sessions, beginning on Zoom
  • Cost: $70.00 for non-members, $50.00 for members
  • Registration and Information: Contact Barbara Pelman

Calling All Artists 2021: Exhibition

What happens when Midrash is not generated by the sages of the distant past but by contemporary artists? This is the question, posed by Rabbi Harry, that served as the basis for this year’s Calling All Artists—a program that has run every year since 2005. This year, in the middle of a pandemic, the project was even more meaningful although its format was more unusual. Eighteen artists, using various media, gathered on Zoom to explore Torah as it relates to Hope, Faith and Prayer.

For the artists, it was a way of working with Rabbi Harry on braiding a spiritual lifeline during a time of isolation and fear. Their work—sculpture, ceramics, paintings, prayer flags, poetry bowls, and more—are on the walls of the Social Hall, where they will be until the end of November 2021. You can view the exhibit Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, by appointment.

As Rabbi Harry says in his introduction to the project’s chapbook, “In many ways the sages of now are artists; open, courageous, creative seekers of truth and beauty, and conduits to understanding universal essence.” This beautiful little book, called A Light in Dark Times contains photographs of all the artists’ work, with their comments about the creative process that brought their art to life. They are for sale, at $7—a real deal! Ask at the office to purchase your own copy, as a memento of the 2021 Calling All Artists, or a gift.

Join us for A Light in Dark Times

Tuesday, August 24, 2021, at 6 pm—“What happens when Midrash is not generated by the sages of the distant past but rather contemporary artists?” This question, posed by Rabbi Harry, is the basis for the project, Calling All Artists (CAA), which has been held every year since 2005. This year, in the middle of a pandemic, the project was even more meaningful, though its format more unusual. Eighteen artists of different media gathered on Zoom to explore Torah that relates to Hope, Faith and Prayer. For the artists, it was a way to work with Rabbi Harry on braiding a spiritual lifeline during a time of isolation and fear. Please join us on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, on Zoom to celebrate the insights and interpretations of the year’s learning, titled A Light in Dark Times.

Each artist will show their work and explain the process that birthed it. Sculpture, paintings, handmade books, prayer flags, dance, poetry bowls—a treasure of wisdom and creativity. As Rabbi Harry says in his introduction to the project’s chapbook, “In many ways the sages of now are artists; open, courageous, creative seekers of truth and beauty, and conduits to understanding universal essence.”

The show will be hung in the Social Hall from August 20, 2021, to the end of November 2021. The chapbook A Light in Dark Times, which includes the artwork and artists’ statements, will be available through the Gift Shop and the individual artists.

Though not the most intimate of venues, our little Zoom frames are nevertheless wide-spread and accommodating. We would love to celebrate our work with all of you on Zoom, and by invitation only, with a small audience in the synagogue.

Calling All Artists project 2020

Starts Thursday, November 19, 2020 on Zoom—A light in a dark and strange time: Calling All Artists returns! We will begin our monthly meetings with Rabbi Harry on Thursday, November 19, 2020, and continue on December 10, 2020, and in 2021 on January 14, February 11, and March 18. Calling All Artists is a project inviting artists of many kinds—visual, textile, multi-media, music, poetry—to study a biblical or rabbinical text with Rabbi Harry, and to interpret this learning through their art. A kind of midrash, the Rabbi explains it. In the spring, the artists, if it is possible to meet again, will celebrate their work with a delicious and gorgeous Gala in the Social Hall.

Continue reading Calling All Artists project 2020

Calling All Artists Opening Gala 2019

Barbara Pelman shows!

This year’s theme for Calling All Artists is “Memory and Essence”. At the gala the artists spoke briefly about their work which was mounted around the hall and included paintings, sculptures, poetry, and drawings. A chapbook detailing the artists’ works is available in the Simcha Gift Shop for $10.  The accompanying picture is a display of poems that Barbara Pelman presented in individual chapbooks. To view photos taken at the Gala by Penny Tennenhouse click here…