By Beth B. Schneider
Consultant, Judaica Initiative
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
In 2023, curators at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston reached out to Matthias Henze and Ofra Amihay, the Anna Smith Fine Lecturer in the Program in Jewish Studies at Rice, to explore possible collaborations as the museum prepared to open a permanent gallery dedication to Jewish ritual art, Judaica.
With the MFAH’s emphasis on collecting art from throughout the Jewish diaspora, Henze and Amihay found many commonalities with Jewish studies and Rice and a partnership was developed. Amihay was especially helpful in translating Hebrew inscriptions on works of art in the MFAH collection.
Fruitful discussions soon led to the idea of an annual lecture, co-sponsored by Rice and the MFAH, that would bring a noted scholar or artist to Houston to speak at the museum and to visit classes at Rice. Because the MFAH collection focuses on historical objects dating to before 1920, MFAH curators Christine Gervais, Cindi Strauss and Elizabeth Essner, proposed inviting a contemporary artist whose work includes creating exhibits for Jewish rituals and observances today. After extensive research and a virtual studio visit, Strauss and Essner proposed David Wiseman as the first speaker.
David Wiseman, a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, is an American artist and designer whose detailed, elegant craftsmanship draws inspiration from nature and decorative arts traditions and techniques from around the world. His practice ranges from ceiling and full-room installations, to chandeliers and lighting, sculpture and furniture. He creates many private commissions for homes around the world and his “Branch Illuminated Sculpture” was chosen for the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, Spain, and a site-specific illuminated sculptural installation in the dining room of the president’s house at RISD. He works from his large atelier in Los Angeles that includes a bronze foundry, ceramics studio, metalworking shop and an inspiration garden.
The discussion at the MFAH between Wiseman and Essner reviewed his career and focused on the role of Judaism in his life and his creation of Jewish ritual objects, including kiddush cups for blessing wine; Sabbath candlesticks; a tray to hold the braided challah bread at a Sabbath dinner; Seder plates to display ritual foods for the Passover meal; and mezuzah, decorative cases holding a piece of parchment inscribed with specific Hebrew verses from the Bible, which Jews affix to the doorposts of their homes.
Wiseman’s ancestors were Holocaust survivors and he grew up the youngest of three brothers in Pasadena, California, a place without many Jews. His oldest brother became a Hasidic Jew and now lives in Israel, as do Wiseman’s parents. Wiseman himself practiced Judaism deeply for a time but does not now. His brother, Ari, runs Wiseman’s studio.
At Rice, Wiseman gave a lunch talk at the School of Architecture, marking the first time that Jewish studies worked with the school. He spoke about many of his recent site-specific projects as they relate to architecture. Students were particularly interested in his design techniques, which always start out with drawings. A photographer in attendance asked him about the significance of light, a symbolic element that is very important in his work.
This first event, co-sponsored by Rice and the MFAH, was a great success, providing the introduction of contemporary art and design into the presentation of Judaica and giving the public the opportunity to see that the traditions represented by historical objects in the museum’s collections continue to thrive.
For Rice’s Program in Jewish Studies, which previously had not focused on art, the event opened new doors with great interest in expanding programming focusing on the arts. Moving forward, program administrators are particularly excited to bring more Jewish designers and artists to Houston to speak both at the MFAH and at Rice.