I’m excited to share that my pop up gallery ‘Chassidim of Color’ will be included in the 2nd part of Oprah’s segment on chassidim!
Click on the link to see a preview of the show.

First Look: Hasidic Jews of Brooklyn, Part 1

For the first time ever, Oprah travels to Brooklyn, New York, to meet two Hasidic Jewish families, who lift the veil, revealing the secrets to their usually private and mysterious way of life.

Watch a sneak preview of Oprah’s visit to Brooklyn. Then tune in Sunday, February 12, at 9/8c to watch the all-new episode of Oprah’s Next Chapter. Find OWN on your TV service provider

This past summer I had the pleasure of meeting David Ariel De Guglielmi in his charming gallery in the Jewish ghetto in Venice, Italy. Batsheva and I were on vacation visiting the beautiful city of Venice, the place I studied to be a Rabbi 10 years ago, and have always wanted to return and to share with my wife.
Walking along the ghetto streets pointing out all the new spaces that have popped up in the last 10 years (contrasted with the places that have been there for centuries) we came upon David’s work spilling out of the gallery on to the cobble stone streets of the ghetto. I was drawn in by the energy, variance and colors on display. David’s work is filled with a love of God and his people, full of life, vibrantce and meaning. David’s work is an expression of his passion for his Judaism and his desire to share it with everyone who comes his way.

But that was not always the case; David grew up in Milan, Italy with a very limited knowledge and concern of his Jewish identity. David, who was creating art from an early age went to the art school Liceo Artistico Hajec in Milan following high school. While at school David bumped heads with the faculty and decided to leave school and go at it on his own, exploring  figurative application of old techniques and informal expression, becoming fascinated with the first uses of oil painting. David’s art career took off with shows in Milan, Brescia, Genoa, and New York with work displayed at the Venice Biennale.

Following a serious car accident David put painting to the side and began exploring his spirituality, dabbling in a few different disciplines until he came upon his own faith, his Jewish heritage.

David’s family came along for the journey, making it a group effort, where they began a life of Torah and mitzvot (Jewish teachings observances) as they continued to learn. David did not see the place for art in his new lifestyle and found a job working as a ‘mashgiach’ a kosher supervisor in a factory in Italy. David found contentment in his new spiritual path seeing to grow in other areas outside of his art. A senior kosher supervisor approached David one day and said “This Kosher supervision work is not for you. You are an artist; you have a talent, a gift. You have to use your talents to share your new found conviction and faith in God with others”

To communicate his deep love for Torah,
To dialogue with any and all tourists who pass his gallery – no matter their beliefs
To host intimate musical gatherings in the square in front of the gallery.
To communicate the essence of God and His love for humanity, and how one can connect with God.

Today David continues to paint daily in his gallery, finding harmony with his soul and it’s expression. David has returned to figurative work with depictions of daily life in the ghetto, from the young Chabad students running with their Tefillin, sharing with a new tourist, or the doors of the ancient synagogue.

To David art is a tool to connect to God, seeing Jewish art as an expression of the soul to connect and share with others.I am blessed to have one of David’s pieces on my wall -traded for one of my own works –a memory of the wonderful Shabbat spent with David in Chabad’s Gam Gam restaurant, a place where all are welcome regardless of their background. Where perhaps you too will get into a discussion with David of Judaism, art, and our place in this world.

What drives an artist to adopt a particular style, theme or pallet?

Growing up in post war Europe to survivor parents of the Holocaust , one would expect the work of Shoshannah Brombacher to have a heavy, somber overtone. That is not the case at all.

The Shtettle images that come to life with Shoshannah’s brush are not the harsh truths of some of the Shtettle experiences, but rather the uplifting soulful moments. Shoshannah’s paintings are filled with vibrant hues and colorful depictions of a time gone by that Shoshannah connects with. The Shtettle is her personal oasis, stepping back from the outside world to a personal space where her spirit can be free.

Shoshannah’s subject matter for her art is inspired from the volumes of Chassidic stories she would read in her father’s study as a young girl. To her these stories would talk to her and allowed her to escape to perhaps a better time. Chassidic stories and biblical figures intertwine and flow through Shoshannah’s work; it is more about capturing an expression and passion than depicting a historical moment.

Shoshannah grew up in Holland just after the war in a non-observant Jewish home. With no Jewish school to choose from, Shoshannah was sent to a Catholic School to be educated. At the age of 14 Shoshannah began seeking her identity, which she found through studying Judaism. At the same time Shoshannah found a love for her two passions: Classical music and Jewish art. To Shoshannah, both art and music express a deep intimate connection with the soul.

Shoshannah made her way to NY in the early 90’s via Berlin and Jerusalem, meeting the man who would later be her husband. Settling first in the Lower East Side, then the East Village, before moving to Williamsburg (pre hipster) where Shoshannah immersed herself in family life and her art. Shoshannah connected to the Chassidic community in South Williamsburg who accepted her despite not being one of them  (but being orthodox and a mother helped break down those barriers).

Today Shoshannah is among the foremost Jewish, religious artists. She sees her role to educate both the Chassidic community where she lives about the beauty and place of art in our lives, as well as, educating the wider art world of the growing diverse art in the Jewish community. Shoshannah lectures in museums and to high school and college students and is a member of a number of Jewish art groups.

What is Jewish art? To Shoshannah it is an expression of the soul. As  Shoshannah puts it, “a Jewish artist need not frequent the cafes for lengthy discussions or late night parties, art is an expression of the soul and Jewish art by that extension is the expression of a Jewish soul”. And we find that expression in her works. Her motivation as an artist is not to make a living (as many artists would confirm that its a hard market) but rather as a personal expression that she can also share with others. Through her art, Shoshannah shares her love for her Jewish heritage and its’ relevance in today’s world.

For Shoshannah, to paint is to be; it is an expression of her colorful uplifted soul. Shoshannah Brombacher’s work can be seen here.

Shalom,

Thank G-D our group show in Crown heights, Brooklyn is a great success!
Thank you to all the amazing artists who are taking part in the show.

open from 12pm through 2am it does not leave much time for sleep – or writing a blog.

the details again are:
the gallery is located at 368 Kingston Ave. Brooklyn NY
and open till 2am tonight – Monday and Tuesday

A Chabad news outlet COL covered the event last night and posted pictures on their site
Click HERE to see the pictures

Big News!

I found a storefront in Crown Heights, Brooklyn that is available during the Holiday of Sukkot. I am renting it and hosting a group show called “Chassidim of Color”

I would like to showcase Chassidic artists who are bringing color to their lives and the lives of others

All the information for the Call to art is HERE

Please spread the word and I look forward to greeting everyone at the opening event on October 16

Moully

Here is a press release about the show:

Press Release:

Chabad Chassidic Artists Create group Show entitled “Chassidim of Color”

Jewish Pop Art presents a group show showcasing the work of an unlikely section of artists; Chassidim of the Chabad Chassidim.

Chassidim for the most part are stereotyped and known for their full length dark dress and furry hats not canvases of color, but ‘Pop Art Rabbi’ and artist Rabbi Yitzchok Moully -wants to change that.

On display From October 16- through 19 at 368 Kingston Ave. in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn the show will showcase the growing number of Chassidim artists who might dress in traditional colors but who paint in vibrant hues.

Art is not traditionally taught in Chassidic institutions, but there is a growing appreciation for its need in the community. The Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Shneerson encouraged people to use their natural talents to enhance and further the Torah’s teachings.

“This month from October 16- through 19 I plan to continue the Rebbe’s message of using color as a vehicle for sharing the importance of Judaism to the streets of Crown Heighs” says the show organizer, Rabbi Moully

During the week long Jewish holiday of Sukkot the streets of Crown Heights Brooklyn come alive with dancing from evening till morning. Celebrating the connection to G-D achieved on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.

Chassidic masters tell us that you can accomplish with simcha on Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah that which you can accomplish with tears on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.

The show will take place right where the festivities are taking place giving people the opportunity to step from the perhaps conservatively dressed streets to a gallery of color. Hopefully the show will encourage individuals and perhaps even instructions the great importance of color and art, even in the Chassidic community.

The press is invited to the show’s opening night, October 16 from 8pm at 368 Kingston Ave. Brooklyn.

For more information or to contact Moully go to www.MoullyArt.com or 908 448 1417

Yes it’s been a while, it always is that way.

Summer is over and it has been months since I wrote anything here, but it was quite a great summer indeed.

We held the second annual Jewish Music + Art Festival in July – pictures at www.JMAFest.com – and videos one day too if I get the time.

Batsheva and I ran away to Italy for 10 days – dropping off the kids at the grandparents in Toronto first. What an amazing trip! Venice for shabbos with 1000 guests at Chabad’s restaurant Gam Gam. and then off to Tuscany to ride the hills in a scooter. Truly amazing, perhaps one day ill share some of the 2000 pictures I took.

So for the latest; I joined a local group of artists in Bernerds township, and we held the first studio tour; where guests visit each artist in their home/studio. I displayed my work at Chabad and it was quite successful. Click here for a Patch article on the show.

As well I have a show on display at Chabad of LIC (Long Island City for the rest of us) with Rabbi Zev Weinberg. It will be up for a month, with an article here.

So I’m working on a few new pieces with the chance of a group show in Brooklyn soon. I think its time the get the blog back up and running again (after the Holidays) and continue interviewing the great people out there making art.

Shana Tova
Moully

Truth be told, I knew this would happen at some point. Interviewing a non Jewish artist on what makes Jewish art. But I didn’t think it would come so soon.

When I first looked at the work of Michel D’anastasio I felt the warmth and energy of his Hebrew calligraphy photographs, it never even occurred to me that he is not Jewish!

Michael was born Catholic and raised in France where he developed an early love for the art of calligraphy. One little problem… he is left handed, a major obstacle for a calligrapher.

With the encouragement of professionals in the field, Michael created his own method of writing using his left hand. Without an acceptable path to follow, Michael found himself in new territory.  Nonetheless, he persisted  and mastered his unique method.

Doing some genealogical research on the family’s origins in Malta, Michael discovered that he had Jewish ancestry. A few months later on a trip to Israel Michael discovered Jewish culture, and more specifically the Hebrew alphabet. Fascinated by the letters and their energy Michael returned to Paris to delve into this new domain, further developing his personal style and approach to the letters. “A new world has been opened to me with its new palette of shapes and signs.” (original quote in French, translated with google translate)

Forming a special bond with the Hebrew letters Michael creates stunning imagery with letters that dance, move and emit energy.

Michael’s approach has evolved beyond straight calligraphy on paper or cloth, through the use of photography he is able to experiment with light, shadow color and contrast, thereby allowing the letters and calligraphy take on a richer more animated form.

Calligraphy, especially Hebrew calligraphy, has traditionally been seen as a highly specialized craft and as a means by which a Sofer (traditional Torah scribe) can transcribe the Torah to the next generation.

Unlike most languages, Hebrew is written from right to left making Michael’s seeming liability into an asset when writing Hebrew.

As a Christian creating art with the Hebrew letters, Michael has deep respect for G-D and the Torah. He approaches this work with great reverence, as he looks to enhance and expand his dialogue with the letters and their meanings. Michael seeks out meaningful phrases from the holy text to convey through his work. The traditional Torah calligraphy is a starting point which Michael seeks to transcend.

In contrast to the work of a Sofer Michael is not bound by a set of rules or the continuance of a sacred tradition. Rather, he is able to take the letters into a more modern realm, while paying full respect to the letters and their holiness.

The Jewish community has responded very positively to his work, Rabbis and community members have congratulated him on his innovative narrative of the Hebrew letters and finding new expression for the Torah’s letters. But Michael is still waiting to meet a scribe who will share a personal thought regarding this unique approach.

Unfortunately the art of Hebrew calligraphy has not reached far beyond the Jewish community. The Ketubah, as a work of art and function, is one of the most recognized expressions involving this type of lettering, and as you might expect, Michael is trying to change that in his own way as well.
Michael has shown his work in galleries and museums throughout Europe, giving the Hebrew letters a broader audience and bringing his unique work of Hebrew calligraphy to a secular audience outside of “the tribe”.

Though not Jewish, I think Michael has connected with the essence of the letters conveying their soul and unique energy, making his work without doubt (perhaps) Jewish art.

What is Jewish art according to Michael?
The Jewish art is the representation of Judaism in all different forms that allow transmission of knowledge and knowledge of a people to foster closer connections to G-D.
By Yitzchok Moully

Michael’s work can be seen at:
http://www.script-sign.com/pressebook/hebrew-calligraphy.php

There is old school Jewish art. We all know what that looks like –the old man bent over fixing a shoe or of an dark shtetle landscape.

Then there is the new Jewish art; a wave of mostly young artists who grew up in the new world who only understand the shtetle from stories and want to interact with Jewish art on their terms.

One such artist is Dan Weinstein. A NJ native and son of an artist, Dan attended a Yeshiva where they neither encouraged nor discouraged his use of art. Growing up, art was a personal experience, without a relationship to the Jewish values surrounding him.

It was only after a trip to Israel to visit his brother, a fervent Breslov chossid, that Dan was exposed to how art can convey the joy and beauty of Judaism.“Judaism can always be seen in two ways” Dan explains recounting a story of a man approaching two Jews, “What’s up with this Shabbat thing?” the man asks.

The first man answers and begins to share a list of all the ‘DO NOTS’ he can think of.

The second man quickly pipes up and says “You have it all wrong, Shabbat is the best day of the week, we get to unplug, to relax and spend time with our loved ones and focus on meaning…”

Dan says “there are two perspectives to look at Judaism and I choose to focus on the joy, the energy- the positive

energy”
And he sure does. Dan’s work (digital media) is filled with Rabbis with surfboards, dancing/flying chassids, and more color than you are likely to have seen in the average Jewish home.

Dan’s work depicts traditionally fervent Rabbis in sunglasses sporting anything from a fender to a surfboard to drums- all high on life, often floating through the air with a Torah.

Far from seeing Judaism/ Torah as limiting as a subject matter it has actually guided Dan to focus on his message. Before his big trip to Israel he was adrift without a focus for his art. Now Dan sees his work as an opportunity to share his joy of Judaism with those who don’t feel that way or who were never exposed to the other side of the stereotype.

He is not trying to be sensational in his work, but some people within the orthodox community are simply oblivious to the message and impact he hopes to share with his art. Dan is trying to enrich the dialogue and generally he is successful, even in his hometown of Monsy NY a mostly fervent orthodox community.

“Step one is for them to appreciate it, and for the most part they do”say’s Dan. The next step is for people to buy the art, which was more common when the economy was good.

Judaism is rich with meaning and spirituality. Good Jewish art has the power to do so much more than just be visually appealing, it has the capacity to engage the viewer and convey a dee

p spiritual message. And that is exactly what Dan attempts to do.
To quote Dan in the caption of the accompanying image ‘Waiting for the Sun’

They sleep, We play. They slumber, We pray. Wake up the dawn! Furry is the night.

Glory is the morn. Instead of snoring can you hum me a bar?
3..2..1 ….nicoteine…..caffeine……….MODEH ANI.

What is Jewish art according to Dan?

Art with Spirituality, Art with Soul, a Higher Purpose,- and a Myriad of Meanings.

Jewish Art, like Judaism, is about new beginnings and endless possibilities and True Joy- all within reach when you feel connected to G-d.

My Jewish art is about “stripping away” layers of the mundane and getting to the truth, which exists in a different reality. I strive to use Judaism as a vehicle to find an altered and mor

e beautiful state of reality and translate that onto canvas.

What is Jewish Art? A canvas that has the power to open doors for people.

Shalom,

it has been a while, as it usually is, I’m so not the blogger, but i also as a reader, want my information current.
Well, to help me with this, is the good people at the algemeiner.com. They approached me  and asked me to write a blog about Jewish art.
After some deliberation i decided to go for it, I’m not a writer but its worth giving it a go.

The blog title I chose is “The Art of Jewish Art” – exploring the inner workings of Jewish artists – or the people who make Jewish art – or the people who claim to make Jewish art. Its really not about me but about the artists whoever they are, and about their process of how they reach whatever conclusion they come to. Its about the spiritual, personal evolutionary process that the makers of Jewish art go through in producing Jewish art.
And perhaps along the way we may come to a definition of what is Jewish art!

Here is the first post that i put up on the Algemeiner website:

What is Jewish Art?

This is a question any self respecting Jewish artist – and others- ask from time to time.

In a time where art is going in many different directions, what is defined as Jewish art?

What are the parameters that define Jewish art? What guidelines does it need to adhere to, to qualify? What rules does it need to embrace or throw off to express itself?

If artistic expression has so many different definitions with so diverse a face, how does a niche corner of the art experience show itself?

Jewish art always has and continues to be a diverse fluid being. As the debate to what defined Jewish art continues, the lines in the sand continue to shift, as art evolves so does Jewish art. From street graffiti to pose, from experimental video to watercolor there is no area of art that is off limits or excluded from Jewish art.

It would be futile to say one has a concrete answer to what defines Jewish art; it is too diverse to be boxed in, too broad for a single definition.

One great place to begin searching would be the artist themselves.

Equal to the question of what defines Jewish art, is what makes an artist a Jewish artist? Is it solely defined by one who is Jewish? Perhaps that would be too simple.

In the search to define Jewish art, the artist is an intimate integral element in the process.

When an artist defines their work as Jewish art, what drives them to do so? What processes does the artist go through to come to such a conclusion? What yard stick is it measured against? When setting out to break all boundaries, how does it still remain Jewish art?

This blog is dedicated to exploring the inner workings of artists who define themselves as Jewish artists. What makes them define themselves so? What internal evolution do they go through to get there? What relationship do they and their work have to Jewish values and ideas? What is the process they go through with each piece of work to define it as Jewish? How does Judaism influence them and their work? – Or not?

Understanding the evolution and struggle of the Jewish artist will give us a window in to the soul of Jewish art.

Each blog post will bring you an artist and their unique perspective, their process and inner struggles as they smooth the edges of their corner of Jewish art.

Enjoy the journey and please share your thoughts.

Yitzchok moully

It has been quite a while since I shared anything, blogging is still new to me…

This past weekend was the gathering of Chabad Rabbis from around the globe, 4000 to be exact – or perhaps a few more. It is an amazing experience to get together with friends and influential personalities for a weekend of workshops speeches and gatherings to strengthen our mission. Of course there was lots of fun as well with gatherings that lasted in to the night.  Now if course i had to do my bit to add color to an event of 4000+ black hats and jackets, so i donned the usual pink yamukah, orange socks  and a bright scarf. All in all i think i did a reasonable job bringing color to the event. below are some pictures from the gathering. Enjoy

Here is a link to a photo below from the AP:
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//101107/480/urn_publicid_ap_org989b0afa4a454d9b94c15821d6807def/

I also got inspired to stage my own ‘free hugs’ campaign for about an hour!