In our continuing series of JCC Board Member introductions, this week we feature Peter Nadler and his passion for art. Peter is originally a lawyer from New York and has been a board member for the past few years. For this issue of the newsletter, we will focus on a Jewish theme, albeit a bit different than our usual religious matters. Here’s from Peter.
As an artist myself, I’ve studied the works of many famous painters. Here are some notable Jewish ones. The sample artworks are pictured below.
Lucian Freud (1922-2011): grandson of Sigmund and immigrant to the UK, Freud is the leading portrait artist of the 20th century. His works from the 90’s/ 2000’s are his best. He painted from life only, requiring dozens of sittings and taking months or years to produce a finished work.
Camille Pissaro (1830-1903): Danish/French landscape painter and seminal figure in French Impressionism. Early influences by Corot, Millet and Courbet resulted in realistic, richly colored early works. Over time, his paintings, in keeping with the Impressionist style, become more “gauzy” and pointillist.
Jewish Couples (1) R.J.Kitaj (1932-2007) and Sandra Fisher (1947-1994): Kitaj was an American expat (and ex merchant marine) who settled in London and was an art teacher and artist from the 60’s to 90’s. His wife Sandra Fisher was a great commercial artist and painter and specialized in portraits including several of her husband.
Jewish Couples (2) Eric Fischl (1948 – ) and April Gornik (1953 – ): Fischl is one of the leading contemporary artists who paints suburban and beach scenes and portraits in a highly realistic and dreamy style. April is a formidable, and celebrated, landscape painter.
Peter Nadler – (1958 – ) one of the leading contemporary Jewish painters…in Tokyo(!)
About Board Member Peter Nadler
I’ve been a Partner at Tozai Sogo Law Office, a 10 person Japanese Law Firm for the past 20 years. My first experience in Japan was as a JET in Ishikawa ken (Komatsu shi) in the 1980’s.
My wife Robyn, is also a lawyer (at Mori Hamada) and an ex JCC Sunday School teacher! She’s Australian and like me has a strong background in Japan. Our two kids Joe (21) and Ilana (24) were bar and bat mitzvah’ed at the JCC and grew up in Tokyo. Joe’s now a senior at Bard College in NY and Ilana is a Commis Chef at Cicada, a restaurant in Aoyama. They both went to Nishimachi and Yokohama International School here.
As for my “painting biography,” I studied painting and drawing at Columbia College, The Art Students League and the School of Visual Arts. I paint using acrylics only. My paintings have been included in group shows in Japan and I’ve done many commissions for clients in the US and Japan.
Thank you, Peter, we look forward to a future Lehrhaus Lecture series talk on art!
Services
Note that tomorrow’s in-person service (originally scheduled for Friday at 6:30 PM) has been canceled.
The next in-person service is scheduled for December 25 (Saturday) at 10 AM (Parshat Shemo). We are looking forward to having you with us to ensure the minyan and to contribute to the pleasant atmosphere having the services together at our sanctuary.
Events
Yiddish Club with Jack Halpern
Started meeting monthly in person at the JCJ. Please contact Jack at jack@cjki.org if you are interested to join. All levels are welcome, from beginner to advanced. Much more than just language, the club enjoys exploring Yiddish culture as well.
Lehrhaus Lecture Series presented by Jerry Rosenberg
The History of Jews in Japan
Thursday, January 13th
Time: 7:30 – 8:30pm
Venue: Zoom
Other events are in the works! Jack Halpern will do an in-person talk on language acquisition in February and in March a big Purim bash is being planned complete with megillah-reading, food, and live klezmer music. Save the date: March 16, 2022!
If you have an idea for an event or a topic you would like to share with others, please reach out to Events chair Sherry Greenfield at sherry@greenfield.net
Announcements
Shabbat dinner bentos for takeout and other Jewish goodies such as bagels, taboule, babaganoush and mandelbrot cookies are available for order from our website. Details here:
Shabbat dinner bento
Jewish goodies
Rabbi Andrew, Tali and Asher will be away 11/22-1/20. We miss them, although not as much as their families have missed meeting their newest grandson.Shabbat Parshat Vayechi
Candle Lighting: 4:11 pm
Havdala: 5:12pm