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The Hulbert Taft, Jr. Library
Museum of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
What circumstances define a "Jewish" artist? Many of the people whose work is on view pointedly refused to define their art as Jewish. Some did not perceive Judaism to be a particularly formative influence; indeed, for artists whose families came to America in the early 20th century, cultural assimilation rather than maintaining a minority identity may well have been a goal. Some felt that their artwork flowed equally from all conditions of their being and experience and that to think of their work as Jewish was limiting. Artists attempting to address the universal human condition may have perceived that a specifically Jewish frame of reference was detrimental to their intent. At various periods, being identified as a member of an ethnic, cultural, or religious minority might also have had a decidedly negative effect on one's career.
At the same time, most of these artists worked and lived within the orbit of the New York art world. Here they had access to an intellectual, socially active, urban Jewish community with leftist leanings, in addition to the larger population of avant-garde artists of other backgrounds who inhabited the city (such as Jackson Pollock, who is included in this exhibition). It is perhaps this situation, more than any religious characteristic of Judaism, that links these artists together in their pursuit of new and often revolutionary modes of expression.
The Jewish Museum maintains a unique collection of nearly 30,000 works of art, ceremonial objects, and media reflecting the global Jewish experience over more than 4,000 years.
American Jewish women have made major contributions to the art world as artists, photographers, gallery owners, museum curators, art critics, art historians, and collectors at least since the beginning of the twentieth century. Tracing the development of this group in previous centuries is difficult because biographical documentation concerning American women in the art world is scarce and the existing material rarely mentions religious origins. Since most of the artists involved do not deal with explicitly Jewish themes, and many changed their names or adopted their husbands’ names, deciding which American women artists are Jewish often involves guesswork. Whereas this poses a problem for the researcher, it also indicates to what extent these artists have integrated into the general fabric of American art and society.
Naomi M. Jackson
Jewish dance has played a major role in American Jewish culture as well as the broader dance field. In its social and folk forms it has provided a primary means for American Jews to feel connected to the ancient roots of Jewish life, as well as to the state of Israel. In the incorporation of modern and postmodern perspectives–especially in highlighting individuality, female expression, and varied minority perspectives–Jewish choreographers have foreshadowed and been a contributor to progressive developments in organized Judaism. Their work has also greatly contributed to the growth of American dance as a contemporary art form, embracing racial, religious, and ethnic diversity, demonstrating excellence, and promoting humanistic values. From myjewishlearning.com
Judith Brin Ingber
Whether for economic, cultural, or political reasons, fewer Jewish women went into ballet than into modern dance. A number of Jewish women, however, became well known in the field of ballet. Those interested in ballet studied with gentile classical teacher-choreographers, such as Mikhai Fokine, Michael Mordkin, and Adolf Bolm. They performed in the main ballet companies, including the American Ballet Theatre, the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, George Balanchine’s New York City Ballet, and even Radio City Music Hall’s ballet company. An unexpected outcome of the popularity of ballet study in American by the 21st century is its influence in a wide background of American childhoods, including children of Orthodox Jewish communities. From Jewish Women's Archive.
Judith Brin Ingber
Jewish women were particularly attracted to the field of modern dance and were trained by canonic dance personalities, companies, and institutions, including Isadora Duncan and her Isadorables, Denishawn, the Martha Graham Dance Company, the Humphrey-Weidman Company, Alwin Nikolais, the New Dance Group, the Dance Theater Workshop, and Judson Dance Theater. In turn, Jewish women became modern dance performers, teachers, choreographers, company directors, costumers, lighting designers, critics, writers, and researchers. From Jewish Women's Archive.
A YouTube video
Throughout the 20th century, Jews have always contributed to American popular music, from Irving Berlin to Carole King and beyond. But according to musician Joe Alterman, executive director of Neranenah Concert & Culture Series, the Jewishness of the music is defined by its story and not necessarily its melody. Part performance, part storytelling, Alterman, shares great American music with its fascinating Jewish stories woven in.
Joe Alterman began at NYU with a BA and Masters in Jazz Piano from NYU and has since performed at many world renowned venues including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Birdland and the Blue Note alongside Houston Person, Les McCann, Dick Gregory, Ramsey Lewis, and his own trio, among others.
from My Jewish Learning
American Jews have always walked a fine line between retaining a distinctive national identity and assimilating into the broader culture. Definitions of American Jewish music reflect this delicate balance: The category “American Jewish music” may constitute any music written in America by Jews; music of a particularly religious nature composed for some religious purpose; music that functions as a culturally defining artifact; or some combination of all these.
By Dan Farrant for hellomusictheory.com/.
Some of the most popular and influential artists in the music industry were born into Jewish homes. Jewish singers have graced us with evergreen songs across all genres, singing about everything from important political and social issues to philosophical introspections and love.
Read on to learn more about some of the greatest and most famous Jewish singers who enchanted the globe with their music. By Dan Farrant for https://hellomusictheory.com/.
Some of the biggest rock stars in history happen to be Jewish, either by birth or conversion. [Bob Dylan, Gene Simmons, Lou Reed, Billy Joel, Neil Diamond, and many more!]
Given the rich musical tradition of the Jewish people, this should hardly come as a surprise. Songs are used in celebration, in times of happiness and in times of sorrow. Holy scriptures are shared out loud in a chanting presentation, rather than simply being spoken.