EXHIBITION: Out of the Whirlwind*: Fire, Air, Water, Earth
Reflections and Forecasts on Global Warming and Climate Change
Artists of the TJM Artists’ Collaborative and guest artists
Pictured below: “Out of Time” by Leon Chudzinski
GUEST CURATORS: Rita Rosen Poley, Curator and director, the Temple Judea Museum, Elkins Park, PA
Marlene D’Orazio Adler, Chair, the Temple Judea Museum Artists’ Collaborative
Out of the Whirlwind: Fire, Air, Water, Earth
Reflections and Forecasts on Global Warming and Climate Change will occupy the gallery at Montgomery County Community College (MONTCO)from August 26th through September 30th.
This is something we have been working towards since 2006 when the TJM Artists’ Collaborative was formed to promote the artistic presence of its member artists. One step in that promotion is to show committed, contemporary Jewish artists as fully integrated into the broader creative community in our region. Moving beyond the walls of our synagogue museum gallery into a recognized community art venue helps us accomplish that goal. Our choice of a theme that is both biblical and topical is another key part of this strategy. And the fact that the MONTCO gallery is part of a college is another plus for the message we hope to send and the audience we hope to reach. Part of that message is the importance of artists, and specifically Jewish artists, as thoughtful commentators in our society.
The Exponent has recently presented a number of original stories about Jewish artists and I thought that, perhaps, this story about how our museum has successfully taken an unusual step to promote Jewish artists, as well as Jewish art, would interest you. I believe we are unique in this initiative.
Seventeen of the artists exhibiting at MONTCO are part of the TJM Collaborative. An additional fourteen have exhibited at TJM over the years but are not formal members of the Collaborative.
And, in an aside, this winter, (2023) in a different exhibition at TJM, we will be including a student artist from Drexel whose works I saw in an exhibition at Drexel Hillel. Just another part of our continuing effort to nurture and promote Jewish artists. And, in a few weeks I am meeting here at TJM with Isabella Segalovich whom I found through your recent article on her. Thank you for that!
About the theme – the title phrase ties contemporary issues related to global warming to the many evocative references to the whirlwind and nature in the Jewish Bible. For example, one ancient midrashic source speaks of the four elements giving birth at the beginning of time:
“the fire gave birth to light, the water gave birth to darkness, the wind gave birth to spirit, and the earth gave birth to humanity.”
Did you know there are Jewish blessings to be recited upon experiencing an earthquake or seeing lightning? Artworks on those two blessings will be in the show.
EXHIBITION LOCATION: The gallery at Montgomery County Community College (MONTCO)
340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422
Opening: Friday, August 26th
Reception: Wednesday September 7th from 5:00 to 8:00pm
Exhibition closes: Friday, September 30th
MONTCO Gallery director, Patrick Rodgers
*This phrase refers to the many evocative references to the whirlwind in the Jewish Bible.
INSPIRATIONS: (selected)
An ancient midrashic source speaks of the four elements giving birth at the beginning of time:
“the fire gave birth to light, the water gave birth to darkness, the wind gave birth to spirit,
and the earth gave birth to humanity.”
18 Green Artists Who Are Making Climate Change And Conservation A Priority HUFF Post – art review by Katherine Brooks
…artists have long had a fascination — and deep respect — for the planet on which we exist. With the words “global warming” and “climate change” never far from the headlines, artists … are more relevant than ever. Tying together the scientific and creative worlds in acts of beauty and activism, sculptors, painters, photographers and more have the power to make environmentalism a priority…
“The breath of life was enclosed in the earth, which became pregnant with it.” I Zohar 49a
Charlotte Webster, founder and director of the British-based environmental art collective Human Nature
“We face huge challenges in how we interact with nature, and who better to explore our relationship with the world than artists? … Our artists question the very essence of our humanity, explore what drives us to connect to our environment and how we’re responding to nature’s call to adapt to a world of finite resources.”
American photographer Ansel Adams
“The quality of place, the reaction to immediate contact with earth and growing things that have a fugal relationship with mountains and sky, is essential to the integrity of our existence on this planet,”
One generation goes and another comes, but the earth remains the same forever.” Ecclesiastes 1
Mark well this! Fire, air, earth and water are the sources and roots of all things above and below, and on them are all things grounded. In each of the four winds these elements are found: fire in the North, air in the East, water in the South, earth in the West. The four elements are united with the four winds, and all are one….The four winds of the world united at the place which afterwards was named the House of Holiness. Zohar
1:4 And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.
Ezekiel
38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 38:2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Job
EXHIBITION: Out of the Whirlwind*: Fire, Air, Water, Earth
Reflections and Forecasts on Global Warming and Climate Change
Artists of the Temple Judea Museum Artists Collaborative and guest artists
*This phrase refers to the many evocative references to the whirlwind in the Jewish Bible.
This exhibition explores the broadly relevant subject of environmental crisis, a theme that has great resonance in both large and small ways. It speaks to the past, the present, and the future and lends itself to creative interpretation.
GUEST CURATORS:
Rita Rosen Poley, Curator and director, the Temple Judea Museum
Marlene D’Orazio Adler, Chair, the Temple Judea Museum Artists’ Collaborative
EXHIBITION LOCATION: Fine Arts Center Gallery at Montgomery County Community College
Gallery director, Patrick Rodgers
340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422
Opening: Friday, August 26th
Reception: Wednesday September 7th from 5 :00 to 8:00pm
Exhibition closes: Friday, September 30th
BACKGROUND: The Fine Arts Center Gallery
Montco’s Fine Arts Center Gallery is a space for year-round exhibitions and artistic programming, featuring creative and diverse artistic voices from throughout the region. Visit mc3.edu/galleries for exhibition schedules and details. Patrick Rodgers has been Galleries Director for both the College’s galleries (Blue Bell and Pottstown) since 2016 and was previously a curator at the Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia.
BACKGROUND: Temple Judea Museum Artists Collaborative
In 2006 the Temple Judea Museum formed the Collaborative in order to promote and showcase the presence of member artists. Through programming, exhibitions and seminars the museum (TJM) and Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel (KI), where the museum is located, have continued to convey the vitality and vision of these talented people. Member artists consult, curate exhibitions and exhibit their own work as well as network to bring other artists into the world of TJM. The museum is a Program Stream recipient of funding through the PA Council on the Arts. This exhibition marks the first time Collaborative members have exhibited as a group outside of the TJM gallery.
Participating artists:
This exhibition showcases members of the TJM Artists’ Collaborative and affiliated guest artists who have repeatedly shown with TJM. Collaborative artists are noted with an asterisk.
Marlene D’Orazio Adler*, Joanne Brown*, Jean Burdick, Kathy Chapman; Leon Chudzinski*, Rhea Dennis*, Rob Dennis*, Rochelle Dinkin*, Jane Hirshberg*, Alvin Gilens, Naomi Godel*, Cheryl Harper, Paula Mandel*, Arlene Gale Milgram, Robyn Miller*, Carol Moore-Schulman, Diana Myers, Linda Nesvisky*, Diane Pieri, Rita Rosen Poley*, Ana Vizcarra Rankin; Rosalind Reichstein*, Mordechai Rosenstein, Sophie Sanders, Karen Shain Schloss*, Linda Schwartz, Maxine Schwartz*, Joan Myerson Shrager*, Elissa Sunshine*, Elsa Wachs, Dganit Zauberman.