An Interactive Tu b’Shevat Seder

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This costume represents air.

An Interactive Tu b’Shevat Seder

Hazon Detroit’s program intertwines art, clothing and dance to talk about Tu b’Shevat and climate change.

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

COURTESY OF HAZON

For Tu b’Shevat, Hazon Detroit will be presenting a program entitled, “Elements of Life: Moving Together with Nature, Artistically Experiencing the Beauty of Tu b’Shevat,” an interactive, sensory-rich theater experience showcasing the elements that foster the life and growth of a tree.

The program takes place 6-9 p.m. on Jan. 16 at the Berman Center for the Performing Arts. Specific viewings take place every half hour with six viewings total.

The JCC Charach gallery exhibit, “Environmentally Speaking,” begins on the same day. “Environmentally Speaking” is

TOP: Choreographed dancers will dance around the four elements with the movements representing

each element.

bringing together 15 artists from all over the country who will offer their interpretation of how they see the climate crisis. The exhibition will run until March 3 (look for a story about it in next week’s JN).

Hazon Detroit Director Wren Hack says the two programs are completely separate, though “Environmentally Speaking” spurred Hazon to create its own program.

“When they told us what they were doing and we had a meeting with one of the curators of the exhibit, it was like, wow, we could do something that complements what they’re doing that’s Tu b’Shevat-based,” Hack said.

Hazon Detroit had artist Laura Earle take the four elements, earth, wind, fire and water, and create interactive sculptures emblematic of each.

Hazon Detroit also had a clothing designer make one-of-a-kind designs based on the elements, made from all-natural fabrics. Each element has its own design that will be worn by a dancer and that dancer’s moves will be choreographed in such a way that will be emblematic of that element.

“You’ll move around the Berman Theater coming to each sculpture, and each sculpture will come to life with lighting, music, choreography and dancers, and then you’ll move through the four elements,” Hack says. “All of it ends at the Tree of Life.”

For Hazon, this is a big step away from what it typically does, now using arts and culture to illustrate that a tree may not be able to grow when the elements are affected by climate change.

“What we’re talking about is climate change in a very different, powerful and emotional way. A way of beauty and hope and through the arts,” Hack said. “We hope and believe the message comes through strongly that we are the caretakers of the Earth, and if we want our trees to grow to their full potential, then we must make sure the seed has all that it needs.”

The program is funded through the William Davidson Foundation, D. Dan & Betty Kahn Foundation and other donors.

Tickets are $18 to attend the Tu b’Shevat Seder performance. Call the Berman Box Office at (248) 432-5990 or visit theberman. org.

Big Bold Jewish Climate Fest

The Big Bold Jewish Climate Fest, a free, (mostly) online, collaborative festival, returns for a second year from Jan. 10-14.

The Fest is an international Jewish climate festival reflecting a cross-collaboration of hundreds of Jewish organizations committed to making climate action a central priority of the Jewish community.

The core planning team includes creators of the 2019 Urgency of Now: Seattle’s Jewish Climate Festival, and leading Jewish organizations Hazon and Dayenu.

The second-annual Fest is a combination of curated virtual MainStage events and a groundswell of community-produced events from Fest partners and experts.

Anchored in the holiday of Tu b’Shevat, the Fest combines theory, practice and action that participants can carry forward into their personal, professional and volunteer lives.

To register and learn more, visit www. jewishclimatefest.org.