RIMONartifacts nourishing Jewish life through the arts

Summer 5776/2016

Announcing A

New Season of

Artist Salons

Mission Statement: Rimon promotes and enhances Jewish identity through arts and culture, supports artists who broadly explore Jewish themes, and assists the Minnesota Jewish

community in developing a collaborative involvement with the arts.

“Salon Season” CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE.

version mounted at Terezin. Maggie Bearmon Pistner was awarded funding to revise and re-mount They Called Her Captain in March of 2016 at the Sabes JCC. The one-woman play tells the remarkable story of a young Jewish woman who became a Captain in the US Army during WWII. Jewfolk Media, Inc. was awarded financial support to launch

Nine Project Suppor t Grants Awarded in 2015 -16

Cultural Center of Minnesota. The production was inspired by an earlier

Rimon awarded Project Support grants to nine artists and organizations in 2015-16. The Project Support grants provide financial, artistic development, marketing, and production support to projects that explore Jewish identity, history, or values through the arts. Judith Brin Ingber received financial support to direct and choreograph a production of the children’s musical, Broucci, in May 2016 at the Sokol Czech and Slovak “Nine Grants” CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Rimon opens its 2016-17 Artist Salon series on November 2 at the Cowles Center for Dance with visiting Israeli dance artist Sharon Eyal, a longtime performer and choreographer with Israel’s leading dance company Batsheva. Judith Brin Ingber, a renowned Minnneapolis-based scholar of Israeli dance, will moderate the discussion. Eyal is the 2016 featured artist in the McKnight Foundation’s International Choreographer Program.

Minneapolis-based writer, director, and dance-theater artist Stuart Pimsler is featured in the second Artist Salon on January 22 which will include a performance of Pimsler’s 30-minute solo work, At It Again, as the starting point for dialogue on the Jewish-American author Philip Roth. The Salon will take place at the Playwrights’ Center, and Hayley Finn, associate

On June 6th a large, enthusiastic audience packed the Metropolitan Ballroom in Golden Valley for P’Chotchka, Rimon’s annual celebration of the arts and artists whom Rimon has supported in recent years. The room was full of arts lovers, community leaders, musicians, playwrights, dancers, painters, photographers, filmmakers and poets. Everyone present felt the manifold ways that the eight featured artists had made a difference in the world—an impact that spanned from south Minneapolis to Bangladesh. The artists each chose 18 images that had inspired or moved them. They used 18 seconds per image to

A Night to Celebrate and Inspire

speak to that inspiration. Each had received a Project Support grant, been featured in an Artist Salon, or had won a prize in the Keren Or contest for teens. The presentations reminded us why

we need art—to astonish us, to be a conscience in a world that has lost its moral compass, to bring attention to the wonder which passes in front of us every day, to remind us of the long arc of humanity that has preceded us. Most urgently today we

need art to build bridges between communities, forging heart-felt, intelligent connections which can bypass the ignorance and misunderstandings that separate us. It was truly a night to celebrate and

inspire.

Photo by Leighton Siegel l to r: Lynda Monick-Isenberg, Joyce Lyon, Izzy Rousmaniere, Joel Carter, Rachel Breen, Alan Berks, Alison Morse, David Sherman

Judith Eisner

Artistic Director of the Center, will lead the dialogue.

Social media are upending the tools and venues for making art and experiencing it. Rimon is collaborating in its third Salon with the NextGen group at JFCS to look at the emerging art forms, how they are curated by the user, their use in identity formation, and how technology is used to interact with other voices. The Artist Salon on February 12 will be held at Intermedia Arts and features Minneapolis-born Jason Shapiro, a much-followed tweeter and writer for TV, and Andrea Siegel, a locally based social media analyst.

The final Artist Salon on April 30 features filmmaker Michael Forstein, a 2016 recipient of the McKnight Media Artist Fellowship and director/editor of the recent much-acclaimed short film Meat. Forstein, who is in the early phases of creating a feature-length film, Days of Awe, will give the Salon audience an intriguing window into the developmental processes of filmmaking. The Salon will take place at St. Paul’s Bedlam Lowertown and will be moderated by noted Jewish playwright Deborah Yarchun.

“Salon Season” FROM PAGE 1

“Nine Grants” FROM PAGE 1

“Everyone’s a Critic,” a new channel for critical writing about Jewish art and artists in the Twin Cities. Twin Cities Jewish Chorale received funding to help underwrite its 2015-16 season consisting of two full concerts and three outreach programs. Tamara Nadel was awarded funding to create a dance performance inspired by the medieval Jewish poets of Spain, creating a bridge between Jewish culture and the dance and musical traditions of South India. Judith Eisner received funding from

Rimon to commission four Twin Cities women composers to set early 20

th

century Yiddish poetry to music. Performance of the new works will celebrate the 25

th anniversary of the

Minneapolis Yiddish Vinkl. Northern Starz Theatre Company received financial support to mount I Never Saw Another Butterfly in the winter of 2017. The production will provide participating children and audiences an opportunity to learn about Jewish culture, history, and the tragedy of the Holocaust. Cia Sautter received funding to perform her dance-theater piece Golmah, inspired by the classic tale of the Golem, at the Minnesota Fringe Festival in the summer of 2016. Illusion Theater received funding to mount the world premiere production of the musical Only One Sophie by Michael Robins. The play explores the intersection of Jewish immigrant culture and modern American Jewish life.

Stage by Stage Support Brings

Why We Laugh to Life

“Life is short; art is long.” There is no better illustration of that adage than the play Why We Laugh, which had its North American premiere and first theatrical run in September 2015, supported by a grant from Rimon.

The play’s origins go back more than 60 years to an actual cabaret performed by Jewish prisoners at Terezín. Decades later, scholar Lisa Peschel visited the Czech Republic, interviewed survivors, and found fragments of scripts and lyrics from the cabaret. Peschel asked playwright Kira Obolensky and composer Craig Harris to turn the research into a lively and compelling evening of theater.

Obolensky’s script alternates cabaret scenes with reflections of a current-day scholar. Soon time warps and the stories intertwine. Past impacts present, but present also poignantly impacts past. The scholar and the audience know how the prisoner/performers’ stories will end. Those who struggle to survive must do so without knowing the outcome.

Rimon’s involvement began in 2010, when a Project Support grant to the Playwrights’ Center assisted the early development of Kira Obolensky’s script. That led to a 2011 European tour highlighted by a performance at Terezín and attended by Holocaust survivors, including original composer Pavel Stránský.

In 2015 a second Rimon grant supported the American premiere of the work produced by Fortune’s Fool Theater Company back in the community where it began. 476 people attended the critically acclaimed performances held at Open Eye Figure Theater in Minneapolis.

VISIT US AT

WWW.RIMONMN.ORG

Fortune’s Fool Theatre

Why We Laugh

Let’s Make

a Deal!

Rimon has secured discounted tickets for two Sunday matinee performances (December 4 and 11) of Park Square Theatre’s production of The Soul of Gershwin: The Musical Journey of an American Klezmer, created and written by Joseph Vass.

Brought back by popular demand, the play transports its audience to New York in the early 1900s, where a creative melding of different cultures created the “American Songbook.” George Gershwin himself, joined by three outstanding singers and a fantastic band, reveals the folk songs, blues, jazz, Yiddish theater, cantorial chants, and opera that fused into songs like I Got Rhythm and Embraceable You.

The Rimon discounted price is $30 (a $10 savings). Tickets at this price are limited, so don’t procrastinate. Go online to make your reservation at www.rimonmn.org or call the Rimon office at 952-381-3449.

Park Square Theatre

The Soul of Gershwin

Photo by William Chu

Days of Awe

Thank you to our generous donors!

Rimon Advisory Board Members & Staff

$1000+ Anonymous (in memory of David Tychman) Beverly & Richard Fink Lucy Rose & Mark Fischer Janet & Herbert Fisher (z’’l) Mimi & Steve Fisher Mike & Ann Ginsburgh Hofkin Bruce Goodman Janet Kampf Metropolitan Regional Arts Council Minneapolis Jewish Federation RBC Wealth Management Phil & Tammie Rosenbloom Eileen Siegel (z”l) Oren & Sharron Steinfeldt Family Foundation Tzedaka Fund/Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. Lawrence & Barbara Yost

$500-999 Adath Jeshurun Congregation Beth El Congregation Judy & Arnie Brier Joel Carter Nancy Fisher Renae & Phil Goldman David Jordan Harris & Ward Bauman Joan & Melvin Harris (z’’l) InHEIRitance Project Jewish Community Relations Council of MN & the Dakotas Paula & Michael Pergament Rockler Woodworking & Hardware Dianne & Leighton Siegel David Weinberg Randi Winston & Barry Wolfish

$100-499 Allied Parking Roz Baker Judith Belzer Ofer Ben-Amots Beth Jacob Congregation Judith Brin Ingber Carol & Michael Bromer Barbara Camm Shelli Chase & John Feldman Lili & Sheldon Chester Chestnut Cambronne. P.A. Rabbi Alexander Davis Betsy & Julius Edlavitch Suzanne Fenton & Dan Lieberman Harvey & Debra Fisher Goldstein Carolyn Fiterman Michael Forstein

Laura French Judy & Jamie (z’’l) Gaviser Bette Globus Goodman Leah Golberstein Siana Goodwin Jonathan Gross Arlis & Erv Grossman Leslie Hahn & Merrill Biel Rani Halpern & Joel Green Lisa Heilicher Bonnie & Steve Heller Hodroff-Epstein Memorial Chapels Hofkin Investment Capital Mamie Kanfer & Justin Stewart Darla Kashian Reva Kibort Jean King & Stuart Applebaum Helen Kivnick & Gary Gardner Kathryn Klibanoff & Jeremy Pierotti Judi Lamble Julie & Maury Landsman Cynthia Launer Randi Levine Andrea Lubov & Allan Schultz Lunds/Byerly’s Rhoda & Don Mains Esther Malabel & Stuart Kaufman Dorothy Marden Jim Miller & Tony Anastasia Jay & Lynda Monick-Isenberg Mount Zion Temple Micki & Mort Naiman Kӓren Nemer Park Tavern Bowling & Entertainment Marvin Pertzik Ann & Felix Phillips Jason Rodovsky Reva Rosenbloom Holly Ross Lydia Roth-Laube Ellen & Martin Sampson Susi Saxl & Robert Kramer Heidi Schneider & Joel Mintzer Marsha Schoenkin & Stuart Bear Carrie Siegel Steve & Laura Silberfarb Sherry Stern & Steve Snyder Katherine & Jeff Tane Temple Israel Miriam Weinstein Barbra Wiener Al & Sue Zelickson

$18-99 Carolyn Abramson Joyce & David Abramson Barbara Amram Marilyn Anderson

Robyn Awend Wendy Baldinger Harriet Bart Jane Bassuk Lois Berman Rebecca Biderman & David Fraher Jane & Gene Borochoff Rachel Breen Barbara Brooks Nancy Brown Cantor Scott Buckner Perci Chester & Mitch Bender Marilyn Chiat Gloria Cooper Nomi Dworkin Zachary Feinstein Noreen Fisher Barbara & Norman Fishman Bev & Bill Fishman Barbara Frank Wendy & Phil Freshman Penny Galinson Lois & Larry Gibson Elaine Gingold Meri Golden Susan & Bill Goldenberg Bobbie Goldfarb Cynthia & Harold Goldfine Marsha Golob Joy Gordon Ina & Larry Gravitz Susan & Doug Greenberg Craig Harris Rabbi Hayim Herring Lorraine Hertz Sylvia Horwitz Phyllis Kahn Carole & Martin Kaplan Shana Kaplow Markle Karlen Judith Katz Barry Kleider Gary Klein Harriet Kohen Shelley Kornblum & Mickey Greenberg Bette & Lou Kotlarz Susan Lazar Reva Lear Jane Levin & Judy Reisman Matt Levitt Steven Levy Liberty Diversified Joyce Lyon Laura McMahon Ruth Markowitz Nicole & Noah Mass Susan & Michael Minsberg

Mirjana Mladinov Alison Morse Rosanne Nathanson Bruce Nemer Charlotte & Irving Nudell Joyce & Martin Orbuch Debra & John Orenstein Aimee Orkin Etta Fay Orkin Phil Oxman & Harvey Zuckman Sandy Pappas & Neal Gosman Linda Passon-McNally Susan & Al Phipps-Yonas Suzanne Prass Susan Rappaport Belina Reisman & Floyd Knight Michael Robins Jason Rose Andrea & Jim Rubenstein Bonnie Rubinstein Ryan Companies Mimi Sanders Todd Sandler Sue & Larry Savett Wendy Schwartz Kate Searls & Dan Rybeck Marsha & Joel Seltz Michelle Shapiro Pneena & Sheldon Sheps Estie & Jim Sherman Jeff Sherman Mort Silverman Harold Smith Susan Spray Andrea Stern Sharon & David Stillman Joni & Peter Sussman Judith & Bruce Tennebaum Denise Tennen Jon Weiss Barbara Wiener Jenna Zark & Pete Budd Sharon Zweigbaum (As of July 1, 2015 - July 31, 2016)

Board Officers Janet Kampf, Chair Debra Fisher Goldstein, Vice Chair Andrea Lubov, Secretary/Treasurer

Advisory Board Robyn Awend Judy Brier Joel Carter Michael Forstein Judy Gaviser Ann Ginsburgh Hofkin Phil Goldman

Siana Goodwin Jonathan Gross Darla Kashian Maury Landsman Kären Nemer Linda Passon-McNally Paula Pergament Lisa Pogoff Marley Richman Jason Rose Todd Sandler Cantor Rachel Stock Spilker Peter Sussman Katherine Tane D. Marcos Vital

Honorary Board Judith Brin Ingber Barbara Camm Mimi Fisher Penny Galinson Rani Halpern Bonnie Heller Jay Isenberg Evan Maurer Reva Rosenbloom RuthAnn Weiss z’’l

Staff David Jordan Harris, Executive Director Siri Maitra, Administrative Assistant

Rimon: The MN Jewish Arts Council

Barry Family Campus

4330 S Cedar Lake Road

Minneapolis, MN 55416

www.rimonmn.org

rimon@sabesjcc.org

NonProfit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Twin Cities, MN

Permit 3474

PLEASE SUPPORT RIMON WITH A GENEROUS DONATION.

Help write the next chapter in Rimon’s story…

Slingshot, the national resource guide for Jewish innovation, chose Rimon for the 5th year in a row as one of the 50 most innovative Jewish non-profits in North America.

The Rimon Arts Fund, supported by the generosity of hundreds of community donors, has awarded $140,000 to 72 projects since 2005. The next deadline for submitting grant applications is September 2.

Rimon continues to grow the Keren Or creative arts contest. 68 teens participated from Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox backgrounds as well as from unaffiliated families. Students hailed from 20 schools—public, private, charter, and home-school.

Did you hear the spectacular performance in May of Bulgariana for violin and

piano by internationally renowned composer Ofer Ben-Amots? Rimon commissioned it for an Artist Salon.

Rimon’s fiscal year ends on August 31, so don’t delay!