WFHA Hosts Artist-in-Residence
Mordechai Rosenstein remembers the first time he discovered that Hebrew letters could be used for artistic expression. He was a young boy, attending Philadelphia's first Jewish day school, and he was interested in copying the Megillah.
"It was exciting," said Rosenstein. "I began using colors, experimenting with calligraphy and making the letters really alive. That is what intrigued me as a child. The flowing forms of the letters have been an inspiration to me since my youth."
Today, Rosenstein is an artist renown for his vibrant works that draw upon the inherent grace and lyrical qualities of the Hebrew alphabet. In September, he spent three days at Westchester Fairfield Hebrew Academy as an artist-in-residence, hoping to evoke some of that same passion with the school's students.
Rosenstein says he visits day schools around the country to encourage young people to tap into their own creativity and see the beauty in Hebrew letters.
His unique style evolved as a result of various influences. He was a member of the first graduating class of Akiba Hebrew Academy. While studying at The Philadelphia College of Art, abstract expressionist professor Franz Kline profoundly influenced him. By uniting his interest in Judaica and painting, Rosenstein has given a contemporary meaning to the art of Hebrew calligraphy.
At WFHA, Rosenstein conducted workshops with each grade, teaching the students about his own artwork and style, and then giving them a chance to create their own works using the Hebrew letters of their names.
As the students created, Rosenstein worked one-on-one with each child, prompting them to embellish their drawings with color and images that represented their individual personalities.
It makes you really express your imagination about your name," said
fourth-grader Eitan Magaliff, who busily decorated his Hebrew name with baseballs and the New York Yankee emblems.
"It's fun and it's artistic in a way that helps people learn who you are," he said.
Fourth-grader Julia Tortorella -Allen said that she thinks her classmates could inspire Rosenstein, as much as he inspired them.
"He can also get ideas from us," she said, hoping when Rosenstein returns to his art studio in Pennsylvania he might incorporate some of their ideas into his work.
Rosenstein's visit culminated with an evening art exhibit and sale, as well as a presentation on the history of Jewish art through the ages and what has influenced his work over the last three decades. He concluded the presentation with some of his finest and most famous pieces.
He also left behind a indelible reminder of his visit - a beautiful painting that he created while visiting WFHA. Each teacher was given the opportunity to add a brush stroke, making it is a true communal piece.