Jewish Pop Art — Yitzchok Moully

Art Instillation inspires by Hurricane Sandy & the Jewish New Year for Trees.

by admin on January 25, 2013

Inspired by the concept of regrowth from Tu B’Shvat; the new Year for Trees (this year on January 26) Rabbi Moully of the Chabad Jewish Center in Basking Ridge created an art instillation titled Nature Vs. Nature from a tree felled by Hurricane Sandy.

In the face of the destruction of Hurricane Sandy can there be is there an opportunity for our rebirth and regrowth?

Tu B’Shvat marks the beginning of the new growth of trees and vegetation following the winter hibernation in Israel, as well as a time for personal growth.

Tu B’Shvat tells us there is always a chance for a new beginning.

From noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, visitors of all ages will be encouraged to write a meditation, or a prayer, or a wish for a new beginning and hang it on the roots of the tree, “exploring,” Moully said, “the possibility of rebirth, even out of the destruction of Sandy.”

Nature Vs. Nature. is sponsored by the Chabad Jewish Center of Basking Ridge and Back to Nature. It will be on display and open to the public to participate Sunday, January 27. from 12 – 4pm at Back to Nature 3055 Valley Road Basking Ridge, NJ.

Here is a NJ Jewish News article on the instillation

Here is the full Press Release:

Nature Vs. Nature.

Local Artist & Chabad Rabbi transformsSandy’s destruction into a new form of hope and invites the community to join in the process

An Art Installation titled Nature Vs. Nature will be on display at “Back to Nature”,3055 Valley Road,Basking Ridge,NJ. Area residents are encouraged to interact with the installation on Sunday, January 27, 12 – 4pm

Like many residents of NJ in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, artist – Chabad Youth Rabbi & Basking Ridge resident Rabbi Yitzchok Moully was mesmerized by the truly gigantic trees that were toppled in the storm. Devastation was everywhere, with roads closed and power lines down and it took weeks to restore a sense of normality to the area.

As weeks moved in to months, Moully, driving his children daily to school inMorristowncontinued to look at the fallen trees, hoping that some industrious craftsman or carpenter was creating something beautiful from the destitution.

Then an idea hit him. Nature Vs. Nature. To create a site specific art installation comprised of 10 or more fallen trees from the area. The installation would take the huge trees with their exposed roots and turn them on their head, making the roots face the sky standing almost as tall as the original tree stood. The installation hopes to explore and visualize the power of nature and its fragility.

With a sense of urgency, Moully wants to have one tree ready for Tu B’Shvat the Jewish New Year for trees, Sunday, January 27. Biblically Tu B’Shvat is the beginning of the agricultural year in ancientIsraelthe date where tithes and taxes were calculated from. Rabbi Mendy Herson Spiritual leader of the Chabad Jewish Center describes Tu B’Shvat as; “It marks the beginning of the new growth of trees and vegetation following the winter hibernation inIsrael, as well as a time for personal growth.”

Moully sees a relationship between the rebirth of Tu B’Shvat and the fallen trees fromSandy. With nature -Sandy- creating such havoc in our lives, where is the opportunity for our rebirth and regrowth?

In what will hopefully be the first stage of the installation Moully is working together with Back to Nature a local eco friendly landscape design firm on the logistics of moving one large tree to Back to Nature’s garden center (at the corner of King George & Valley Roads, across from the Chabad Jewish Center) in time for Tu B’Shvat Sunday, January 27.

The tree will be on display for the community to see explore and interact with. Young and old are encouraged to take the inspiration of regrowth from Tu B’Shvat (the Jewish New Year for trees) and write a meditation, a prayer, a wish for a new beginning and hang it on the roots of the tree. Together the community will explore the possibility of rebirth, even out of the destruction ofSandy.

Nature Vs. Nature. is sponsored by the Chabad Jewish Center of Basking Ridge and Back to Nature. It will be on display and open to the public to participate Sunday, January 27. from 12 – 4pm at Back to Nature 3055 Valley Road Basking Ridge, NJ.

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Creative Soul Partners with Chabad.org with New Blog “Art for the Soul”

by admin on December 18, 2012

We are proud to share that the Creative Soul has partnerd with Chabad.org to create a new blog.

The goal is to post one piece of art a day together with an inspirational artist statement about the art.

This is a great opportunity to get exposure, chabad.org is excited and want to push this blog to all shluchim affiliate sites and emails.

the blog can be viewed here:

http://www.chabad.org/blogs/blog_cdo/aid/2052347/jewish/Art-for-the-Soul.htm

if you would like to submit work for the blog please fill out the form in the link below

http://moullyart.com/art-for-the-soul-blog-submission/

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Sukkot Group Show Submission Opportunity

by admin on September 19, 2012

The Creative Soul is excited to announce the first group show, titled
“Black and White in Color,” taking place in Crown Heights, Brooklyn
during the Sukkot holiday.
The Art Show is a follow up event based on the success and interest of
a similar show titled “Chassidim of Color,” created by one of the
Creative Soul founders, Yitzchok Moully.

The show will take place from October 3-14 in a vacant store front at
425 Kingston Ave. in the heart of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, one block
from the night long music & dancing in celebration of the Sukkot
holiday.

The show is a reflection of the creativity and artistic talent within
the Orthodox-Chassidic community.

Submission process:

The show is open to all artists in the Orthodox-Chassidic community
world wide and is curated by artists, Moshe Campin and Shoshana
Brombaucher.

Submissions are limited to two dimensional work, no larger than 30×36
inches each.

Each artist may submit up to 5 pieces of work of which three will be chosen.
To submit work for the show please email high resolution .jpg’s to
creativesoulsubmissions@gmail.com
Please title the images by the name and size of the work, in the email
include the title, dimensions, medium and price for each piece.

Artists will receive a email response one or two days after submission.

There is a $50 fee to be included in the show, which goes to cover
costs of the show.

Works for sale need to include a 30% commission to the Creative Soul.

Artists are responsible for insuring the art, if so desired.

All submitted work must be ready to hang.

Artists are responsible to get the artwork to and from the show.

The storefront will be open on Sunday September 30 Erev Sukkos to drop
off work, as well and the first night of Chol Hamoed. The show will be
hung on the first might of Chol Hamoed.

All artists and the community are invited to the Opening on Wednesday,
October 3 at 8pm.

For updates check out www.facebook.com/TheCreativeSoul.org

For any questions please email Yitzchok Moully at ymoully@gmail.com

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Moully Art Featured in New A&P Jewish Calendar

by admin on September 2, 2012

I am honored to share the new A&P Calendar for the New Jewish Year 5773 featuring my art!

Pick up your Free copy at any A&P, Food Basics, The Food Emporium, Path Mark, Super Fresh and Waldbaums.

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Creative Soul’s first meeting

by admin on August 2, 2012

So it happened; after almost a year following the very successful ‘Chassidim of Color’ art show, and the almost constant thought that we really need to do something with the creative energy in the Chassidic/Orthodox community (for the lack of a better description – (please let me know if you have a better one)) we got a few artists together for our meeting.

It is a modest start, 10 artists who were in NY for the summer and available last Tuesday came out to Hadas gallery, the wonderful space that is home to Chahad of Pratt.

We discussed the desire to connect with likeminded people, the idea that Jewish art, even religious Jewish art is on the cusp of something big, that we are a new generation moving something forward. We discussed what exactly an artist is, or how an artist sees, and we disagreed, and shared opinions.
So for all intensive purposes we had a successful meeting. The idea of sharing the meeting via Ustream on the web didn’t quite go as planned, but those who logged on saw something, I think.

Now what are the ideas and goals of our new group?

Here are my thoughts…

The Creative Soul was conceived to fulfill three main goals:

Create a space/ movement for artists in the above mentioned – not so well named – community. To be able to share ideas, inspiration, frustrations, to have other artists to critique and give feedback, and to be part of a creative community, with all its opportunities.
Educate the Chassidic/Orthodox community on the value of creativity in all its forms. Too often Jewish illustration is defined as art; our goal is to share the need and the incredible value of creativity to young growing minds – and adults.
With that in mind we want to eventually create a physical space where we can teach art and hold events and shows.
Educate the wider community on the value and beauty of art created within the Chassidic/Orthodox community. An art that (hopefully) reflects the deep love and passion for Torah and Judaism. To challenge the accepted idea that art from the Chassidic/Orthodox community is a reflection of a time gone by, and to inspire an interest or even a passion for the relevance of the torah to today’s way of life.

How we go about making those goals a reality?; well, we have our whole lives for that, but for now we are hoping to schedule another meeting before Rosh Hashana and to create a follow up to the successful group show that got this all rolling.
To find out more or to get involved, email creativesoul.org@gmail.com or just like our page on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/TheCreativeSoul.org the website is on its way (let me know if you would like to help put with this one).
Thanks for reading

Moully