|
|
December 24, 2004
Culture, family and history
New exhibit at the Zack Gallery offers a study in textile and
color.
Cassandra Savage
It's been a grey Vancouver fall. Dim light, soggy feet and endless
tapping on the windows can be tough on the soul after weeks on end
and I, for one, get a case of the rainy-day blues. But now and then,
in the midst of these clouds, something comes along to lift me out
of this funk. This autumn, that something was an art show.
Sima Elizabeth Shefrin's Threads of Jewish Life opened at the Sidney
and Gertrude Zack Gallery on Dec. 9. Using pieces of fabric collected
over time and stitched together to form images of family, women
and Jewish life, Shefrin has produced a series of quilts that form
an oasis of color on a winter's day.
"It's hard to do a bad piece if you work with beautiful enough
colors," she said, explaining that her quilts often begin as
a collection of textile scraps, specially selected for their brilliant
hues. But although it is pleasant to look at, the exhibit is much
more than a visual treat. In the subtext of each piece is a meaningful
discussion of social and political issues of importance to the artist.
As a whole, the exhibit is a study of Jewish culture, the importance
of family and the history of women's activism in the garment industry.
And on the surface, it is a welcome burst of energy on a wet day.
"The building of a better world is very much a part of who
I am and what I do," said Shefrin, who has been weaving this
mantra into her fabric art for more than 30 years. She is particularly
interested in the women's labor movement and takes pride in the
activist roles of Jewish women in the garment trades.
"Bread and Roses," a piece in the exhibit, refers to the
1912 labor strike led and won by women mill workers in Lawrence,
Mass. The strength of these women, who worked more than 54 hours
per week for less than 12 cents an hour, is woven and sewn into
the quilt.
"How could we fail to be proud of Jewish women who led this
type of action?" asks Shefrin, adding that it is important
to her that the political content in her work is clear to her audience.
There is also a detectable sense of history in Shefrin's work. A
favorite piece for me, "Woman Sewing," stood out because
of a particular scrap of light pink, polka-dotted fabric. I'm almost
certain my own grandmother wore a blouse made of the same polyester.
With this in mind, I realized that each tiny scrap in the exhibit
has passed through many hands and has a tale of its own to tell.
Shefrin, of course, deliberately creates this sense of history.
"It's important to collect fabric over the years," she
said, adding that there are fashions and styles in the textile world
that she does not want reflected in her work. In a way, I believe
Shefrin knew the satiny fabric hanging from the worker's hands in
"Woman Sewing" would remind her audience of an older generation
of women in their lives.
Family is intrinsic to Shefrin's art. "Generation Unto Generation"
is a simple image of an old man smoking a cigarette and talking
with his granddaughter; something about the use of color in this
piece makes the conversation almost audible and their movements
almost visible. I imagine they're discussing something deeply important
to the girl. For Shefrin, such images of family blend with images
of Jewish culture and community.
"There is something about Ashkenazi culture," she said.
"There's a joy and a sadness I try to capture. We're only a
few scant generations from the shtetl and I try to let that come
out in my work."
In the process of exploring these issues through art, Shefrin incorporates
the feelings and experiences of the people around her and attempts
to engage her friends, family and community in a dialogue about
important world issues. On the opening night of her show, she asked
guests to think of what they like about being Jewish. Then, she
invited everyone to design a paper creation (instead of fabric)
to express their response.
"I'm very interested in the many, many different answers people
have to this question," she said, showing an interest in others
that is clear in her work. Founder of the Middle East Peace Quilt,
Shefrin is involved in community arts projects on an international
scale.
"I work a lot in community arts and I see artwork as very human,
very down to earth, and something I encourage everyone to participate
in."
Shefrin's exhibit continues at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater
Vancouver, 950 West 41st Ave., until Jan. 12.
Cassandra Savage is a freelance writer/editor living in
Vancouver.
^TOP
|
|
