Hillel Smith with his mural for the ViBe District.
With several workshops and discussions on contemporary Judaica, graphic artist Hillel Smith lectured, inspired, encouraged, and produced art during his mid-February visit.
Smith led a lunch discussion on his book, Parsha Posters, as a part of the Simon Family JCC’s Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival during his Jewish Book Council tour. Following the lunch discussion, participants took a tour of the Leon Family Gallery that featured all 54 parshiot from the Parsha Posters project.
Hillel Smith at the Women’s Cabinet papercuts workshop.
Smith also led a gallery tour for Hebrew Academy of Tidewater’s fouth and fifth graders, which culminated in a workshop on Hebrew calligraphy. The students spent time talking about the Hebrew alphabet and creating their own Hebrew calligraphy with graphite sticks.
Women’s Cabinet participated in a Hiddur Mitzvah workshop, where cabinet members learned how to create Judaica papercut art.
Smith also spent time with UJFT’s Young Adult Division women at their latest “Ladies Night In,” held in the home of Jillian Sachs. During a challah cover workshop, the women created challah covers with colors and graphics “that spoke to them.”
In between workshops, Smith began work on a mural at the Simon Family JCC which will be displayed in the ViBe District in Virginia Beach. Just before leaving Tidewater, Smith completed his mural for the ViBe District, a graphic representation of the Hebrew letter Aleph—which is now part of the 18th Street Parklet.
For information on Leon Family Gallery or Book Festival, visit JewishVA.org/Arts-Ideas or contact Arts + Ideas manager, Callah Terkeltaub at CTerkeltaub@ujft.org or 321-2331.
HAT 4th and 5th graders in Hebrew Caligraphy workshop with artist, Hillel Smith.