Nov 12, 2017–Feb 25, 2018
The Dorothy Saxe Invitational is The CJM’s longest-running commitment; endowed in Dorothy’s name by her late husband George Saxe, the Invitational asks artists to make work that relates to selected Jewish ritual objects. For 2017, the eleventh iteration of the series, we have for only the second time commissioned works inspired by a Jewish idea, that of the Sabbath. Fifty-seven artists are showing three-dimensional work displayed on shelves and pedestals, filling the gallery with colorful and surprising forms.
Share your experience with us @jewseum using #Saxe2017
Shalom Hartman Institute scholar Rabbi Rani Jaeger explains the ideas behind the Sabbath.
Inviting fifty-seven artists to comment on Sabbath—the day of rest—gives the diverse group an opportunity to examine the depth of the fourth commandment, its influences, and its universality. A pillar of many religions and a staple of the modern workweek, the ideas in the Sabbath are integral to how time is viewed.
Continuing the Invitational’s commitment to the art of craft, each work is three-dimensional, with artists exploring the theme through a wide range of materials such as ceramic, wood, and glass. The works of art are displayed both on shelves and under vitrines on pedestals, filling the gallery with colorful and surprising forms.
The CJM welcomed participating artists from around the United States to interpret this day from their own unique perspective and to engage with its contemporary relevance. All works of art in the exhibition is for sale; proceeds benefit the artists and The CJM exhibition program.
Lauren Bartone
Terry Berlier *
Laura Boles Faw
Diedrick Brackens
Randy Colosky *
Nathan Cordero
Sofía Córdova
Torreya Cummings
Chris Daubert
Al Farrow
Nicole Phungrasamee Fein
Bella Feldman *
Chris Fraser
Erik Geschke *
Rebekah Goldstein *
Nicki Green
Beth Grossman *
Valerie Hegarty
Stephen Hendee
Elisabeth Higgins O'Connor
Jennifer Holt
Sergei Isupov
Sheila Klein
Mirka Knaster
Lisa Kokin *
Cary Leibowitz
Beth Lipman
Cybele Lyle *
Tom Marioni *
Cathy McClure
Em Meine
Jim Melchert
Michael Elijah Meyer
Geri Montano
Richard Notkin *
Kambui Olujimi
Zemer Peled
Joshua Pieper
Susan Plum *
Lucy Puls *
Sofie Ramos
Leah Rosenberg *
Zachary Royer Scholz *
Jeff Schwarz
Kay Sekimachi *
Richard Shaw *
Joshua Peder Stulen
April Surgent
Chris Taggart
Lisa Jonas Taylor
Lava Thomas
Monica Van den Dool
Jason Walker
Patti Warashina
Kurt Weiser
Allan Wexler *
Wanxin Zhang
* Participated in a previous Invitational
Kids find ‘heart of Shabbat’ in their artwork, now on display at CJM, J. The Jewish News of Northern California (JWeekly)
Sabbath: The 2017 Dorothy Saxe Invitational | CJM, BARTable
Museum gotta see 'em, San Mateo Daily Journal
Remember the Sabbath: 57 artists respond in imaginative exhibit
Artistically engaged: a datebook, Bay Area Reporter
Contemporary Jewish Museum Opens Sabbath-Oriented Exhibit, Hoodline
Jewish Museum of San Francisco artist interprets Sabbath (interviews with artist Nicole Phungrasamee Fein and Executive Director Lori Starr), NTDTV.com
note: this video is in Chinese, but the interview is in English
Sabbath: The 2017 Dorothy Saxe Invitational is organized by The Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco. An endowed sponsorship for this exhibition was created by George Saxe, z”l, in honor of Dorothy R. Saxe. Major support has been provided by Phyllis Cook and Wendy Kesser. Supporting Sponsorship is provided by Robert and Judy Aptekar.
The Contemporary Jewish Museum thanks The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts for its lead sponsorship of The Museum’s exhibition program.