OUR COMMUNITY
Art for the Holidays PHOTO CREDIT
Meet three artists with Jewish connections participating in the BBAC Holiday Shop. ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
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ow in its 41st year, Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center’s Holiday Shop is an annual tradition where Metro Detroiters can buy unique gifts from more than 200 top local artists. Opening Dec. 2 and running through Dec. 21, the 3,000-square-foot retail area will include an expanded home goods section in 2021, plus additional baby and children’s gift items. This year, BBAC’s Holiday shop, which is free and open to the public, will also see a selection of renowned Jewish artists and artists selling Judaica. Here are three artists with Jewish connections to look for at the annual shopping event. PATTI TAPPER Jewish artist Patti Tapper centers her art around the idea of living a colorful life. Since the age of 7, she has had a passion for painting, beginning by working with pastel paints and later transitioning to oil paints. As an adult, she received a bachelor of fine arts from Bowling Green State University to continue pursuing her love for art on a
professional level. In addition to painting, Tapper also works with mixed media sculptures, but the items she’ll have for sale at the BBAC Holiday Shop are her vibrant earrings made of clay. “I like to work with bright colors,” says Tapper, a member of Temple Israel. “I work in polymer clay and usually add some metal components.” Tapper, who has been making jewelry for 20 years, is particularly drawn to the color green, especially a chartreuse green that she integrated into her unique earring designs. “That’s my favorite color,” she says of the shade. By adding metal accents like gold or silver leaf as well, Tapper says her homemade earrings can be dressed up or
Linda Buck’s mezuzahs
down for everyday wear or special occasions. “Polymer clay is awesome because it’s a very lightweight material,” she explains. “You can do a huge earring and it’s not uncomfortable for the wearer, which I love.” Tapper also has a set of earrings for sale made with both metal and pearl. “I got a kick out of pairing the metal with pearls because a lot of times, pearls are seen as really delicate and dressy,” she says. “I wanted to pair them in a different way so people could wear them with jeans or with their workout clothes, whatever they do during the day.”
Martha Zausmer’s printed cards
MARTHA ZAUSMER Martha Zausmer had an unconventional entry into the world of art. At the age of 52, she began her career making fine art, now
BBAC Holiday Show Dec. 2–Dec. 21, 2021 10 a.m.–6 p.m. MondaySaturday; 12 Noon–4 p.m. Sundays 1516 S. Cranbrook Rd. Birmingham, MI 48009 practicing for more than 30 years. “I went back to school,” she says of the transition in her 50s, graduating at age 60 with a bachelor of fine arts from Wayne State University. From there, she went on to teach children’s classes at BBAC, where she’ll be selling her Jewishthemed cards during the holiday show. “Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center has been a home away from home for me,” she says. “It’s really a place of safety and encouragement and good art.” Zausmer’s fine-art cards for sale come in a series of five designed with Jewish symbols. “I painted a collage [on them] continued on page 24 DECEMBER 2 • 2021
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