Papercuts & Tapestries: A Mother Daughter Collaboration
A Lecture With Tamar Shadur
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 | 6:00
In person at Historic Northampton and online as a virtual event on Zoom
"Proclaim Liberty"
Papercut by Yehudit Shadur (1928-2011) curtesy of Tamar Shadur |
Northampton resident Tamar Shadur is an artist whose tapestries include some that were designed by her mother, a renowned Jewish papercut artist. In her presentation, Tamar will show a selection of Yehudit Shadur's (1928-2011) papercuts that were inspired by the Jewish devotional folk-art of papercutting, her tapestries, and the process of this mother-daughter collaboration.
Papercuts have been known in Jewish ceremonial art at least since the 18th century when they were used to decorate Italian ketubot (marriage contracts). In the 19th century, the papercut gained popularity in Eastern Europe where folk artists created mizrah (east) plaques marking the wall facing Jerusalem, and decorations for the sukkah, home, and synagogue. Papercut amulets were also made by Jews in North Africa. In the early decades of the 20th century, the art of papercutting began to decline and seemed destined to become another lost folk craft. After the Holocaust it was all but forgotten. Yehudit Shadur had been instrumental in the revival of this rich traditional art form. As a contemporary artist, she incorporated her own personal approach to Jewish art forms in her papercuts. With her husband Joe Shadur, she published two definitive books on the history, guide, and symbols in Jewish papercuts. Tamar’s own work has built not only on her mother’s legacy as a papercut artist but also the influences of local history and western Massachusetts. |
Sliding Scale: $10-35
|
Register for the In-Person event
|
Register for the Zoom event
|
Commemorating Northampton Through Papercut:
A Workshop for Children & Families
A Workshop for Children & Families
Sunday, November 17, 2024 | 2:00
A Selection of Papercuts made in previous workshops
|
Join artist Tamar Shadur in an exploration of the beloved folk tradition of Papercuts. Together participants will design and make their own papercut art pieces to take home, all inspired by the art, history, and material culture of Northampton. Using simple materials, we'll explore papercutting techniques such as symmetry, positive and negative shapes, and meaningful symbols. Combining local history with hands-on collaborative artmaking, the workshop will offer a fulfilling and creative experience for children and their families.
The workshop is open to children (3rd grade and up) with accompanying adult(s). Using simple techniques and provided materials, children and adults will have the opportunity to create at least one paper cut to take home. |
Sliding Scale: $20-40
About Tamar Shadur
Following an education in fine arts, in 1978, Tamar apprenticed in the Aubusson technique at the Jerusalem Tapestry Workshop directed by George Goldstein. She worked on fine mural-size tapestries designed by prominent artists, Jean Lurçat among them. In the 1980s and 90s, in addition to weaving her own designs, Tamar collaborated with her mother, producing several tapestries with symbolic images and Hebrew text depicted in Y. Shadur’s papercuts. Her work has been exhibited in galleries throughout the U.S. and Israel. Tamar teaches workshops in tapestry weaving as well as in papercutting arts. She gives talks and powerpoint presentations about the history of tapestry art and folk traditions of papercut art.
Following an education in fine arts, in 1978, Tamar apprenticed in the Aubusson technique at the Jerusalem Tapestry Workshop directed by George Goldstein. She worked on fine mural-size tapestries designed by prominent artists, Jean Lurçat among them. In the 1980s and 90s, in addition to weaving her own designs, Tamar collaborated with her mother, producing several tapestries with symbolic images and Hebrew text depicted in Y. Shadur’s papercuts. Her work has been exhibited in galleries throughout the U.S. and Israel. Tamar teaches workshops in tapestry weaving as well as in papercutting arts. She gives talks and powerpoint presentations about the history of tapestry art and folk traditions of papercut art.