Beth Grossman

2011-12-06T10:46:00.001-08:00

http://brisbaneca.org/news/2011-12-01/give-holiday-season

Come by City Hall with a bag of canned goods

and join me in creating a food drive sculpture

in the City Hall lobby on Wednesday, December 7th from 6:00 PM - 7:30PM.

Or come by anytime in December to add to the sculpture.

Help us collect plenty of food this year for Brisbane residents and seniors in need.
ART TO SOUP!
Brisbane Food Drive Sculpture

From soup to nuts, please bring canned and packaged foods to the Brisbane City Hall lobby during December. Add your artistic flavor by arranging your food contributions into a daily evolving sculpture. Please add your food donations to the existing sculpture or go ahead and release your inner MICHAELCANGELO and rearrange the whole collection.

Our donations will be given to the Brisbane Police annual Holiday Food Drive

and distributed to Brisbane residents in need.

(No glass, perishables, expired foods or bulk grains please.)

Brisbane City Hall, 50 Park Place, Brisbane, CA 94005

Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 8am – 5pm, Wednesday 8am – 8pm, Friday 8am – 1pm

For more information contact Wendy Ricks (415) 508-2114

http://brisbaneca.org/news/2011-12-01/give-holiday-season

2010-07-23T11:30:00.000-07:00

Washing the Charging Bull on Wall Street with the Golden Rule

I wonder if the Golden Rule has any place on Wall Street. I began washing the iconic Charging Bull with a cloth that said LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. As I was scrubbing the bull clean, a group of Japanese tourists started rubbing the bull along with me. Maybe they thought it was for good luck and prosperity.

All the rest is commentary... Golden Rule Art Show and Performance Art in New York -- On view at the JCC in Manhattan through July 30

2010-06-26T22:43:00.001-07:00

All the rest is commentary... installed at the JCC in Manhattan
*Photo ©2010 Keith Moreau / SilverSpot Media

All the rest is commentary... presents the Golden Rule from 12 world religions as a core vision of global human relations. This series of printed linen table cloths typographically unifies these translated versions of the Golden Rule as authoritative messages. My exploration of this universal tenet magnifies inherent meaning and searches for new content and questions.

All the rest is commentary... installed at the JCC in Manhattan
Photo ©2010 Beth Grossman

Public Table Talk on the relationship of the Golden Rule to our free market system
Photo ©2010 Erv Grossman

I hosted two Table talks in the gallery open to public participation. The first Table Talk was on the relationship of the Golden Rule to our free market system. The second one was on a different perspective on investing; considering the Golden Rule as a guiding principle as we invest in our future: children, education and health care. Everyone was truly thoughtful, self-reflective, resourceful and did not try to blame "Wall Street." I was moved as I listened to everyone struggle with the ethical issues of how hard it is to walk the talk. As we talked, we wrote and drew notes directly on a white table cloth. The Table Talk conversations were recorded, photographed and filmed by Keith Moreau.

Financial Experts' Table Talk on the possibilities of the Golden Rule as a guiding principle in our financial system
Photo ©2010 Erv Grossman

I asked financial industry insiders to do a self-evaluation of how effectively current financial practices fulfill the needs of the community and to consider the feasibility of the Golden Rule as a new code of conduct on Wall Street. This Table Talk was a soul searching and sincerely personal conversation.

Financial experts writing notes on the Table Talk cloth document
Photo ©2010 Erv Grossman

Table cloths as banners on Wall Street at the now vacant JP Morgan Building
Photo ©2010 Keith Moreau / SilverSpot Media

While I was looking for financial experts to participate, we decided to take my art down to Wall Street. Angelisse Karol, Storrs Hoen, and Keith Moreau and I carried the table cloths with the Golden Rules down to the Stock Exchange. We stood with them on Wall Street as we talked with the public about the financial meltdown and the potential role of the Golden Rule in financial reform.

Table cloths as banners on Wall Street at the New York Stock Exchange
Photo ©2010 Keith Moreau / SilverSpot Media

Table cloths as banners on Wall Street at the New York Stock Exchange
Photo ©2010 Keith Moreau / SilverSpot Media

Golden Rule banners on Wall Street at the Federal Building with George Washington
Photo ©2010 Keith Moreau / SilverSpot Media

Golden Rule banners on Broadway at the Bull
Photo ©2010 Keith Moreau / SilverSpot Media

Beth washing the Charging Bull with a Golden Rule cloth
Photo ©2010 Keith Moreau / SilverSpot Media

At one point, I began washing the bronze bull with a cloth that said LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. As I was scrubbing the bull clean, a group of Japanese tourists started scrubbing the bull with me. I think they thought it was an act for good luck and prosperity.

Japanese tourists rubbing the bull
Photo ©2010 Keith Moreau / SilverSpot Media

I wish to say a special thank you to all of my friends and family who came out to New York to assist participate in this Golden Rule Project. Thank you for your gifts of time and support.

All the rest is commentary...

2010-05-09T15:14:00.000-07:00

All the rest is commentary…

Art Exhibit on the Golden Rule and Table Talk Performance Art Events

with Artist Beth Grossman at The Jewish Community Center in Manhattan

May 25th – July 30th, 2010

This series of table cloths created for the JCC in Manhattan presents versions of the Golden Rule from twelve world religions,

honoring cultural differences while underscoring a shared sensibility.

Opening reception Wednesday, May 26th

with an artist talk from 6PM – 7PM and a wine reception from 7PM – 8PM

Table Talk Performance Art Events Financial Table Talk – Thursday, May 27 at 7:00 PM
Beth Grossman will host an unusual Table Talk discussion with financial experts on the topic of the Golden Rule and its relevance
to today’s free market system. The public is welcome to observe and listen in the conference room at the JCC in Manhattan.

Public Open Table Talks – Tuesday, May 25, 4:30 – 6:00PM and on Tuesday, June 1st from 1:30 – 3:00PM
As we consider social issues from within the context of the Golden Rule, our struggles for personal and social moral actions

will be visually documented on a tablecloth and audio recorded.

The Laurie M. Tisch Gallery at The JCC in Manhattan

334 Amsterdam Ave at 76th Street, New York NY 10023 www.jccmanhattan.org/arts 646.505.5708

Visit Beth Grossman’s website www.bethgrossman.com
Contact Beth: beth@bethgrossman.com

All the rest is commentary...

2010-05-09T14:26:00.000-07:00

Golden Rule: Christianity

Golden Rule: Judaism

Golden Rule: African Traditional Religion

Golden Rule: Jainism

Golden Rule: Islam

Golden Rule: Baha'i Faith

Golden Rule: Unitarian

Golden Rule: Sikhism

Golden Rule: Buddhism

Golden Rule: Hinduism

Golden Rule: Native American Spirituality

Golden Rule: Shinto

Artist Statement

All the rest is commentary refers to a story about Rabbi Hillel, a first century B.C.E sage, who was asked to teach the entire Torah while standing on one foot. He wisely responded, "That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow man. This is the law; all the rest is commentary; go and learn it."

Nearly every world religion has a version of the Golden Rule as a fundamental principle. This ethic of reciprocity insists that each individual has a right to just treatment and a responsibility to ensure justice for others. How might our world change socially, politically and economically if we were to treat others as we would want to be treated? And what if others want to be treated differently than we desire for ourselves?

I invite you to the table to consider the universality of the Golden Rule. The table is a gathering place for meals, conversations, teachings and prayers of gratitude. This series of 12 table cloths is based on variations of the Golden Rule collected from twelve world religions: the Baha’i Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Native American Spirituality, Shinto, Sikhism, Unitarianism and Yoruba African traditional religion. Each expression of the Golden Rule suggests a characteristic sense of the religion’s unique culture.

This series of table cloths typographically unifies these translated versions of the Golden Rule. In the artistic tradition of Barbara Kruger and Jenny Holzer, I play with how the eye and the mind perceive these authoritative messages. My artwork magnifies what is inherent in the phrases and searches for additional content and questions. Using text from diverse Golden Rules, I have created a dynamic visual poetry.

If you combine words and phrases from the different table cloths, the texts may reveal new commentary.

Beth Grossman

2010-05-09T14:20:00.000-07:00

Giorgi Gallery Presents: The Portrait Show

Portraits by 11 contemporary bay area artist will be on display at the Giorgi Gallery along with an abbreviated encore of the previous show: Nina Katz, a year in portraits.

The essence of portraiture is explored in drawing, painting and sculpture. The unifying theme of the show is the striking sense of humanity captured with widely divergent styles, sensibilities and subject matter.

Can a person's life be affirmed in one picture? Nina Katz has explored this and other questions with a daily ritual of sketching portraits from the Obituary section of the New York Times. Intrigued by repetition and process, Nina took her daily interest in reading NY Times obits to drawing them every day. A series of oil portraits evolved from this process as an obvious next step to creating a personal interpretation of public memory.

Nina's full year of original pencil drawings on accordion fold Moleskin sketchbooks will be displayed along with the Portrait Show. All portraits will be for sale including 5 limited edition reproductions of Nina's sketchbooks.

May 6 - June 4, 2010 Reception : Thursday, May 27th, 6-9 p.m..

Giorgi Gallery

"Where Art Stops Time"

2911 Claremont Ave.

Berkeley, CA 94705

510-848-1228

giorgigallery@yahoo.com

www.giorgigallery.com

www.lightrays.com

2010-04-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

Avi and I are both showing our art in an exhibition called REFRAME: Making Sense of Waste at ARC Studios, a new gallery in San Francisco. It is curated by Hanna Regev. Join us for the opening reception on Friday, May 7 from 7 -10pm. 1246 Folsom Street in San Francisco.

2010-02-05T12:52:00.000-08:00

Come celebrate
Brisbane's creative spirit
at the 9th Annual Artists' Evening of Sharing.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

The event starts at 7:30pm at Mission Blue Center, where Brisbane artists will showcase their works of music, theater, dance, literary reading, singing, visual artwork, photography and film.

So come on over to Mission Blue Center this Saturday, February 6th and join us to meet and honor these talented artists and arts advocates living and working in town. Admission is free and refreshments will be served during intermission...adding to the perfect setting of celebrating Brisbane's artistic stars!

475 Mission Blue Drive, Brisbane, CA 94005

Sponsored by the City of Brisbane
Organized and MC'ed by Beth Grossman

ART TO SOUP! Video

2009-12-21T11:40:00.000-08:00

Thank you Keith and Sam Moreau for creating this video about the ART to SOUP! Food Drive Sculpture at Brisbane City Hall. Folks need food all year round, so please remember to contribute to your local food banks on a regular basis.

ART to SOUP! Brisbane Food Drive Sculpture

2009-12-19T12:12:00.000-08:00

From soup to nuts, Brisbane residents brought canned and packaged foods to the City Hall lobby and arranged the donations in an evolving sculpture.

Visual Torah at the Contemporary Jewish Museum

2009-11-18T16:29:00.000-08:00

Artists reflect on new work for AS IT IS WRITTEN 304,805

Date/Time:

Sunday, December 6, 2009, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Buy Tickets

Admission:

Free with Museum admission.

Contact:

info@thecjm.org or call 415.655.7881

About the Program

The Museum has commissioned contemporary artists from diverse backgrounds to create a new work of art in response to the Torah. Come hear four renowned local artists describe their experiences creating visual commentaries on the Book of Genesis as part of a new form of dialogue with the Jewish Bible.

The artists participating in the conversation include John Bankston, Beth Grossman, Jordan Kantor and Paul Madonna. As part of the exhibition As It Is Written: Project 304,805, newly commissioned art will be presented in groups according to the Five Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). Recalling the Western art historical tradition in which artists have elucidated religious concepts by creating visual representations of beliefs, narratives and practices, the work presented here reflects a lively and open-ended dialogue with the ancient text through a wide range of artistic approaches and cultural perspectives.

ART TO SOUP!

2009-11-18T16:18:00.000-08:00

ART TO SOUP!
Brisbane Food Drive Sculpture

From soup to nuts, please bring canned and packaged foods to the Brisbane City Hall lobby during the months of November and December 2009. Add your artistic flavor by arranging your food contributions into a daily evolving sculpture.
Second Harvest Food Bank will be picking up our donations before Thanksgiving and the winter holidays.

Beth and Avi will be on site canstructing from 6:30 - 7:30 pm Wednesday evenings November 18th, December 2nd and December 16th

(No glass, perishables or bulk grains please.)

Brisbane City Hall, 50 Park Place, Brisbane, CA 94005
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 8am – 5pm, Wednesday 8am – 8pm, Friday 8am – 1pmFor more information contact Wendy Ricks (415) 508-2114

Seats of Power: Art and Civic Engagement

2009-07-06T09:45:00.000-07:00

Seats of Power

Brisbane officials put their keisters on the line for art and civic participation.

Interactive art opening of “Seats of Power” at City Hall in Brisbane, California, 50 Park Place, Brisbane, CA 94005, March 18, 2009 from 5:00 – 8:00p.m.

How far will Brisbane City officials go to support the arts? Artist and activist Beth Grossman has convinced the Brisbane Mayor, City Council, Police Commander, Fire Chief and Harbormaster, among others, to immortalize their derrieres as “Seats of Power,” all in the name of Art.

While capturing the impression of participants’ pants sitting on their chairs, Grossman came to appreciate Brisbane officials from a perspective different from that of the Council Chambers or City Hall offices. “We’ve had some good laughs and the puns keep flying,” says Grossman. Laughter has been a segue into more serious discussions about the nature of political power. The posterior photo images were later converted into textiles and upholstered onto chair seats.

For the opening reception on March 18, 2009, the public is invited into Brisbane City Hall to walk down a red carpet and sit in the “Hot Seat.” Here they can contemplate and expound upon how it feels to be in a seat of power. Public comments will be recorded in a video made by documentary filmmaker, David L. Brown.

Meet the artist at an interactive art opening of “Seats of Power” at City Hall in Brisbane, California, 50 Park Place, Brisbane, CA 94005, March 18, 2009 from 5:00 – 8:00p.m.

LA Times Article

The Copper Chronicles shown at the de Young Museum

2007-09-05T14:26:00.000-07:00