Plays on Jewish identity

See Josh Kornbluth perform at the Herberger Theater Center through Sunday

Valley audiences have two chances this month to explore issues of Jewish identity through the medium of performance art — as two plays take to Phoenix stages.

First, “Andy Warhol: Good for the Jews?” presented by Actors Theatre through this Sunday at the Herberger Theater Center in downtown Phoenix.

It’s a reflection by playwright and monologist Josh Kornbluth on a series of Andy Warhol prints that caused quite a stir when first exhibited in 1980.

The prints feature ten prominent Jews of the 20th century– including Franz Kafka, Gertrude Stein, Martin Buber, Albert Einstein, Louis Brandeis, George Gershwin, Golda Meir, Sarah Bernhardt, Sigmund Freud and the Marx brothers.

Kornbluth’s show is described as “an irreverent mix of autobiography, music, philosophy and improvisation.” It’s “a wide-ranging meditation on art and religion” that recounts, in non-liner fashion, how Kornbluth’s discovery of his own “Jewishness” was fueled by Warhol’s work.

Tickets for remaining performances are available for just $15, making this one of the best theater values in town. Perhaps Kornbluth’s musings will even inspire you to discover your own “artistness.”

See Michael Kary, Ben Tyler and Andrea Dovner perform with Arizona Jewish Theatre Company starting March 24 (Photo: Mark Gluckman)

Second, “My Name is Asher Lev” by the Arizona Jewish Theatre Company presented March 24-April 3 at the John Paul Theatre on the campus of Phoenix College.

“My name is “Asher Lev,” by Aaron Posner, is based on a novel of the same name authored by Chaim Potok. It’s the story of a young Hassidic painter in New York City who’s torn between his observant Jewish community and his need to create.”

Themes include beauty, truth, ambition and tradition. Plus “difficult choices” — between “art and faith” as well as “passion and family.”

Both works consider what it means to be Jewish and what it means to be an artist — but by vastly different means. Seeing both, I think, presents a rare opportunity to explore the diversity and depth of modern-day storytelling.

— Lynn

Note: When you visit the Arizona Jewish Theatre Company website, be sure and check out information on their summer theater camps for youth. With any luck at all, Kornbluth will decide to do a summer camp for grown-ups.

Coming up: That’s absurd!

Ode to laundry lint?

Laundry is an everyday occurence at our house — but sometimes it feels elevated to its own sort of fine art. When I pulled a thick, long strip of espresso-colored lint from a dryer screen recently, I was struck by the rich color and texture — wondering what it might become if given life outside a trash bin.

Ode to Green by Scottsdale artist Jill Friedberg

Alas — I hadn’t yet discovered Scottsdale artist Jill Friedberg. I imagined my husband finding me saving yet another object for it’s artistic potential. Thankfully, he has yet to uncover the rough-textured putty grey egg carton I recently set aside for a school art project — or other recent additions to my stash.

I recalled the lint, which seemed to me a thing of beauty, after chatting Friday afternoon with Friedberg. I learned of her work from Cynthia Henry with the Arizona Department of Health Services, who noted that the three of us have all served at one time or another on a committee charged with reducing stigma against those living with mental illness.

As we spoke by phone, Friedberg rattled off a list of materials she’s enjoyed working with of late, including laundry lint. I felt a sense of wonder where I’d once felt only shame. Turns out that themes of beauty, shame and wonder are integral to many of her works — which include photography, sculpture, painting and more.

Wall Sculpture I by Jill Friedberg

Friedberg shared early in our conversation that she’s been making art since very early in life. I recalled a clay sculpture once crafted by my now 19-year-old daughter Jennifer. She was two at the time. I remember being struck by its sophistication — which called to mind memories of visits to some of Europe’s great art museums in Italy, Paris and London.

Jennifer has been creating art from just about everything she encounters practically from the womb. She’s an artist through and through — though I don’t think she’s necessarily connected yet with that essential part of her being. She dances around it, but has yet to embrace herself as artist and creator. Instead, she studies cultural anthropology — perhaps just another facet of the same jewel.

My own mother saw something similar in me as a child, and created plenty of spaces and places for playing with diverse ideas and materials. Perhaps she once wondered why I chose the study of religion and philosophy over art, a query I’m not sure I can answer except to posit that playing with thought and language might be its own form of artistic expression.

Dancing Within by Jill Friedberg

Friedberg says her mom pretty much gave her the run of the kitchen as a child. It was there that Friedberg’s earliest art was born — crafted of eager little fingers exploring gobs of multi-colored frosting. Even today, Friedberg quips that “frosting is paint.” So do all those cupcake boutiques popping up of late really signal a deeper yearning for creativity?

I got to wondering about all sorts of things after talking with Friedberg — the best tribute, perhaps, to her ability to create, inspire and foster genuine wonderment with fellow travelers. I remembered how we used to encourage Jennifer during her own early childhood explorations of food as art media. “You’re a food artist,” we often marveled.

It had never occured to me that there might be others out there who appreciate the fine art of lint and frosting. I’m hoping to meet Friedberg before too long, for we have many things in common — including an interest in art of the Holocaust and a belief in the absolute necessity of arts in a robust education.

I’ll share more about Friedberg and her work in a future post. In the meantime, make some time Saturday night to get to know her yourself. She’s one of 22 Arizona artists whose work is featured at an exhibit that runs through March 27 at the Herberger Theater Center Art Gallery in downtown Phoenix.

Wall Sculpture II by Jill Friedberg

She’ll be there Sat, Jan 8, from 5:30-7pm for the opening reception of “Sacred Places.” The exhibit includes two of her works, titled “Ode to Green” and “Dancing Within.” You also can enjoy Friedberg’s artwork at her local studio — or get a taste right now by clicking here to visit her website.

But after connecting with this amazing woman, mother and artist, I’ve no doubt that the best way to enjoy her work is right alongside her. The reception is free, the setting is lovely and the company will be grand.

— Lynn

Note: Watch for a future post sharing more about Friedberg’s current projects and work in the community.

Coming up: From preschool tap lessons to dancing in a Broadway show, Tips for students heading out for this season’s round of B.F.A. program auditions

Photos courtesy of Jill Friedberg