Jewish Identity and the Historical Continuum of American Metal Judaica
Jewish Identity and the Historical Continuum of American Metal Judaica: Artist Talk and Pop-Up Exhibition with Jim Cohen
In conjunction with Jewish Wisdom & Wellness: A Week of Learning
April 29, 2015, 7:00pm
Join us for a special evening with metalsmith and Jewish veteran Jim Cohen. First a lawyer on active duty in the Air Force, Jim eventually left law to begin a second career as a metalsmith. Jim will be discussing his foray into craft and the ways in which his Jewish identity infused his experience as a serviceman and now, a craftsman. His work falls on the continuum of historic Judaica, balancing Jewish ritual and tradition with contemporary design sensibilities. In tandem with the Craft in America Center’s exhibition of objects linking craft and the military (opening April 25th), Jim will mount a pop-up exhibition of his metalwork.
About Jim Cohen: Jim Cohen is a studio metalsmith residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Jim’s area of emphasis is judaica. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico Taos, teaching Art Metals. Jim took up metalsmithing after a career as a lawyer, first on active duty with the Air Force and post-retirement with the Air Force General Counsel’s office. It was during his tenure as a civilian attorney at the Pentagon that Jim began to take evening classes in metal working at the Torpedo Factory, a community arts center, in Alexandria, VA. In the mid-90s Jim decided that he would leave the law and began a new career as a metalsmith. He left government service in 1997 and moved to Madison, WI to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree. Jim received his degree in 2004 and a few years later relocated to Santa Fe. www.jimcohenmetals.net
