The essence of all I do is bringing stories to life . . .
Undoubtedly the many hours spent with my grandparents in their ladiesʼ wear store in Toronto was formative. I take delight in carrying on their inspiration of beautiful craftsmanship to enhance and celebrate life. I interact with the world in many ways: as a professional artist, educator, volunteer, mentor, family member, and active citizen.
A strong academic background, extensive design training, a repertoire of techniques, and enormous curiosity enable me to respond creatively to a variety of technical, architectural, personalized and conceptual challenges.
A moment of “inspired lunacy” in 2013 led to Torah Stitch By Stitch, an amazing project of education and engagement involving [so far] over 1500 people of all faiths in 28 countries who are cross-stitching the Torah in Hebrew. Please visit our website: torahstitchbystitch.org.
SELECTED COMMISSIONS
Ark gates and tapestries for Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills, Milton MA / 2015-16
From Generation to Generation series of Holy Day textiles for Beth Ezekiel Congregation, Owen Sound ON / 2014
Set of three Holy Day Torah mantles and ark curtain for Temple Israel, Ottawa ON / 2012
Set of 4 Shabbat mantles and 4 Holy Day mantles, Mitzpeh Congregation, Chattanooga TN / 2010-11
Series of Ark tapestries Congregation Shaare Torah, Gaithersburg MD / 2010
Ark curtain for Temple of Universal Judaism, New York NY / 2009
Set of 5 Holy Day Torah mantles for Temple Israel, Long Beach CA / 2009
Memorial mantle for East End Temple, New York NY; beaded crown and breastplate by Dorothy Ross / 2007
Design coordination, “Liberal Judaism” sculptural tapestry, and two Torah mantles for Golomb Chapel, Union of Reform Judaism, New York NY / 2005-6
“Seven Species”, two sets of 7 Torah mantles for Temple Anshe Sholom, Hamilton ON / 2005
“Light Shining in Darkness” tapestry for Church of St. John The Evangelist, Port Hope ON / 2004
20’ high ark gates for Bʼnai Israel Congregation, Boca Raton FL; with Jacobson Designs / 2002
Ark curtain and Torah table cover for Congregation Anshei Israel, Tucson, AZ / 2001
Building typography and ark gates for Adat Shalom, Washington DC / 2001
“From Earth To Heaven”, sculptural tapestry for lobby of Sinai Temple, Springfield MA / 2000
Coordinated series of ark curtains, tapestry, mantles, pulpit covers, and wedding canopy for The Village Shul, Toronto ON; commissioned by Petroff Partnerships Architects/ 1999-2001
Set of 14 Torah mantles for Congregation Beth Israel, Northfield NJ / 1999
Ark gates for Temple Shalom, Waterloo ON/ 1997
Ark gates, tapestry and Torah mantles for Genesis, a shared church and temple, Ann Arbor MI / 1993-6
Wedding canopy for Temple Beth Israel, Birmingham MI/ 1991
Wedding canopy for Congregation Beth Israel, Margate NJ/ 1989
Cover for a framed Scroll of Esther for Holy Blossom Temple, Toronto ON / 1985
Wedding canopy for Temple Emanu-El, Toronto ON/ 1982
3000 sq. ft of window panels for McDonalds, Toronto ON; collaboration with Bulow Fabrics and Jerome Markson Architects / 1985
“Space Warp 6” lobby installation for headquarters of The Cooperators Insurance Company, Toronto ON; commissioned by Stone & Kohn Architects / 1980
Bespoke prayer shawls for numerous clergy and lay people throughout Canada, US and Israel / since 1971
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
Blood, Milk and Tears, Fenster Gallery, Toronto ON / 2017
Jewish Culture: Arts and Tradition, Decatur Area Arts Council, Decatur IL / 2012
Under the Jerusalem Sky, Nikola Rukaj Gallery, Toronto ON / 2011
Provocative Textiles, Museum of Hebrew Union College, New York NY / 2010
Honest Threads, exhibit at Honest Edʼs by Koffler Gallery, Toronto ON / 2009
Editions, New Gallery, Toronto ON / 2007
Geniza Project, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto ON / 2006
From the Four Corners, Gift of Friendship exhibition, Toronto and Shanghai; with Laya Crust / 2002
Judging the Book by Its Cover, Spertus Museum, Chicago IL / 2000
Threads Gallery, Washington DC / 2000
Hallowed Objects, Ontario Crafts Council travelling exhibition of liturgical art / 1989
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
First artist-in-residence at Kol HaOt, Jerusalem, Israel / 2017
Artist participant in Shema & Iqra’: The Jewish-Muslim Text Project / since 2014
Designing, spearheading, and directing Torah Stitch By Stitch, an international project of people from many spiritual and cultural backgrounds joining hands and hearts and holy texts. A registered not-for-profit corporation aimed at promoting cooperation and understanding, and celebrating the beauty of the human spirit. / since 2013
Artist in Residence, Holy Blossom Temple, Toronto ON / 2012-15
Organized arts-focussed tour of Japan / 2009
Designed and edited Volunteer Association Handbook for Textile Museum of Canada / 2009
Ketubah designs for Ketubah, Ketubah (Toronto ON) and Gallery Judaica (Los Angeles CA) / since 2009
Felted Footwear workshop at Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto ON / 2008
Trainer for Elections Ontario and Elections Canada / since 2007
Faculty at Sir Sandford Fleming College, Haliburton ON / 2006-11
Organized Jewish Heritage tour of Morocco / 2005
Spearheaded Tzedakah Boxes project of UJA Federation (Toronto); proceeds used to put artists in schools / 2004-5
Healing Hands Quilt, a project of Israeli and Palestinian women and children / 2002-3
Sabbatical years living in Jerusalem, Israel / 2002-3, 2012-3
Costume designs and fabrication for The Mikado, for the Jerusalem English-Speaking Theatre / 2002
Reviewing exhibits and books for Fusion magazine / since 2002-4
Member of Cultural Services and Allocations Committee, UJA/Federation / 2001-5
Conceived, researched, designed and wrote Directory of Synagogue Artists / 1999
Textile Museum of Canada: volunteer, Shadow Box artist, Volunteer Association treasurer (2010-15) / since 1998
Director, Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition; member of jury and chair of Events committee/ 1996-2010
Subject of a documentary feature on CBC Television, Sunday Arts and Entertainment / 1993
Ontario Crafts Council; served in various capacities on committees and board / 1986-2001
Coordinator, Sukkah Project, an installation artwork by more than 50 stitchers working overs 4500 hours / 1985-9
York University Faculty of Education, developed and taught programme in textiles to art specialists / 1984
Founder and executive officer, Pomegranate Guild of Judaic Textiles, Toronto / 1982-91
Canada Studies Foundation, Toronto/Montreal group; developed curriculum materials relating Canadian art and literature in English and French/ 1971-4
Jarvis Collegiate, teaching at various times English, art, computers; cooperative education coordinator / 1970-2001
SELECTED AWARDS
Canada Council for the Arts and Landfall Trust: residency in Newfoundland / 2008
Craftsman’s Grant, Ontario Arts Council / 2006
Spertus Judaica Prize; prestigious biennial international award; with Dorothy Ross / 2000
Fonts in Use contest, P22 Fonts company / 2000
Honor Award, American Institute of Architects, for Temple Emanu-El Wedding Canopy / 1985
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Lila Sarick, “Project reveals the Torah stitch by stitch”, Canadian Jewish News, p 38, October 2 / 2014
Shira Friedman, “Religious Feminism” in David Sperber, Fringes: Jewish Art Periphery, Bar- Ilan Press / 2010
500 Judaica, Lark Books / 2010
Rahel Museah, “Spiritual Fabric”, Hadassah Magazine, September pp 64-70 / 2007
Temma Gentles, “Stories from the Geniza”, Vox Feminarum, Vol. 3 # 2 / 2003
Linda Matchan, “Judaic Art Evolves”, Boston Globe feature, December 6/ 2001
Swartz and Wolfe, ed., From Memory to Transformation, Toronto: Second Story Press / 1998
Ann McPherson, “Ceremony and Craft”, cover and feature article, Ontario Craft, Summer/ 1996
Mae Rockland Tupa, The New Work of Our Hands, Radnor PA: Chilton / 1996
Bradfield, Pringle, Ridout, Art of the Spirit: Contemporary Canadian Fabric Art, Dundurn Press / 1992
Kathryn Salomon, Jewish Ceremonial Embroidery, London: Batsford / 1987
Temma Gentles, “The artist as Worker: a real-life drama”, CraftNews, February / 1985
Frank Rasky, ” Tallis Lady is now a leading Judaica textile artist”, The Canadian Jewish News, December / 1982
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Ohel Moshe Synagogue and Museum, Shanghai China
David and Rosalyn Moss, Jerusalem
Boston Womenʼs Archives, Boston MA
Beth Tzedec Reuben and Helene Dennis Museum
Phillip and Sylvia Spertus, Austin TX
Coopers and Lybrand, Toronto ON
BIO
Associate of the Ontario College of Art (A.O.C.A.), concentration in Design / 1985
Master of Arts (English and Russian), University of Toronto / 1970
Bachelor of Education (HSA Type A, English and Russian), University of Toronto / 1970
Married to Paul • living in Toronto Canada • 6 unique and creative grandchildren