Artist in Residence

All events take place at Temple Beth-El, 3330 Grove Avenue, Richmond, VA 23221. Click on any event to register.

Temple Beth-El is thrilled to welcome Mordechai Rosenstein for a weekend of creative events in April (See right sidebar for schedule of events).

Based in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, Mr. Rosenstein graduated from the Philadelphia College of Art and has been creating for decades. He was influenced by Abstract Expressionist Franz Kline, as well as the modern Impressionist work of Matisse and Van Gogh. Early in his career he began to envision Jewish calligraphy in a contemporary light.

His work is consistently inspired by the visuals of the Hebrew alphabet. “The flowing forms of the letters have been an inspiration to me since my youth” he remarks. He embellishes both Hebrew and English letters with a glow and rhythm as they dance across the paper symbolizing his love for Judaism. He finds artistic sparks from ancient Jewish texts as well as nature.

While he may be most known for his limited edition silk-screen designs, his vibrant shapes and colors have created customized commissions in both two and three dimensional media. His creations include tapestries, stained glass, and murals that now grace both private collections and public Jewish institutions around the world.

After public events Thursday through Saturday, on Sunday he will work with Temple Beth El’s religious school, including students from pre-kindergarten through high school. The opportunity to work with children and adults in the community helps motivate Mr. Rosenstein to maintain his active travel schedule. He feels “It is very stimulating and rewarding to interact with members and communities throughout the country and develop a rapport with them.”

Mr. Rosenstein’s art will be exhibited and available for orders at all of the weekend’s events including the Creative Open House. He will have more than fifty framed works and more than one-hundred unframed images available for order including a wide variety of styles.

All events take place at Temple Beth El, 3330 Grove Avenue, Richmond, VA 23221. See right side bar for schedule of events.