Creative Soul Featured Artist Interview

http://thecreativesoul.org/news/featured-artist-joy-krauthammer
Posted by Yitzchok Moully in CreativeSoul 
and reprinted in Shared Joy
http://joy-shared.blogspot.com/2014/03/creative-soul-featured-artist-interview.html

Creative Soul Featured Artist Interview  
2.18.2014 

with

Joy Krauthammer

1. Introduction

I, Joy Krauthammer, am a Jewish female artist who loves to do Mitzvot throughout each day, and to share with others my smile, vision and personal gifts, including art. Creating art with my daughter and granddaughter is especially a great pleasure for me.

As both former arts administrator, and current visual and performing artist, I love connecting with artists, especially Jewish artists, and Mamash / truly those in the Holy Land.  Currently, because it is based in Israel, I am an active member of a photography on-line group, "52 Frames". My soul has greatly enjoyed having my multi-media art included in "Creative Soul" (and their "Art for the Soul--Jewish Artists Reflect"). My art was the first to be included--to accompany my own writing--in Chabad.org's "The Jewish Woman" and then later used as their 'cover' art.  (No personal illustrative art had been used until I requested that my own be used.)

After Queens College graduation, I studied with a full scholarship, 1970-71 at the Brooklyn Museum School of Art. Passing the nearby brick building at 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY, I wondered what it was. Finally I went into 770 and upstairs to services (which were mostly unknown to me as a secular Jew). After services, outside, a man whom I didn't know, The Rebbe, gave me a slice of honey cake. A few years later, I had a Chabad wedding in California. Four decades later, I am still Davenen at another CA Chabad (where my husband, Marcel Krauthammer, z'l, served for 18 years as expert Ba'al Koreh for a Lubavitch synagogue). Three decades after my wedding, my photographer daughter, Aviva Bell, met her beloved husband-to be at a Tufts University Chabad Shabbat dinner. Amayn!

Following my dream, graduate ceramics study, and an offer to open my art studio on Manhattan's upper West Side, sadly, I was NOT true to myself as an artist, and changed my occupation. Following the 1960's, my future European Orthodox in-laws saw me as a "khippie artist", and that did not hold value for them. My soul's glow and gift were put on hold. I felt I had to 'prove myself' as 'worthy', and changed my career to become licensed by New York City and NY State, as an excellent social worker at a Brooklyn hospital. Even then, I continued other art part-time at night at the Brooklyn Museum. With a move away from the East Coast to California, and to marry and create a family, it was several years until I resumed my pottery passion, to create and teach my loved ceramics.

As potter,

I have ritually molded clay

 to awaken its inner space,

and reveal its hidden gloriousness.

Today I am a Pot

A holy vessel

May my outer self portray

My inner self

awakened, conscious, mindful

of the wholeness, the harmony,

the strength,

the character, the integrity,

and the honesty of a good pot ...

 - Joy Krauthammer, excerpt from "Today I Am A Pot"

For three-dozen years I published "JOYous Chai Lights", a lengthy monthly Jewish newsletter filled with my art, and Jewish spiritual events around LA, USA, and Israel.  For over a dozen years, until a couple decades ago, I served as ARTS editor of the Los Angeles "Jewish Calendar Magazine." The publisher discovered me through my own newsletter "Kid Kulture", begun in 1980.  During the last few years, I've created over 80 websites, filled with my Jewish art, music, writing, promotion for Kabbalistic workshops (filled with art) I teach, and personal stories of my beloved rebbes, z"l. 

Inspired by serving on ARTS boards of directors, in the 1980's I opened and directed a community Jewish art gallery to create opportunities for others to have a space for their artistic expression. From that gallery, happily some artists went onto greater global exposure. (That success happened also with concerts I produced in Jewish community.) While I was working on my MBA, with my vision (from a 'message' I received), I also opened a children's art school for the City of Los Angeles, where we had none and filled an unmet need. For them, I taught ceramics (as I had done in NY for adults at Manhattan's Cooper Square Art School). For the City of LA, I found the needed school location in unused space at a Jewish site, thereby allowing Jewish children greater access to public classes.  During my daughter's Jewish day school education from pre-school through Middle school, I would bring clay to her classes and teach the children about ceramics, Judaism, and other cultures.

When I organized a major Jewish women's conference ("Timbrels of Miriam" at University of Judaism), I hired a Sephardic artist for a ritual art workshop on amulets. I also offered an art exhibition (with 18 skilled Jewish artists) during that conference. When I directed women's adult education (Jewish Women's World) for a consortium of synagogues and organizations, I hired the finest Jewish artistic calligrapher to teach.

My MBA thesis title was "Strategic Plan - To Preserve and Energize the ARTS in Los Angeles Into the 21st Century." I did this research for the University of Judaism's (now American Jewish University / AJU) Platt Gallery.  In 1994 the University refused to accept my MBA art thesis chapter on 'Spirituality in the Workplace', but hard-bound, I published it my way, and finally the concept was accepted because the topic is now taught at AJU!

Serving for a couple dozen years as photographer-in-residence for synagogues and organizations, my art and photos have been regularly used in websites to portray Jewish holidays and events. With pleasure, I have gifted them all, filled photo albums. In addition, my art is used to decorate events, for fundraising, for CD covers, and to illustrate rabbis' teachings, as well as for my own spiritual workshops.  In 2014 my photos (including Breed Street Shul images) illustrate a Rare Book exhibition, Pikrei Avot, at American Jewish University, Los Angeles.

In 2013 in Israel, Rabbi Natan Ophir published many of my photos and collages in his new scholarly biography of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, z"l. (I was blessed to be Shlomo's drummer. Up until college, I was a classically trained musician.) I loved it when my teenage daughter, Aviva Bell (now a professional photographer), while in Uman at Rebbe Nachman's grave, found a little book at the Ohel / the rabbi's grave, and the book cover was a photo I had shot of Reb Shlomo.

When asked, I am always happy to share my art but I do not like it when my art is frequently taken and used without my permission or acknowledgment of copyright ©. It is illegal and morally wrong. Recently I found one of my You Tube videos stolen and on another person's site listed as their own, and had to resolve that theft issue. For decades, I have done my best to advocate for other artists (and musicians) when I see their work used without credit.

"Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof" / Justice, Justice, You shall pursue. (Deuteronomy 16:20)

 Tikun Olam / Fixing the world is important to me.

Since the 1980's my advocacy essays have been internationally published and reprinted in paper press, and I hope that what I have written has made a difference. It is not easy simultaneously wearing hats of artist, administrator and advocate.

"Supporting the Visual Artist"

http://joys-prose.blogspot.com/2006/11/supporting-arts.html

"Gates to Gila"

http://joy-shared.blogspot.com/2012/04/gates-to-gilagates-to-joy.html

Miriyahm HaNeviah Pesach Seder Pillow

© Joy Krauthammer

2. How long have you looked at yourself as an artist?

As a child of 10, I loved creating with colored construction paper and scissors (and also making paper-doll clothes). Now I enjoy tearing construction paper. During high school and college, I taught art and crafts in Jewish community centers and camps. In Queens College I discovered the artist that I am, became skilled, and received a full scholarship for graduate work. It was fun exhibiting and winning awards in clay and weaving, and now exhibiting my photography is meaningful and fun. With my inner-self / Neshama, unique self-expression, and my revealed gifts, for 44 years since college graduation, I have "looked at myself as artist".

I am an "Artist of Life" by Joy Krauthammer:

http://joys-joyousjoy.blogspot.com/2012/08/an-artist-of-life.html

http://joys-art.blogspot.com

3. What is the relationship between your Judaism and your art?

My "Judaism and my art" are fully connected through the Holy One, Torah, my Neshama / soul, and my creativity. I am a Jewish artist. With gratitude, I bless The Holy One for giving me experiences new every day, beginning with chanting Modah Ani, and the rising sun that I photograph daily, and the Shema that I say as I go to bed. I say Shehecheyanu with beginnings.  Every flower to be painted and photographed is an inspired gift from G*d, and I greet that flower face with "Hello G*d."

4. What message do you want to convey through your art?

Through art, I express my love for G*d and Judaism. The Kavanot / intentions of my art are to uplift and inspire, and to be authentic, truthful, and joyous. (That is also the message that I receive from others about my creations. I am grateful that people tell me that my art is "healing" for them.)

I express the beauty and G*d's glory of my surroundings, and share that with others. I convey the blesSings of uniqueness of every moment. I easily shoot over 50 different photos of one sunrise, or one plant. Each says, Henayni / I am here. Stop, connect, and acknowledge G*d's beauty: Blossoms, fruit buds, ladybugs, butterflies, clouds, rainbows, sunrises, sunsets, birds, wild bunnies, peacocks in trees, lizards, and worms. In harmony, I convey ecstatic joy or quiet meditation, humor or seriousness and reality of life-stages. My art conveys emotion, feelings, thoughts, values, beliefs, newness, 'oldness', 'nowness', future, and Tiferet / beauty, and Hod / gratitude.  

My spiritual art is accompanied by Torah quotes and messages "conveying" the essence that "I see Your Face in All Nature that I photograph." My spiritual writing is accompanied by my art. Through my contemporary art, and my Judaica, I convey the message of beauty of ritual, of Hiddur Mitzvah, and connection to the Holy One.

5. What is your view on realism vs. abstract and how they relate to Jewish art?

Both "realist" and "abstract" styles have their place in Jewish art, as does 'non-objective' art. For me it may be more meaningful to create Jewish art within "realism"--for clarity of Jewish message and for use as ritual art. Or I may feel that the essence of varied color, line and shape in "abstract" or also 'non-objective' art meets my need to express the 'psalms of my soul' within the experience.

"There's No Place Like Home"

http://visions-of-joy.blogspot.com/2011/10/joys-fantasy-room-sukkah-photos-and.html

© Joy Krauthammer

6. How do you integrate art into your life?

ART is my life. My life is art. I am an Artist of Life. Art surrounds me at home, covers all inches of wall, floor and computer space. My several large bookcases are double-filled with Jewish texts, as well as with Jewish art books and Israeli art journals, to nourish my mind and soul. Art of other cultures also fill my shelves.

"I integrate art into my life" with all my senses: how I see, inhale with Ruach, and how I express myself with joy, integrity, truth, and compromise when needed.  I transform Tu B'Shvat (birthday of the trees) into art, and hundreds of people have artful baby fig trees from me. Artistically with foods, what are the colors and shapes that I prepare, serve together, and eat? I share my daily art creation and send personalized photos to others for their pleasure, as cards for Chagim, Bikur Cholim, Refuah Shleymah, Simcha, Shalom, or Sympathy. My art is on my car, and people ask me about it, and I sing it. I wear artists' creations, and arty T-shirts.  To celebrate simchahs, I may commission Jewish artists to manifest my art visions.

My large African djembe drum I play in service for synagogues, became a gallery covered with my photos of teachers. With membership in art museums, for decades I have supported art. I loved the surprise when an Israel Museum curator contacted me in California to say that one of my magazine essays accompanied a Judaica donation into the Israel Museum. During travels, I love to visit museums, galleries, and artists in all settings. In the 1980's I greatly enjoyed running "Joy's Jewish Art Tours of Los Angeles" and taking community by buses to historical and meaningful artistic sites. Consulting with emerging art groups, and new web sites for artists, and libraries planning exhibitions, offer me new challenges to share my experience.

Loving being in water /mayim hayim, I need to pay homage to the ripples in my life. The shadows of the ripples recently inspired me to create a few complex meditation movies with my music, available on "You Tube". I've also made greeting cards from stopping my video and shooting the still water images.

"Ripple Reflections 2" or A` la Renee´ Magritte, titled:

"Ceci n'est pas une ripple" because the 'video' image is ONLY of shadows and not of reality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFSnnHC2_7M

7 more YouTubes by Joy Krauthammer: 

http://www.youtube.com/user/Joytotheworld2011?feature=watch

7. What is your creative process?
With consciousness of the Kabbalistic Sephirot / Tree of Life-- when I am in the flow of my Yesod / state of creating, of devotion to beginning, process and finishing arts: In writing, teaching preparation, filming, photo altering, collage creating, and drumming-- I am focused on co-creation in my world.

My "creative process" depends on the medium, and what has touched my soul, or the Gemilut Chasadim, or the exercise I need to do.  I may honor physical limitation, or I may go beyond borders, and paint frame after the canvas. With wet sidewalk cement, incising is fun art.

In Yesod, my digital photographic creativity and illustrated writing are mostly confined and in Gevurah / limited to a desktop computer screen, way too small for my needs, but on computer I am more in control and with less of an artist's 'mess' as I "Serve G*d With Joy." (Psalm 100:2) Restricting creative workspace to a screen helps the lack of discipline I have as Balabusta for household chores while I am embedded in my flow of creative endeavors.

Always the process is honest and authentically mine. If not creating purely abstractly, sometimes I design first (important on textiles and also metal) for realistic/recognizable images. Other times, in meditation, I flow in the 'zone' with tools, paint and embellishments. In nature, G*d's world, I'm in awe, with stillness, patience, passion, and excitement. I delight in learning new challenging methods and techniques from artists, or web tutorials, and seeing with my eyes, in new ways. I practice, and I explore solving problems.

In photography, I'm concerned about safety, risks, legality, morality, honoring, courage, comfort zones, caring, respect, staying away from stress-filled scenes, spontaneity, capturing an image, memories, recording moments, new ideas, themes, composition, height, width, distance, depth, light, flares, reflection, shadows, clarity, color, texture, shapes, curves, lines, symmetry, patterns, movement, humor, and emotions. 

For photo post-processing, my "creative process" mostly in isolation, includes much, and with joy of challenge, success and fun:  In PhotoShop I use 'tools'. With brushes, I may paint over my photos. I use rotations, straightening, curving, subtleties, relationships, size, angle, perspectives, and with layers, masks, alpha, filters, fonts, text, gradients, adjustments, effects, softening, defining, exposure, contrast, colors, saturations, highlights, shadows, opacity, vignettes, borders, retouching, transforming to the fraction of an inch with cropping, and then choose resolution. Finally for the specific audience, I add watermark, captions, Torah quotes, explanations, and I size to share for web or print.

Rising with the sun, I can create for hours into the night or the next day. When I first taught myself to create art-filled blogs, endlessly for days I worked until being the best I could be, reaching meaningful potential.

When finished, and re-edited, I'll share my work to bring a smile to others, or compassion, or to participate in formal group critique, or for exhibit process. At times, emotionally I try to get past feeling that a specific art has been rejected, and not understood or appreciated. I've loved both exhibiting my work for over four decades, and meeting other artists in shows, and on photo excursions. Because of time, space, and quantity, most of my art is not visible to others.

Sine teen years, inspired and highly self-motivated, I am enraptured, in bliss, exuberance, joy (Gila, Rena, Chedva, Ditza, Simcha, Sasson), and in harmony with empty gardens, blank canvases warped looms, pottery spinning wheels, memory cards, and Apple desktops-- to fill with photos, plants, paint, ink, type, color, clay, camera, yarn, and sound. 

In my former ceramics world, my fingers were usually not directed by my thoughts; they flowed in centered stillness and Oneness, and alteration. My creations were one of a kind.  In weaving, my fingers were mostly directed by design. In my world of spiritual music, I stand aside, and I 'am played.' I give thanks to the Source of BlesSings Who plays me, and gives to me opportunity to see, hear, feel, smell, taste, receive, create and share.

Little else matters as I work creating, and completing my expressive projects in Four Worlds, from my Spirit, Mind, Heart, and Hands. I may be surprised with an unexpected insight about influences on me. My process is filled with joy and pride when truly challenged and successful.

More Creative Process in:

"Sunrise Photography Meditation"

http://joys-art.blogspot.com/2009/12/sunrise-photography-meditation.html

and

"Joy's Fantasy Room & Sukkah ~ There's No Place Like Home" 

See Photo montage that took me 6 weeks to create:

http://visions-of-joy.blogspot.com/2011/10/joys-fantasy-room-sukkah-photos-and.html

"Earth and Fire"

http://joys-art.blogspot.com/2009/12/joys-artist-statement-earth-and-fire.html

"Creating My Shofar"

http://joysofjourney.blogspot.com/2012/09/creating-my-shofar.html

River of Light

© Joy Krauthammer

8. Share a recent project.

My current projects: Two days ago I visited the Los Angeles Jewish Home (for the Aged) to visit four people.  With perseverance and through several phone calls, after finally locating a patient whom I only knew by her Hebrew name (and not official health insurance name), I took a photograph of the delightful 88 year-old rehabilitation patient and her visiting son. I wheeled Tamar into a quiet room, and without disturbing her, tried to quickly adjust her clothes and hands in the wheelchair. Tamar and her son's hands were lovingly intertwined in the natural light. I tried to quickly 'weed out' the distracting furniture. Only the day before I had learned of Tamar's broken bones, and for treatment knew she was not in her own community. After my Bikur Cholim / visiting mitzvah, and image editing at home, I immediately sent photos to the family, patient, friends, rabbi and shul, for all to see how Tamar is doing.

Mother and Son

© Joy Krauthammer

Leaving Tamar, in another building on the large Jewish Home campus, I visited a cousin, an Alzheimer's resident. My goal was to bring joy to this resident. He wasn't in his shared room, so I searched for him in another building. Following that activity he was in, we went with both his aide and wife to Jewish Home's Sunday concert in yet another building. (A venue where for many years on Jewish holidays I had performed as drummer on stage with a musical program, "From Oys to Joys".) I photographed my cousin, and as soon as I returned home, I downloaded and sent the edited photo of resident to his out of town daughters, who appreciated seeing photo of their father.

During the concert I changed my seat from near stage to back of the large room. In front of me were a dozen elderly residents of the Jewish Home, each person in a wheelchair, facing away from me. They were facing and listening to the elderly singer perform songs from their past. Keeping in mind the privacy and anonymity of the residents, to photograph them, I sat on the floor behind their wheelchairs--at the level of big back wheels. Golden light covered the long line of seniors. What is important about this "recent project" is that for "52 Frames" (my photo group), this week's theme is "Reflecting". I have captioned my wheelchair photo, "Reflecting.... on the Golden Years." Published this week, viewers in Facebook 'comment' that this photo is evoking emotion for them, and that pleases me.

When I returned home late afternoon from the Jewish Home, and finished my day's image editing, I opened my photo group's Facebook site to view our new album from the past week's photos. I was happily surprised to find that my own submission on last week's theme, "Senses", was chosen as the new long-term 52 Frames photo cover on Facebook. The cover photo is a fun, emotional, calculated, simple still life, and missing the spiritual, nature, or strange attributes of most of my spontaneous photos.

Reflecting On The Golden Years

© Joy Krauthammer

For a few decades, one of my ongoing and current projects has been photographing Jewish-themed, auto vanity personalized license plates, and also ARTS license plates. I need to find a good exhibition venue for my hundreds of License photographs, i.e. BUBBE, HANAYNI, MAZEL TOV and FOKE ART, ARTIZ and CREATIF. 

Another ongoing project for the last few months is sharing on Facebook almost daily, a sunrise photo, a connection with The Holy One, which reflects the awe and wonder of how I see G*d's world. For others to enjoy, mostly I post my prayer-filled, hour-long meditative morning's splendid sunrise in abstract radiant reds or gloomy grey. For moments, I see the intense colors reflecting on objects, maybe a hummingbird or fence, and that becomes the sunrise image I share of Ruach HaKodesh.

http://joys-favorite-fotos.blogspot.com/2013/12/clouds-of-glory-2-rainbow-sunrise-sunset.html

9. Who or what are your influences, inspirations? Judaic, artistic or other.

Everything around me in G*d's world (that is not nasty and negative), is my positive "influence and inspiration". Spiritual inspirational affirmations (created to support me when I was for many years a Caregiver Angel Warrior) are artistically written all over one wall where I work. One says, "G*d Loves You." A friend, z"l, dying of cancer, had first done this for herself and influenced me. Recently I photographed the hand of a dying friend, z"l, holding my hand. I would say the Shema with her, while I did Bikur Cholim / visiting the sick. Like dying, birth is a holy time: birth of child, plant, animal, or the day. Every morning I photograph the rising sun, clouds, and singing birds. Lakes, paths, flowering fruit trees, figs, pomegranates, persimmons, lights, shadows and reflections inspire me. Re-cycling containers, mailboxes, doors, chairs, bridges, escalators, strange things, and mulch piles inspire me.

My toddler granddaughter and photographer daughter, and museum-going-partner sister Faye are my inspirations. My younger sister, Faye, is an art historian, and I learn from her. I am grateful to Faye who helps me edit my writing. 

 My parents, z"l, were artists, and also my beloved talented Grandma, z"l, as was my older sister, and I acknowledge them all as inspiration. While I was growing up, my parents took us to all the New York museums (and to theatre, music, and dance). I watched my mom come home and recreate mobile art that she had seen. My mom also had loved photography and painted her still lifes, and sculpted in clay. Mom partnered with Dad in many artistic mediums, including creative movies. I startle myself at times when I realize my deeply rooted L'Dor V'Dor creative connections to family.

I skipped high school graduation ceremony, and took myself to study art at the University of Madrid and at the Prado Museum. Back in NY, my college art professor took us to the Metropolitan Museum. Over two decades ago I studied Synagogue Art and Architecture at Hebrew University, and lived in Mishkenot Sha'ananim, Jerusalem's Guesthouse for "artists and writers to channel inspiration".

Inspired at museums I shoot fun photo series-- Purple foot-ware on benches, lampposts, and people imitating life-size sculptures. Recently at LA County Museum of Art, I had to immediately emulate a photograph and went outside to try. I've had fun doing this also with paintings and sculptures. Photographing an Etrog/citron in Malibu's Getty Museum garden, I was happy to share with a tour group and guide, the significance of the Etrog fruit used during Sukkot. I've been inspired to weave with the flax used to protect the Etrog.

I am inspired constantly by G*d's creations, and by Torah teachings, my rebbes, friends, family, and artists. Women drummers, singers, dancers, children, animals, plants, and Simchas inspire me! I have over 30,000 digital photos on my current computer from my last 3 inspired years. "Creative Soul" on-line is an inspiration to me, as is "52 Frames", as well as another international photo group I'm in.

 I love to creatively dress up for Shabbat in synagogue as Torah Parshahs. In Torah, my greatest meaningful inspiration is Miriam HaNeviah and since a couple decades ago, I love to teach about Miriam the Prophetess. I dance, drum, sing, and paint Miriam, and share the feminine energy of biblical archetype, Miriam HaNeviah. (Exodus 15:20)

http://joys-art.blogspot.com/2012/02/art-assorted-by-joy.html

Kabbalistically Counting the Sephirat HaOmer inspires me to create for 49 days!  I've been pleased the last couple of years when my Omer art has been published in the Huffington Post, and their holiday series with artists truly inspired me.

http://sephirathaomer.blogspot.com 

I've been inspired to create 'HOPE' art for a large community quilt to remember victims of the Holocaust; it is on exhibition at a cemetery. Friends in need have copies of my HOPE collage. 

My friends and family inspire me as they comment on my creations. My 91 years-old friend, Edith, is my inspiration and she can be found in many of my photos, even blowing a shofar! Edith calls me to photograph the animals, flowers, sunsets, and early morning shadows of crystals casting rainbows. My "YouTube" on "Edith & Hachiyah Persimmon Drying with Joy" was published in "Persimmon Tree", journal for artists and writers.

http://www.persimmontree.org/articles/Issue21/articles/JoyKrauthammer_PersimmonDrying.php

My love for African, Indian, Asian, Indonesian, European, American and Russian folk art influences me. I like Renaissance and Baroque, German expressionism, impressionism, surrealism, and modern art. My inspiration from artists is endless. I've translated Picasso paintings, my sketches of models, and my own ceramics into colored woodcut prints.  Art workshops at Jewish retreats inspire me to create with new opportunities. Children's art workshops at museums inspire me when I sneak in.

“Kadosh kadosh kadosh Yah, Tz’va-ot m’lo kol ha-aretz k’vodo.”  - Amidah

“Holy, holy holy – Yah, – the whole earth is filled with Your glory!”

10. Please recommend another admired artist/Creative

Admired artists are my LA friends: Ruth Shapiro, Judaic metal artist; and

Barbara Klaristenfeld, Hebrew calligrapher and Ketubah artist; and Barbara Mendes, painter of Torah Parshiot; and Charles Sherman, Infinity Ring sculptor. Florida artist, Sandy Pond, creator of sacred space, I've experienced at spiritual retreats.

11. What is your advice for emerging artists?

Feel the joy in your heArt, and of your spiritual and cultural heritage. Connect in Four Worlds of Spirit, Mind, Heart and Body. Have gratitude for G*d's gift given to you. Listen! Don't listen if another tells you to stop. Don't give up. Don't listen to self-criticism, self-doubt. Don't compare yourself to others. Find support in your artistic and spiritual communities. Visit other artists on-line and in person. Ask for advice. Let community know what you are doing, and show your art to them. Have good workspace. Use good tools. Use social media. Immediately make a website. Photograph while in process and at finish. Find your creative locations, and keep creating. Keep your eyes open. Pray for Guidance. Learn the 'Rules'. (1/3rds in photography.) Keep learning in all ways, from all media. Explore. See how high you can reach. You have potential. Listen to your heart and soul. Give of yourself. Sign your art.

12. Please summarize yourself in one sentence

"Joy Krauthammer, MBA, "Serves G*d in Joy" as a passionate performing percussionist, poet, photographer, artist, sound healer, spiritual guide, friend, gardener, and Gemini, as she makes visible the Face of the Divine.

http://www.timbrelsofjoy.blogspot.com

13. In your definition; What is Jewish Art?

Jewish ART is defined by themes within Jewish context, and is maybe created by Jewish artists.  Jewish Art can identify many cultures through dance, song, music, theatre, or food from Sephardic, Ashkenazi, Mizrahi, and Yemenite, North and South African, and Ethiopian, Asian and Indian life. Art can be history/classical, present day/contemporary, or future visions.  Art may be folk art (Hamsas, Mizrachs, or paper cuts), or trained traditional painting. Art can reflect Jewish secular culture (bagels), or religious arks (standing or portable circular Tevahs), or spiritual culture. Art can reflect women or men, the values of a Jewish person, and reflect Torah teachings.

I enjoy adding Psalms to my photographs, and Torah, and Pirkei Avot quotes to my textile art. I've loved making Jewish ritual art as a form of Hiddur Mitzvah, the artistic beautification of ritual objects. Talleisim I create are Jewish art, as are my Mezuzot, Groggers, Yads, Pesach pillows, Kos Miriam, Matzah covers, etc.  I love creating Jewish themed photographs and collages, with Mogen Dovids and Menorahs, symbols of our Jewish faith. As a Jewish woman my art is Jewish because of my kavanah, my intention to spiritually infuse all my creativity with the essence of my values and beliefs in G*d and Judaism.

When I served on the Los Angeles Jewish Federation's "Council On Jewish Life" in the mid-1980's, and on the Board of Directors, chairing Cultural Arts at the local Jewish Community Center, and on the Parent Board of the Jewish day school, this was a popular question-- "What is Jewish Art?"

~ ~ ~

I am grateful to Rabbi Yitzchok Moully, that he includes me in CreativeSoul.

http://sephirathaomer.blogspot.com

http://joys-art.blogspot.com

Websites Posts:

Artistic expressions of Joy through Sephirot.

http://sephirathaomer.blogspot.com/2013/05/sun-star-day-44-gevurah-sh-bmalchut_9.html

http://sephirathaomer.blogspot.com/2013/04/serve-gd-in-joy-omer-clock-day-42.html

http://sephirathaomer.blogspot.com/2011/05/co-creation-emerges-malchut-sh-byesod.html

http://sephirathaomer.blogspot.com/2011/08/words-connect-day-41-yesod-sh-byesod.html

http://sephirathaomer.blogspot.com/2011/05/heaven-and-earth-connect-day-40-hod-sh.html

http://sephirathaomer.blogspot.com/2011/06/disipline-dissipates-day-13-yesod-sh.html

Photos:

Joy's Fantasy Room & Sukkah ~ There's No Place Like Home

Sephirot River of Light

Miriam HaNeviah Pesach Pillow.

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