Since its inception, the mission of the Dortort Center for Creativity in the Arts has been to make art and culture an integral part of the Hillel experience for students at UCLA. Our five gallery spaces, including the Dortort Gallery, the Spiegel Gallery, and the Gindi Gallery, encompass 2,500 square feet and present nine art exhibits every academic year. Perla has been the Artistic Director since 2004. The Dortort Center has mounted over one hundred exhibits featuring artists from around the world.We have presented Musical Salons, Documentary and Film Screenings, Staged Play Readings, Book readings, Student Fine Art Shows, Student Photo Exhibits, Lectures, Art Panels and a host of other art and cultural events. In addition, we collaborated with award winning composer and Rockefeller fellow Yotam Haber on the American premiere of his new work Death Will Come And She Shall Have Your Eyes which was performed at UCLA's Schoenberg Hall.We thank our distinguished Dortort Center Advisory Board as well as our generous sponsors who have made our programs possible. Here is a video tribute to mentor Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller as well.
Click to listen to Perla talk about her work and the Dortort Center in this special podcast episode for the show Commentaries From The Edge
You can read more about Perla Karney and The Dortort Center in The Jewish Journal, Ha'Am, and The Daily Bruin.
Click here for her most recent interview with the Daily Bruin. To hear more about a photography exhibit she hosted showcasing connections between Israeli and Palestinian women click here
To hear more about a recent concert held by the Dortort Center Click here
To hear more about her most recent Art Opening, "Homelessness" Click here
To hear more about our most recent Winter Art Opening with Mark Strickland & Susan Cooper, Click here
"The art in the building is truly spectacular. It is appreciated by so many, even if the positive student feedback doesn't always reach your doorstep directly. I admire your passion and creativity to infuse Hillel with Jewish art," said Natalie Charney, Past President of Bruins for Israel, expressing the deep appreciation for the artistic elements that enrich Hillel's environment. Olivia Cohen-Cutler, Senior Vice President of Broadcast Standards and Practices at ABC, Inc., and a valued member of the Dortort Advisory Board, remarked, "It's a privilege to be associated with such innovative and creative work." Her words highlight the significant impact of the art and creative endeavors that contribute to the vibrancy of Hillel, fostering a sense of inspiration and connection within our community.
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Join us for an extraordinary evening as we host an exclusive showing of student art from the prestigious Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem. This captivating showcase promises to be a celebration of creativity and cultural exchange.
Date: Thursday, November 9th, 2023
Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Schedule:
7:00 pm: Welcome Reception - Join us for a delightful reception, where you can mingle with fellow art enthusiasts and engage in stimulating conversations.
8:00 pm: “Art & Trauma: In a Time of War” - A thought-provoking talk by Paul and Tania Abramson, providing unique insights into the intersection of art and the human experience during times of conflict.
8:30 pm: Screening of two captivating short films, "Antarctica" and "Heart Hug". These films promise to be emotionally evocative and artistically inspiring.
Where: Hillel at UCLA, 574 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Admission: This event is free and open to the public. We welcome all art enthusiasts, students, and community members to join us for this special occasion.
Immerse yourself in the world of art, culture, and shared experiences as we bridge the gap between Los Angeles and Jerusalem. Don't miss this unique opportunity to witness the creativity and resilience of talented student artists from Bezalel Academy. We look forward to sharing this enriching evening with you.
Join us in celebrating creativity, connection, and the resilience of talented student artists from Bezalel Academy. This is a unique opportunity to bridge the geographical and cultural gap between Los Angeles and Jerusalem, and we are excited to share this enriching evening with you. Don't miss it!
Established in 1906, Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Jerusalem is proud to be recognized as Israel’s preeminent academic institution for art, design and architecture. With over 2500 students and 500 faculty members, the Academy is known for its excellence in educating and enriching generations of aspiring artists and designers and for encouraging them to use their distinctive skills and viewpoints to engage with the society around them.Bezalel teaches undergraduate and graduate degrees in a myriad different art and design disciplines: architecture and urban design; fashion and jewelry; fine arts; glass and ceramics; industrial design; photography; screen-based arts; and visual communication. Degree programs are also offered in theory and policy of the arts and visual and material culture.Stemming from all segments of society, religious, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds students at Bezalel are taught to use their distinctive skills to embrace humanistic and human-centered approaches, to meet the challenges of today’s global society and blaze their own unique trail in tomorrow’s worlds of art, architecture and design.Typified by pioneering originality and creativity, Bezalel furthers disparate viewpoints and stimulates original and independent thinking, promoting creative liberty and freedom of expression that push boundaries to innovate in Israel and beyond.
Tania L. Abramson, MFA is a visual/conceptual artist as well as a lecturer in the Honors Collegium at the University of California, Los Angeles and in the Department of Feminist Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is the co-creator and co-instructor of the UCLA Art and Trauma and Feminism, Art, and Metaphors of Trauma classes. Her course at UCSB, Keep Your Hands Off: Reproductive Justice, Mass Incarceration, and Eco-feminism, links the aforementioned topics through the control of women’s bodies. Ms. Abramson has lectured throughout the US and internationally and authored numerous scholarly articles in the field of Art & Trauma. She has also authored several artbooks – Shame and the Eternal Abyss, Concern, and Truth Lies, published by Asylum 4 Renegades Press. Dr. Paul R. Abramson has been a professor of psychology at UCLA for nearly 50 years. He is the author of 11 books, published by the likes of Oxford University Press, MIT Press, University of Chicago Press, NYU Press, and W.W. Norton. He is also the author of over 130 scientific articles. Over the course of Dr. Abramson’s career, he has also served as an expert witness, in both civil and criminal litigation, involving cases of severe trauma. Child sexual abuse, for example, and the wrongful conviction of murder. Finally, in his spare time, Paul is the creative force behind the band Crying 4 KafKa. His music can be heard on Crying 4 KafKa Spotify. Together, Tania and Paul recently published a chapter titled, Art and Trauma: An Aesthetic Journey, in an Oxford University Press Handbook. They were also recent recipients of the UCLA Eugen Weber Honors Collegium Teaching Award.
ISRAEL AT 75
The Long Way to Statehood
Experience history come to life as we invite you to the captivating exhibition of artifacts from The Seidler-Feller Family Collection, commemorating Israel's remarkable journey to its 75th year of statehood.
Date: Thursday, April 20th, 2023
Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Where: Gindi Gallery, Hillel at UCLAThis extraordinary exhibition takes you on a visual and tangible exploration of Israel's path to nationhood. Through a collection that spans decades and captures pivotal moments in Israel's history, we'll delve into the struggles, triumphs, and cultural treasures that have shaped this vibrant nation.
Join us at the Gindi Gallery, located at Hillel at UCLA, and immerse yourself in a rich tapestry of artifacts that tell a story of resilience, innovation, and unwavering determination. From early statehood to contemporary achievements, this exhibition provides a unique window into the heart and soul of Israel.As we celebrate Israel's 75th anniversary, let us reflect on the long and inspiring journey that brought it to where it stands today. This event is a testament to the enduring spirit of the Israeli people and the profound impact they've had on the world.Admission is open to all, and we encourage students, community members, and history enthusiasts to join us for an evening of discovery and celebration. Don't miss this opportunity to witness the story of Israel at 75, from its long and remarkable path to statehood.
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Four large stone fragments are aligned vertically; the spaces between themevoke an ascending path. On the upper three fragments pairs of figures seemto mirror each other. Moving closer we discover that the bodies are actuallythe reflected light of sunken forms, like fossils. At eye level, two powerful male bodies are folded within themselves likeembryos. Their heads are bowed and their arms fall before them. As theyreach out toward the other they seem barely conscious of their gesture. Arethey awakening? Are they tired? Perhaps they are wounded? Our eyes are drawn upward following the diagonal fracture separating thefragments. A couple appears to be standing in a desert landscape. Theground seems to be flowing in currents, and the rough lines create anatmosphere of tumult and storm. The man stands behind the woman, hishand resting on her shoulder. Does he support her? Is she leading him?Absorbed in their own world, they are oblivious to a couple in the distancethat seems to share their same fate. From afar the distant couple appears somuch smaller. So do their concerns. In whom do we see ourselves?At the summit, two figures bow toward each other in recognition and respect.Peace permeates the relationship. One man stands balanced on the edge of ashoreline, or perhaps a cliff. Suspended in a cascade of flowing matter thefigure on the left appears perfectly balanced, anchored to something within and yet beyond himself. Unlike war memorials, The Rabin Peace Memorial does not recall historicalevents. It honors the ideal of reciprocity and justice in our relations withothers. The rendering of the figures in sunken relief is an acknowledgement of the second commandment. The events in the life of Yitzhak Rabin whichinspired this work remind us of how difficult it can be to distinguish illusionfrom reality.
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