The CJM Blog

 Photo: W. Kryński. Courtesy of POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews. I attended the October 2014 opening of the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw. The new museum is a work of genius from every aspect—conceptually, architecturally, programmatically, and intellectually. The POLIN Museum stands across from and in dialogue with the monument to the heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943 during World War II. Both are sited in what used to be the Warsaw Ghetto, where the Jewish resistance opposed Nazi Germany’s command to transport the remaining population to the Treblinka extermination camp.

Happy Fangs by  JenOf CalibreePhotography Local band Happy Fangs plays Night at the Jewseum on Thursday, November 18. How would you describe Happy Fangs’ music? Our music sounds like Black Sabbath and Bikini Kill got in a pillow fight. Where does your band name come from? The band was formed by a guitarist whose legal last name is Cobra and a singer who is notoriously giddy. Sometimes bands name themselves. 

Hand drawn sketch by J. Otto Seibold. Photo by Jeremy Fish I discovered J. Otto Seibold 's artwork many years ago through a holiday store display using his character Olive The Reindeer. At the time I was just out of art school with a degree from a strictly "fine arts" institution. I was struggling with what I wanted to do with my artwork. Illustration vs. painting. . . art galleries vs. commercial artwork. . . The idea that this artist's reindeer he created was making SO many more people, including myself, happy all over this big department store as opposed to being on the wall someplace in a gallery, or even in a children's book. I found it deeply inspiring that his drawings could translate onto many platforms, and affect a much larger audience. Technically, I felt his illustrations were very ahead of their time. A digital illustrator who was obviously using a computer to generate his art, but somehow kept the drawings very loose, organic, and ...

On October 23, 2014, Nathaniel Deutsch, professor of literature and history and co-director of the Center for Jewish Studies at UC Santa Cruz introduces the practice of havruta. I would like to start by pointing out how ironic it is to be presenting the topic of  Hevruta  or  Hevrusa  (the traditional Ashkenazi way of pronouncing the word) in the form of a lecture. Me standing in front of you; talking at you, as it were. Why it’s ironic should hopefully become clear in the next few minutes and is the subject of my remarks tonight.

Arnold Newman, Igor Stravinsky, composer and conductor, New York , 1946.  Gelatin silver print © 1946, 17 15 / 16 x 21 1 / 16 in. Arnold Newman/Getty Images.  In conjunction with Arnold Newman: Masterclass , The CJM offers insightful chats in the gallery with leading photographers and artists that highlight aspects of craft, creation, and Newman’s influence on modern photography. San Francisco-based portrait photographer Vince Donovan is the co-founder of Photobooth,    a studio and gallery that specialized in hand-crafted photographic techniques including wet plate collodion (‘tintype’), traditional silver gelatin, and Polaroid.  He is currently working on Little Cities , a life-long portrait project involving non-profits and communities of faith throughout the Bay Area.  Vince  answered some of our questions about Arnold Newman. 1. What about Arnold Newman’s work has been most influential to ...

  J. Otto Seibold, Untitled, 2014. Vector illustration, dimensions variable.  Artist J. Otto Seibold was interviewed by Australian artist Kim Evans for Culturezone . They talked about books, art, graphic design, and licensing. Kim Evans: Can you please write a short introduction blurb about yourself, how wonderful you are etc . . . J. Otto Seibold: Hi, I am J. Otto Seibold. I am wonderful etc. . . I have done seven or so childrens books as co-author and primary illustrator. I also did one coffee table type of book for the Japanese market. Who/what inspired you to become an illustrator/artist? Wen did you know this is what you wanted to be? I don’t know, I am only just recently telling people that I am an artist . . . . . before that I said I was into “pictures for money” but I don’t feel that way anymore . . . . I really liked what John Hersey was dong back in the day, know what I’m saying? That shit was ill.

In summer 2014, one of CJM Chief Curator Renny Pritikin ’s first assignments was to liven up The Museum’s lobby. He invited Sacramento-based artist, Dave Lane , to create an installation. The CJM’s first major commissioned art work, Lamp of the Covenant is ninety feet long and weighs 12,000 pounds. Here, Pritikin talks with Daryl Carr, Director of Marketing, about why he chose the artist and why the work is a good fit for The Museum. Daryl Carr (DC): How did you meet David Lane? Renny Pritikin (RP) : I was hired in 2004 to be the director of the Nelson Gallery at UC Davis. I didn't know anyone in the area except an old colleague, Chris Daubert who teaches at Sacramento City College and runs the Kondos Gallery there. He's a great guy—one of these people who knows everyone. Chris said, "If there's one person in town you have to meet, it's Dave Lane. I have a show of his up now.” And so I made a trip to Sacramento to see his exhibition. It ...