Yes, I did Grow up Jewish, but my main sense of identity as a child was my status as a TWIN! My twin sister, Gail, and I are not identical, but we would often finish each other's sentences, and we talked "we and us" rather than "I or me." When we were away at different colleges, we would often purchase the same shirt, nightgown, etc. As we started families of our own, living apart became more difficult. Sadly, cousins who resembled each other did not grow up playing with each other.
Now as my son is now raising twin girls of his own, my sister Gail is coming to meet them, and I imagine we will reminisce about a shared childhood so long ago.I can't wait!
 |
| Petoskey stone and sterling silver necklace by Ruth Shapiro |
|
As a side note, I must tell you about a special vacation with my sister. About 4 years ago, Gail invited me to come to visit, to go camping. I hadn't been camping in many, many years, so of course I jumped at the chance. We spent days searching in knee deep, freezing water along the shores of Lake Huron, near her home, for the famous Petoskey stones. We even got some young kids involved in a contest to see who could find the biggest and best examples of these fossils.* We filled pails, boxes,and shoes with the wonderful stones. You see, I had recently learned lapidary skills, and my brain was brimming with ideas for jewelry! Upon arriving at the airport to go home, I was asked by the airline luggage handler "What do you have in here, rocks?!!!! LOL Well in honor of my sister's visit to me, I'm posting a picture of a necklace I made from just one of those Petoskey stones, after slicing it into pieces and polishing and bezel setting each one!!
* A
Petoskey stone is a rock and a fossil, often pebble-shaped, that is composed of a
fossilized coral,
Hexagonaria percarinata. The stones were formed as a result of
glaciation, in which
sheets of ice plucked stones from the
bedrock, grinding off their rough edges and depositing them in the northwestern portion of
Michigan's
lower peninsula.
Petoskey stones are found in the Gravel Point Formation of the Traverse Group. They are fragments of a coral reef that was originally deposited during the
Devonian period, about 350 million years ago. When dry, the stone resembles ordinary
limestone but when wet or polished using
lapidary techniques, the distinctive mottled pattern of the six-sided coral fossils emerges. It is sometimes made into decorative objects. Other forms of fossilized coral are also found in the same location.
In 1965, it was named the
state stone of Michigan. (Thanks to Wikipedia!)
Petoskey stones resemble Indonesian fossilized coral, which is found with beautiful warm colors of yellow, peach, pink, etc.
So, tomorrow is the artists' reception for the Judaic Art Exhibit at the Finegood Art Gallery, at the Jewish Community Center, in West Hills, a distant suburb of Los Angeles. Los Angeles has one of the largest Jewish populations in the world. We are now in the time period right between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, real heavyweights on the Jewish calendar. Jews are really feeling Jewish now, even if they feel less so during the rest of the year. Will they turn out in droves for this exhibit? I hope so. Hundreds of years ago, patrons supported their favorite artists. The artist held a position of respect in the community, and did not have to worry about selling his (mostly) creations. Patrons made it possible for the artists to continue working just as artists, while being able to support their families. Were the artists constrained in their artistic styles? Did they have artistic freedom over what they created? I'm not sure, but it's fun to fantasize about having a patron who will pay for all materials plus a generous salary so we can work as we desire without a care!!
Of course we all are greatly excited about the Bar/Bat Mitzvah party that may be coming up in your family, but let's not forget the religious significance of this important event in your child's or grandchild's life. This would be the perfect opportunity to start him or her on a lifelong collection of ritual Judaica. I believe that the Jewish culture has been brought along, perhaps even saved, by the presence of ritual objects used in the home. 
Today 's seminar by Robyn Hawk from A Fly on the Wall has come to a close, leaving me with a few questions to ponder. Yes, I learned how to start a blog and put up a few gadgets or widgets, what ever!! I learned how to make a "like" button and a "subscribe to" box. (Please don't forget to click on these!!
That brings me to another thought to ponder. I've given up trekking to many of the "shows" where I used to display, in favor of an online presence. The airlines are difficult, the shows are expensive, and yes, I'm getting older. Yes, it took awhile to build a customer following at those shows. It took a lot of time and hard work to drag (schlep) my stuff around the country. It will also take a lot of time to build up an online business. Maybe I won't have to schlep as much, but my reach might be further. It won't happen overnight. However, I must tell you that this will not be as satisfying. It won't have that face-to-face contact that is the bread and butter of a working artist. Gone will be much of the give and take between an artist and the patron. Feedback, that is part of the artist's field of inspiration will be lacking. So my friends, please take a moment, and write a comment that might very well enrich my creations. Be part of the process! Share your thoughts.
