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American Jewish Art: An Exploration of Art History and Ourselves
In this workshop we will explore the fascinating work of American Jewish artists. We will seek to understand the major trends and themes in the work of famous artists, and through this lens we will question ourselves about what it means to be a Jewish artist. Each session will include viewing and responding to famous works by American Jewish artists and will incorporate hands-on activities in various artistic forms including theater, writing, drawing, painting and more.
Drawing and Painting the Bible
Explore the world of our biblical and midrashic figures through visual art! This workshop combines instruction in drawing and painting with an exploration of biblical and midrashic text. In each session, we will focus on some specific painting and drawing techniques and tools, such as visual composition, color balance, and brushwork. We will view famous works of Jewish and Israeli art that depict biblical characters and themes, and we will also engage in short text study as a springboard for our own creative work. Over the last two sessions, each participant will create an original work, in the medium of his/her choice, inspired by a character, story or theme from the Bible or midrash. No previous experience with visual arts is required.
Holy Writers Workshop - Creating Original Works of Fiction Based on Biblical Themes
The richness of the Biblical narrative has been an inspiration to artists for thousands of years. Writers, sculptors, painters and musicians have created beautiful works of art provoked by or directly adapted from the characters and events of the Tanakh. Each participant in this workshop will select a Biblical story that captivates and inspires you. Using character types and themes from this text, you will create an original piece of writing, featuring original characters and events. Themes of love & lust; war & danger; murder, betrayal & theft; yearning, praying, searching, spiritual transformation and more will come alive as we sculpt our own stories of passion, struggle and the beauty of humanity. (Note: This is not a collaborative process, rather an independent writing experience in a shared, supportive setting.)
Listening for the Voice of the Beloved: Using Song and Jewish Text to Find our Voices
By its integrative nature, singing allows us to embody the wholeness we wish to bring to the world. In this workshop, our “materials” will be our bodies (our physical voices), our emotions, and stories/storytelling. Each of these can be a hindrance to our authentic voice or can serve as a powerful vehicle in our journey toward self-discovery. Each session will include some or all of these elements: vocal warm-ups, text study and other text work, writing/recording/reflecting, singing songs (with each other and to each other), writing songs, and listening to one another. No previous singing experience required.
Obstructed Airways? Interpreting the Bible through Theater
Is it stuffy in here? Or is it just the costume I'm wearing to shield my identity from my brothers/my parents/my father-in-law/my son/my daughter? In this workshop we will explore different genres of theatre and will create our own theatre compositions, using a variety of dramatic elements and techniques. While the form will be the stage, the subject will be the Torah and we will look at traditional stories in new light, exposing themes and contrasts within texts, incorporating personal, social and political responses. This is an opportunity to experience and express your artistic skills with others in new ways. The palette for creation is huge!
Words, Words, Words - An Exploration of Text and Music
As 'the People of the Book', we're often faced with the challenge of understanding our religion through stories and prayers written by others. How can we make these words our own? In this workshop, we will study and analyze various Jewish texts and will attempt to express these texts through the universal language of music. We will listen to music of various styles that contain references to Jewish texts and ideas, and more importantly, we will compose our own music to represent our thoughts of these texts. Through each workshop, we will attempt to form a deeper connection to these sometimes foreign words of our heritage. No musical background is required, although an open mind and a willingness to be creative is a must! We can provide small rhythm instruments and a piano, but participants are encouraged to bring musical instruments if they have them on campus.
Writing from the Body, Writing from the Earth
Say goodbye to the classroom and hello to the outdoors! In this workshop, we'll explore the question of how to enter the natural world as artists and writers by actually doing it! Using Abraham Joshua Heschel's theology of "radical amazement" as our foundation, we will explore the "gateways" of amazement – our five senses – in the wilderness surrounding the campus, and perhaps farther. Each class will combine experiential exercises with readings from Mary Oliver's poetry, Walden Pond, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, the psalms, and other nature writings – and, of course, time for our own writing. No previous experience with creative writing is required.
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