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March 29, 2002
Expressions of Judaism
Two sisters preserve their heritage through their art.
CYNTHIA RAMSAY SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
Two Expressions – One Heritage, the new exhibit at the Sidney
and Gertrude Zack Gallery, portrays the beauty and spirituality
of Judaism. It also represents a meeting place along the artistic
paths of two sisters: Erica Reshef and Sidi Schaffer.
While both women are visual artists, Reshef trained in sculpture
and Schaffer studied painting and printmaking. And, although both
women have lived in Israel, neither was particularly interested
in Judaic art until their respective sons got married and asked
them to make a ketubah (marriage contract) for the occasion. Two
Expressions – One Heritage is their first joint exhibit, but
likely not the last.
Both Reshef and Schaffer work with mixed media. Reshef starts with
a papercut and then adds layers of mixed media, which can be watercolor,
acrylic or thinly shaved watercolor paper, to make a collage. She
also includes Hebrew words or messages from the Bible, the prayer
book or other sources in her art. Most of the works in this show
by Schaffer are linocuts that she has collaged together and over
which she has superimposed Hebrew letters.
In an interview with the Bulletin, Schaffer described the
creative process involved.
“It is fun because I’m playing with texture, I’m
playing with color, I’m playing with form and I’m manipulating
them and, if I like it, it stays; if not, it’s in the garbage,”
she said with a laugh.
“It’s a nice challenge for me to look for a new shape
that is born between the two combinations [of print with letters],”
Schaffer added. “A new shape appears. It surprises sometimes
myself too. I surprise myself. ‘Oh, I do like it! I didn’t
intend it [to be] that way but I think I like it that way.’
”
Reshef also said her artwork evolves as she creates it.
“I have the best ideas at three o’clock in the morning
but then, by the time I apply them, they take on a life of their
own,” said Reshef, who came across the centuries-old art form
of papercutting while researching the process of making a ketubah.
A style of art that was almost completely destroyed during the Holocaust,
Reshef said she set out to bring it back. She joins other artists
in Israel and North America in this endeavor.
Both Reshef and Schaffer are teachers as well as artists. Reshef,
who lives in London, Ont., teaches at a Jewish day school there.
Schaffer lives in Vancouver and teaches Hebrew in addition to pursuing
her career as an artist. As well, Schaffer is active in the Jewish
community here. She is involved with the Gesher Project and with
the Annual Cherie Smith Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver
(JCC) Book Fair and she has served on the gallery committee of the
JCC.
Neither woman describes herself as religious, but both want to preserve
the Jewish artistic heritage.
Reshef said her art is a “spiritual journey” and that
she expresses her Judaism through her art.
“I am really fascinated with the symbols and I am also fascinated
with the delicate type of creation, of Jewish folk art,”
said Reshef.
Schaffer called herself a traditionalist; saying she keeps the spirit
of Shabbat, for example.
“I keep the spirit and I have my own symbolism that I keep
for the family,” said Schaffer, who spoke of the need to “keep
the rich tradition of Jewish art.”
In that vein, Schaffer will be holding a monoprinting workshop at
the JCC, in the adult arts and crafts room, Sunday, April 7, from
2-5 p.m. The cost is $50 for JCC members; $60 for non-members. To
register or for more information, call the JCC at 604-257-5111 or
visit jccgv.com.
Two Expressions – One Heritage is on at the JCC’s Zack
Gallery until April 18. To commission a work, both Schaffer and
Reshef are reachable by e-mail, at [email protected] and erica@ artventure.ca,
respectively.
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