Exhibit: Judaica inspired Drawings and Paintings

 

Beth Shalom Temple Center Art Gallery
presents
“Judaica inspired Drawings and Paintings ”

by
Michael B Schwartz

Aug. 30 - Oct 27, 2022

I put together a combination of drawings and paintings created over the past few years that somehow incorporated Jewish ritual objects. These are observational and narrative works in charcoal, pen and ink and acrylics.

Some of the works are like talismans or wall amulets, good luck charms for houses. The more abstract works are influenced by Torah breast plates. The decorative elements in Judaica have symbolic and mystical meanings in some cases, other pieces are more formal.

I created these from a cultural perspective, with consideration of the stories and history of these objects. Who owned them, what were their daily lives like? Who made them? 

A special thank you to Marcia Wiener and Beverly Lake.

To purchase works:
Works are for sale and available as prints or cards. To have a price list emailed to you drop me a line on my website. 

To Visit the Exhibit:
Call (520) 648-6690
Monday & Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wednesday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Location:
1751 N Rio Mayo, Green Valley, AZ 85614
https://www.bstc.us/

 

Shabbat Light

Hamsa

Mezuzah

Torah Scroll Covers

Spice Container

Shield of David

Eternal Light

Hugs For the Houseless Poetry Mural

NEW: Hugs For the Houseless Poetry Mural

A new Jazz inspired Poetry mural collaboration illuminates the Veteran Rescue Mission (serving houseless Vets) tiny house eco-village in southern Arizona.

Artist Michael B. Schwartz collaborated with Austin Davis, a poet and student activist currently studying creative writing at ASU and leading Arizona Jews For Justice’s unsheltered outreach program, AZ Hugs For the Houseless.

The artists talked about the relationship of Jazz to Colors and poetry, and how that could drive the project. They selected one of Austin’s poems, then discussed what music came to mind as we read this poem? Austin suggested:

 

 

Miles Davis Blue in Green 

 In a Sentimental Mood - Duke Ellington & John Coltrane

 

Rayland Baxter - 2009 (Mac Miller Cover)

While listening to the works Michael set about mixing a series of harmonious, moody colors. Paints and color in this case were used to emphasize the poem. Each letter became a figure. Each word  and line of the poem carefully placed. Then the layers of color. What a great addition to the murals at VRM!

"Loneliness
Falls Over your head
Like a wool blanket
on a 100 degree day
hold someone close tonight"

 

 

Austin is the author of "The World Isn’t the Size of Our Neighborhood Anymore" (Weasel Press, 2020) and "Celestial Night Light" (Ghost City Press, 2020).

You can read more about Austin and his work here:

MB Schwartz Studio Updates: Summer 2021

New Works: Summer 2021

These are some preview samples from my current body of works, to be exhibited this fall.

From the artists journal:

“These figurative works are narrative observation/intuition based. They rely on this idea of the artist as a vessel by which intuition is transferred as a mark to a surface, while telling a story. The structure is preexisting. In this sense the archetype becomes a historical bookmark of sorts, the topical space environment surrounding these paintings are as important as the works themselves.”

Furnace Creek, CA
120 °F July 12, 2021
212 °F = boiling point"

 

“Existential Questions, perhaps never answered, but remain”
Acrylic on Canvas
2021
9” x 12”

(subtitled:  “Mystic Arts map the world in uncommon ways, common dreams.”)

“Resilience”
Acrylic on Canvas
2021
20” x 25”
(study)

“Golda”
2021
graphite on arches
9” x 12”
(sketchbook)

 

(* Original work available for advanced purchase. They will be included in the fall exhibit, after which shipping will be expedited. All works ©2021 Michael B Schwartz/ MBSArts LLC)

MBSarts on Cover of LaLapid Magazine

 I’m honored to be on the current cover of LaLapid Magazine, The Society for Crypto Judaic Studies. You can sign up for membership and learn more here. 

"Astrolabes"Acrylic on Canvas 30” x 48”,  is featured in an on-line exhibit 

on my website that you can enjoy here.