New exhibit of Judaic textile artwork on display in the museum until September 30

Haya Nativ (left) of the Pomegranate Guild of Judaica, Toronto, stands next to the hanging she designed entitled Sacred Vestments of the High Priest. The execution of the design was a group project of the Guild and is part of the exhibit in the Morris and Sally Justein Heritage Museum. Next to her are Lois Buckstein, chair, the Morris and Sally Justein Heritage Museum Committee, Anna Vandelman, past president of the Pomegranate Guild of Judaica Textiles, Toronto, and member of the museum committee, Melanie Siegel, Pomegranate Guild member and exhibit co-chair, and Elaine Genesove, past president of the Guild and exhibit co-chair.

Threads of Identity
The Morris and Sally Justein Heritage Museum at Baycrest is alive with colour and texture due to “Threads of Identity” – a new exhibit of Judaic textile art. The beautiful works of art are produced by the Pomegranate Guild of Judaic Textiles, Toronto, in honour of 25 years of creative and artistic endeavours, and celebrates the work of its members. Visitors to the museum can enjoy art works employing various techniques such as embroidery, beading, needlework, papier maché and weaving. The exhibit officially opened on June 20 at an event attended by over 75 people, which included members of the museum committee, Pomegranate guild artists, and friends of Baycrest, and will be on display until September 30th.

“We are thrilled to have this exciting exhibit at Baycrest,” says Pat Dickinson, museum coordinator. “Many Baycrest clients were trained in needlework as young girls growing up in Europe, and have a love of this beautiful craftsmanship. It’s a very appropriate exhibit for our museum.”

Since 1982, the Pomegranate Guild of Judaic Textiles has brought together people who are interested in studying and creating textile art and needlepoint based on Jewish themes. Members of the guild include people of all ages and skill, from professional artists to novice stitchers. Several have won international awards for their work.

The relationship between Baycrest and the Pomegranate Guild goes back many years. The first Pomegranate Guild exhibit was held at Baycrest in the early 1980s. Over the years, many of the group’s projects have been donated to Baycrest, including wall hangings: one entitled Pardes, the Garden which is on the fourth floor of the hospital and Asrei which can be viewed on the fifth floor of the Apotex. Many members of the Pomegranate Guild are also on the museum committee at Baycrest.

The “Threads of Identity” exhibit features intricately beaded mezzuzot, besamin boxes and Torah pointers, beautifully crafted Torah mantles, Sukkah banners and decorations, three-dimensional textile sculptures, a collection of shadow boxes created by 42 artists and many other Jewish heritage items. One of the key pieces is a stunning wall-hanging titled Sacred Vestments of The High Priest, inspired by Biblical descriptions of the costume worn by the High Priest in the Temple in Jerusalem. The execution of the design was a group project of the Guild and was designed by Haya Nativ.