The CJM Blog

Jessica winnowing nigella seeds for A Salad of Wild Weeds and Seeds   Photo by Helena Keeffe For the second iteration of The Contemporary Jewish Museum's  In That Case :  Havruta  in Contemporary Art , San Francisco artist Helena Keeffe collaborated with Richmond, CA-based chef and food activist Jessica Prentice. They reflect on art, working together, and what is "necessary." Helena Keeffe (HK) : Jessica, when I first approached you about working together I was nervous that the art context wouldn't interest you, but I knew you had worked with artists as a chef at Headlands Center for the Arts, so I figured there was a chance. Museums make artwork and other cultural artifacts available to the public in a way that is quite different than publishing a book or making food available through social entrepreneurship. What were your thoughts when I first presented this opportunity? Be honest!

In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art  Helena Keeffe and Jessica Prentice  Photo by Johnna Arnold. The Contemporary Jewish Museum's (CJM) Associate Curator Lily Siegel and Curatorial Associate Claire Frost sat down to discuss working with artists and looking at contemporary art. In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art is an ongoing exhibition program at The CJM that encourages learning through fellowship for Bay Area artists, established professionals, museum staff, and the entire CJM community.   

Photo: Malcolm Margolin reading  A Menu for Recognizing Invisible Forces  by  Helena Keeffe and Jessica Prentice.  Courtesy of Helena Keeffe. When Helena and I first met and began the conversation about collaborating on a Havruta project, she asked me what I was reading. It happened to be The Ohlone Way by Malcolm Margolin, and she mentioned that she had also read much of it. This book became the inspiration for many of our conversations as it wove in many of our shared interests.

A Menu for Recognizing Invisible Forces by Helena Keeffe and Jessica Prentice In That Case: Havruta in Contemporary Art is based on the Talmudic principle of havruta —the study of religious texts by people in pairs. The root word haver —“friend” in Hebrew—emphasizes the communal nature of learning, and the havruta learning model reflects the Jewish affinity for asking questions and grappling with complex topics, together. Each local artist invited to participate is given the opportunity of working with an established writer, scientist, thinker, or academic in a field of their choosing. For the second iteration of In That Case , San Francisco artist Helena Keeffe  collaborated with Richmond, CA-based chef and food activist Jessica Prentice . Helena spoke about the collaboration with Curatorial Associate Claire Frost.