This past Wednesday, The Frisch School, in Paramus, NJ, sent its 11th Grade Arts Track (in which I am a student) on a field trip to The Iona College Arts Center in New Rochelle, NY. My peers and I, accompanied by Mrs. Ahuva (Mantell) Winslow, Director of the Frisch Arts Program, visited Iona to view a special exhibit curated by New Rochelle-based artist Fred Spinowitz, entitled “psalmIMAGESand.” This exhibit features recently-completed artwork by Mr. Spinowitz, who represented Psalms through 150 watercolor and acrylic paintings, each highlighting a specific theme from the Psalms. “psalmIMAGESand” has a very unique concept and the trip was made more special by the fact that Mr. Spinowitz is the grandfather of one of the students in the Arts Track.

Mr. Spinowitz began his project by asking six local photographers to choose three pesukim of Tehillim to which they felt a connection. The photographers—David Brown, Bart Gorin, Liv Jordan, Sagit Shans, Ahron Weiner and Scott Wright—were each asked to submit three works, new or old, that related to their chosen Psalms. Only then did Mr. Spinowitz show his series on the Psalms to the photographers and discuss his own artwork with them. The results were unexpected as many of the image sets, photographic works and art work, shared similar colors, images, curves and lines. Viewing the exhibit, it was so interesting to see how different people with different backgrounds, and even different religions, connected in many similar ways to the psalms that were chosen.

The exhibit focuses on the artists’ interpretations of each psalm, as well as how the works of the photographers are paired with Mr. Spinowitz’s works. My classmates and I toured the exhibit with Mr. Spinowitz, who spoke about his history and techniques as an artist for over 40 years. I know all of us in the class gained a new perspective on the concept of interpretation in the process of making art.

As part of the Arts Track in Frisch, the students dedicate one day a week to the so-called, “Artists’ Beit Midrash,” where students learn and discuss various parts of Tanach and prayers with their teachers, Mrs. Winslow and Mrs. Levy, and then create works of art based on what they have learned. And, like the “psalmsIMAGESand” exhibit, the results are often surprising, as many of the students’ artwork share similarities.

After having explained the concept of interpretation in art, Mr. Spinowitz said something that really resonated with me. “Drawing is a universal language,” said Mr. Spinowitz. “You can be anywhere and not speak a language but if you can draw, you’re set.”

By Liora Brainson, Frisch junior