Earlier this year we enlisted the help of the UJC Senior Center's members and art instructors, as well as local artists, to put together an art gallery with the hope of bringing joy to our community.

Every month we'll be sharing interviews with the artists that collaborated with the project.

Diane Reich│New York City

Diane Reich - A Hundred Hearts — Diane Reich - *A Hundred Hearts*

Diane Reich is a New York artist, educator, and inspirational speaker. Her work is inspired by Jewish culture, displaying uplifting facts and heartfelt stories about Israel and its people. Diane is a public speaker in the JNF & UJA Speakers Bureaus and her paintings have been on exhibit at multiple museums and galleries, including the Belskie Museum of Art and Science and the Hebrew Union College Art Museum.

You generously contributed to our UJC Calendar 2021 with a lovely piece titled "A Hundred Hearts". Can you tell me about the inspiration behind it?

The theme and image of this painting were inspired by King Solomon's passionate lyrical poetry in the "Song of Songs." The phrase was inspired by a contemporary verse: “A hundred hearts are too few to hold all the love I feel for you.” The art presentation includes and expands on Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks' concept of the Seasons of Love.

Besides painting, you’re also a craft artist. We display one of your book sculptures in our virtual Art Gallery, titled “Unfurling the Secrets of Talmudic Wisdom”. From designer lamps to hair bows, how did you come up with such a creative way to transform books and comics?

Creating crafts was an important part of my life adventure as I worked as an Arts & Crafts Director at summer camps for eighteen summers, planning and designing projects for camp-wide programs and individual camper projects. I loved working with the campers, teaching them craft skills and making sure each child felt successful, while having fun expressing themselves artistically. Therefore, my ideas for creating book sculpture was a natural outgrowth and extension of my craft-making summer experiences.

Would you mind sharing some details about the technique?

Each book sculpture is very different and so is the technique for each. My book art sculpture you displayed entitled, "Unfurling the Secrets of Talmudic Wisdom" was made by sawing the width of a thick 8" book horizontally into two 4" parts. It took so long to saw that book in half that the blade of the saw became hot from the sawing motion. I used one of those 4" parts by opening the book beyond 180 degrees to about 270 degrees forming a 3/4 partial circle with the apex of the spine forming an inverted V between the book covers. This resulted in the pages extending outward which I cut into different lengths and rolled to create an eye-catching thick fan-like pattern. A seat covered in newsprint was glued inside the inverted V. Lastly, I created a newspaper 3D person holding a little book with Hebrew text symbolizing a person reading and deep in study.