Music, Dance, and Visual Arts

An Artist Who Repurposes

It’s a process of exploration; I never know what I’m going to make in advance.  The materials start guiding me as I arrange them. I have a sense of play and meditation as I invent. Then the technical challenge is how to attach things; because my materials are so varied and irregular, it’s often quite hard to figure out how to secure the parts of the design.  [Mimi Pollack]

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Lifestyles, Mimi Pollack, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Spain’s Influence on Jewish Music A Highlight of Upcoming Tour to be Led by Yale Strom and Elizabeth Schwartz

After the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 and Portugal in 1495, the two largest migrations were to North Africa and to the Ottoman Empire. It was when I first traveled to Romania and Bulgaria (initially researching klezmer) that I met Jews who traced their heritage back to the Iberian Peninsula. Some of these Jews sang songs in Ladino and others played Sephardic music. [Yale Strom]

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International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and Food

Artists’ and Artisans’ Show Lures Her to a Synagogue

This past Sunday, Tifereth Israel Synagogue hosted its First Annual Artists’ Showcase. Many talented artists came out to proudly display their creations which ranged from art, books, music, photography, woodworking, other crafts and Israeli stamp collecting. The event was jointly sponsored by the Tifereth Israel Synagogue Men’s Club and Sisterhood. [Mimi Pollack]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Fred Kropveld, Israel, Jewish Religion, Mimi Pollack, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, News Media, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share, USA

Chen on Joachim’s Stradivarius Provided Visual Accompaniment to the Music

Chen is an excellent violinist and Elizalde contributed outstanding keyboard collaboration. They offered informal commentary before each selection, projecting a feeling of intimacy with the audience which set this apart from formal recitals. In addition, Chen faced the audience as he played, rather than standing in profile. His handsome countenance reflected the spirit of the music. [Eileen Wingard]

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California, Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA

Nurturing Tradition and Inspiring Purpose: The Journey to the LFJCC’s Core Values

The JCC is widely recognized as San Diego’s center for Jewish culture, community, and heritage and a highly sought-after partner for the county’s Jewish (and secular) organizations. We are a hub for Jewish experience and connection with a powerfully realized, extensive, and deeply embedded culture of welcome and engagement for all ages and stages of life; a force for Jewish connection and engagement throughout the region. [Betzy Lynch]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, California, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Sports & Competitions, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Julius Katz: San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Worker, Former Roadie for Johnny Mathis

Like many interesting things that happened in his life, Julius Katz had no premonition that he would spend 25 years working in various jobs at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) before retiring in 2002 at the age of 65. [Donald H. Harrison]

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California, Lifestyles, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Technology, USA

Keren-Dee Hamui Named as New Executive Director of The Butterfly Project

As The Butterfly Project celebrates its 18-year journey of transformational Holocaust education and memorial-making through the arts, Keren-Dee Hamui has been named as its new Executive Director,  succeeding co-founder Cheryl Rattner Price. [Press Release]

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Holocaust, International, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Press Release, San Diego County, USA

Stories about the Music Enhance Music Academy Concerts

In recent years Dr. Ron Regev, the head of the Academy’s piano department, has taken over at the head of the concerts, injecting his own personal touch of brilliance to the program. Apart from being a virtuoso pianist, Professor Regev is also an engaging and inspiring speaker, and to hear him talk about the music he and his colleagues are about to play is always enjoyable and uplifting. [Dorothea Shefer-Vanson]

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Israel, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Debbie Friedman’s Songs to be Celebrated at LFJCC Program

Debbie attended a Jewish summer camp where, at sixteen, on a borrowed instrument, she learned to play the guitar.  Several years later, she began to compose her own songs. She was influenced by the music of folk song luminaries such as Judy Collins, Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul and Mary, and Joan Baez. [Eileen Wingard

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Eileen Wingard, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Today’s Jewish Birthday: Rudolf Serkin

At the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Serkin instructed generations of pianists and served from 1968 to 1975 as the Institute’s director.  Busch and Serkin founded the Marlboro Music School and Festival in Marlboro, Vermont in 1951. Serkin made numerous classical music recordings on such labels as Columbia Masterworks, RCA Victor, Deutsche Grammophon and Terlac. [SDJW staff]

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International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Today's Jewish Birthday

US sculptor Richard Serra, known for towering minimalism, dies at 85

Published by AFP New York (AFP) – Contemporary American artist Richard Serra, known for his massive yet minimalist steel sculptures, died Tuesday at age 85, US media reported. His strikingly large pieces are installed all over the world, from Paris museums to the Qatari desert, and have sometimes sparked controversy over their imposing nature. Serra

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Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Nordot, USA

Today’s Jewish Birthday: William Shatner

Star Trek gained fame after it went into reruns, with fans of the show known as Trekkies organizing conventions at which they could meet like-minded enthusiasts, buy Star Trek merchandise, and meet members of the original cast.  This development, along with the box office success of George Lukas’ Star Wars in 1977, prompted Paramount Pictures to reunite the cast in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, released in 1979.  Five sequels followed, including one he directed: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. [SDJW staff]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA