Posts in Art

September 2023 – February 2024

In the tradition of L’dor V’dor, the arts have played a unique role in retelling the story of the Jewish people from generation to generation. Using a variety of techniques, methodologies and interpretations, contemporary artists have enriched our narratives and rituals beyond the spoken word.

As we begin our New Year 5784, the Gallery at TSTI presents four artists; Gerard Amsellem, Aliza Augustine, Rachel Kanter and Leslie Nobler. Each is of international acclaim, and each resides in neighboring Jewish communities in New Jersey. Using a variety of processes and materials, their collective artworks speak to tradition, history, and memory. They simultaneously invite our contemplation and self-awareness.

Through scale and reflection, Gerard Amsellem’s Memory-Mezuzoth offers protection to all, whether crossing the threshold into our homes or going outside into the world. The project also memorializes those who have passed from the artist’s life, but embraces their memory as inspiration.

In Daughters of Holocaust Survivors, the photography of Aliza Augustine confronts the darkest chapter of Judaism, remembering and honoring the children of survivors while projecting a defiant but cautionary tone.

Rachel Kanter’s sculptures, Community Wimple, I Immersion: Loss, and Ritual Clothing repurpose vintage ceremonial clothing such as tallit or kitchen aprons of past generations into new objects, enriched by our customs and household traditions.

Leslie Nobler’s collaged and gently stitched portraits highlight the unique role of women in our families. These pictures transcend the seeming simplicity of their elements by the artist’s reverence for her chosen subjects.

All four artists link their art to their personal commitment to Judaism with a modern vision of our people’s history. From “generation to generation,” Jewish artists will continue to reinterpret who we are, what we value and how we shape the future.

A preview reception will be held on October 22. Come view the amazing artwork and meet the artists. A lecture will be held in late November / early December, date TBD.

The Gallery at TSTI

Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel

432 Scotland Road

South Orange, NJ 07079

ArtGerard AmsellemMarch 7, 2024The Gallery at TSTI, Temple Sharey Tefilo-IsraelComment

Mezuzoth

Click here to learn more about this event

ArtGerard AmsellemDecember 2, 2022Comment

The Visual Passion Duo

Discover more about the Visual Passion Duo at their website.

Artists Mikel Frank and Gerard Amsellem met in 2010 at the grand opening of GAS Gallery and Studio in Maplewood, NJ, and decided to collaborate together soon after. They established a deep bond as a result of philosophical discussions about death, specifically the passing of loved ones. Gerard had lost his brother to cancer and Mikel had lost his father to the same horrible disease.

During the course of their collaboration, they have created many works, notable among which is “The Passing.” This painting was their first large scale public “performance” painting, measuring 15 feet wide by 7.5 feet high. It was created in one day at GAS Gallery and Studio on April 23, 2011.

The Visual Passion Duo came about after Gerard and Mikel created a multi-media, interactive art extravaganza in July 2012 at 1978 Maplewood Arts Center called Visual Passion: On Love. In 2013 the Duo was invited to exhibit at The Herb & Milly Iris Gallery at South Orange Performing Arts Center, South Orange, NJ. That same year Mikel and Gerard did a live painting demonstration in conjunction with the South Orange/Maplewood Artists Studio Tour at The Pierro Gallery, South Orange, NJ. In 2014-15 they were invited to exhibit and paint live at MICA: Then and Now, a two-part exhibition, which made its debut at the Ethan Cohen Gallery in Chelsea and simultaneously at The KuBe in Beacon, NY. In 2015 Gerard and Mikel exhibited and performed with the ETHEL Quartet at The Noyes Museum of Art in Oceanville, NJ in conjunction with MICA: Then and Now, part 2. That same year The Visual Passion Duo was asked to be the featured artists at Maplewood Memorial Library for the Ideas Festival. In 2016 they were invited back to exhibit once again in Maplewood Memorial Library's Art Gallery, and that same year they were asked to do a live performance piece at Maplewood's Gallery 1978 in conjunction with Off the Shelf: A Tribute to June Cater.

ArtKit McDonaldSeptember 25, 2020Visual Passion Duo, Gerard Amsellem, Mikel Frank

Current Projects

Besides his work with Visual Passion, Gerard is always hard at work at new paintings, collages, and three-dimensional pieces. Here are a few photos from his studio of works in progress.

ArtKit McDonaldSeptember 25, 2020Gerard Amsellem

Je Cris J'Écris

2011

“Creativity is a pure attempt to feel the emptiness, the void and the loss inside.”

— Gerard Amsellem

I write
I scream

Je crie
J’écris

February 7, 2011, would have been my brother’s 58th birthday. For the past two years I commemorated his birthday by expressing the void he left in my life through my creations. The first show was in 2009 and it was called 7 Stars from You, 7 Stars to You. In that show I exhibited 7 of my stars and 7 of his stars. The second show was in 2010 and was a series of my paintings before and after his death.

This show is an expression of the void he left in my life.

The title is: J’écris, je crie, I Write, I Scream.

My brother was a painter, a writer and a conceptual artist. He loved to play with words not unlike the title I chose for this show.

I created three canvases which was inspired by his creativity, his presence and absence.

On one wall you will see my canvases with writings about my feelings.

These writings are my scream which express my difficulty in accepting that he is not here.

On the opposite wall you will see some of my brother’s work.

In the last few years of his life we had wanted to create a show together. This current show is the essence of our combined work.

This is it ...and I scream for his absence

To my brother

For my brother

ArtKit McDonaldSeptember 25, 2020Gerard Amsellem, Alain Amsellem

Before & After

2010

"Today my brother would have been 57 years old. Last year I showed 7 stars by him and I created 7 stars for him. From me to him. That was our first show together. This year I chose to show the paintings I did before and after his death. In my eulogy of him, I said that I would represent the continuation of his creativity and his contribution to the world.

There are 20 paintings, pastels, mixed media on wood or acrylic on canvas in this show.

13 from before his death.

7 completed after his death.

The first 13 paintings were created while he was still alive when we discussed having a show together, the last 7 are works that I produced after his death. The impact of his absence on my paintings, my grief and pain are in my paintings.

BEFORE

From the Inside is the name of the series from before his death.

From the inside comes the strength, the passion, and the impossible which is without definition until the end.
Each person contributes to the world vibrations and the sum of their inner experience. By going inside we explore our self-image, our being, and our view of the world.

Unleash everything, express without limit, scream with all your being.

AFTER

From The Higher Side is the name of the series of 7 paintings completed after his death.

When I feel what is not there anymore I replace it with a vision beyond human existence. I look at the sky, the water, the trees and I feel my brother’s soul in my paintings.

Quiet, peaceful with a trace of infinity. To his soul with all of me.

To my brother, to his paintings, to my family, to creation and endlessness."

February 7, 2010

ArtKit McDonaldSeptember 25, 2020Gerard Amsellem, Alain Amsellem

7 Stars For You

2009

7 STARS FROM YOU
7 STARS TO YOU
FROM MY BROTHER
TO MY BROTHER

7 ÉTOILES DE TOI
7 ÉTOILES POUR TOI
DE MON FRÈRE
POUR MON FRÈRE

“Today is February 7, 2009. It is my brother’s birthday. He passed away 19 months ago. He would have been 56 years old today. He died when he was 54 years old. In a few months I will turn 54 and will have lived longer than he.
I will have outlived him.

 Our lives were connected through a great relationship made stronger by painting and by exploring artistic visions. We always had a plan to show some of our works together and as it turns out, this is our first exhibition together.
 It’s a story of two lives and a deeper connection than anything else life can bring. 
When he disappeared I understood that I had to continue our planned project and integrate my work and his work as one. This is our first common show and a commemoration of his work and life.

In this show I take one group of his work of seven stars because seven is his number and his birth date. I offer seven of my stars based on our world, his absence, what he left and what I will continue without him.

Under the stars from the sky we are together
Under the universe
 The sun
The life
And expression 
To my brother Alain.”