Mary Linda Schwarzbart has been described as the full-time unpaid curator of the work of Arnold Schwarzbart, z"l. She is also a business and grant consultant.
Watching David Moss this morning brought some sweet memories –
Arnold was considering leaving architecture for a career in Judaica in 1981. David Moss had not yet made aliyah, already had a reputation with his ketubot. Arnold called David to discuss this career change. And, later, at the International Seminar on Jewish Art in Jerusalem, we sat with him during a lecture on the Jewish content of the work of Barnett Newman. Arnold turned to David and said he had to get to an art supply store, and David drove us to the one on Emek Rafaim. One of the drawings inspired by that lecture has been acquired by the Knoxville Museum of Art.
Update January 3, 2022. The URL no long works.
The link was to a Moss-Rabinowitz program for a Global Day of Learning.
Jo Milgrom created a piece she named “Bezeq after Arnold Schwarzbart, Knoxville Tennessee” using his porcelain Italian motif mezuzzah and the telephone cable attached to the opening that would display the letter shin.
Updated January 3, 2022 to remove URL to the website which is no longer active.
Added November 6, 2017
Lou Gauci, architect and friend, has shared his thoughts about Arnold’s work. It is his advice that guided me to decide that the collection of materials around Arnold’s 45 year career as architect and artist should remain in Knoxville. The McClung Collection was my first choice for the most appropriate site and I am grateful to Steve Cotham, McClung Collection Manager, that he agreed and is very pleased to add this information to the McClung Collection. I have already begun the transfer of some items, and there is much to sort and document as I continue this work. These are Lou’s thoughts, and he has given me permission to share them.
Thoughts Regarding the Arnold Schwarzbart Archive (prepared by Louis Gauci)
The following are some of my initial thoughts developed subsequent to meeting with Mary Linda Schwarzbart last October 2016. Later it was offered for her consideration, as a distillate of ideas regarding a location and placement of her late husband Arnold Schwarzbart’s broad portfolio of creative and artistic works including architectural drawings, graphics and Judaic art.
QUESTIONS CONTEMPLATED
Where does Arnold’s work fall into the spectrum of Judaic Art?
How does his opus contribute/ augment the spectrum of Judaic Art?
Where is his work most rooted?
Does his work transcend location?
What locations are potentially viable?
Where does his work/ archive need to be to attract scholars and students?
Where would it most easily be accomplished?
INITIAL IDEAS
The inertia and locus of the Arnold Schwarzbart Gallery within the Arnstein Jewish Community Center in Knoxville and its future renovation plans is a potential factor requiring strong consideration for a possible “Study Center” of his work there inspiring study from established or aspiring students scholars, Judaical artisans and craftsman.
Given there are Jewish or Judaica Museums in the United States located in the East Coast (The Jewish Museum in New York City) and West Coast (Skirball Museum in Los Angeles) it seemed at first that being offered and possibly housed in such prominent and large institutions may seem befitting. An important issue further deliberated is of the enticing potential for the ASA to reside within such places but perhaps without a tangible context and importance of the locus of its making.
RECOMMENDATION
With reflection upon the questions I posed to myself and given Arnold’s strong and rooted connection to the Knoxville area, it seems wholly appropriate, plausible and achievable for Mary Linda to guide it through its placement, that his archive remain in Knoxville. Arnold’s art was created here and remains a living testament to the spirit of survival, tradition and creative legacy to people of the Jewish faith as well as those of other faiths or those with none at all. It would have a much stronger identity and context for being created in Knoxville for those who reside here or travel to view, appreciate and study.
PUBLICITY
Essential publicity initiatives of the Arnold Schwarzbart Archive (ASA) are fundamental regardless of any final venue. Broad dissemination in print, media combined with referential Internet drivers, will inform the broader public of the holdings of the ASA so it could be accessible to a large audience of potential scholars and students and other interested parties.
POSSIBLE IMPLEMENTATION PHASING
PHASE 1 Identify interested host institution(s)
PHASE 2 Comprehensive catalogue of holdings – Archivist
In researching the best location for the ephemera of Arnold’s career in architecture, Judaic, and other creative endeavors, I contacted Ori Soltes (http://orizsoltes.com/). In addition to agreeing to be a reference for Arnold’s work, Ori told me that he had included Arnold’s omer counter in his newest book. I have included his text about the omer counter, which is so eloquent.
Tradition and Transformation: Three Millennia of Jewish Art and Architecture by Ori Z. Soltes Jul 19, 2016
Includes Arnold’s omer counter: The Time’Til Sinai
With the following text:
“The principle of creatively blurring ceremonial objects and fine art is also exemplified by a work that counts down the time between Passover and Shavuot—between the departure from Egypt and receiving of the Ten Commandments at Sinai—created in 1997 by Russian-born Knoxville Judaica artist Arnold Schwarzbart (1942-2015). To the untutored eye, this 14”h by 18”w slightly curved clay work—through which 7 bronze rods pass, hung with small copper triangles, and with a repousse gold backdrop—would surely present itself as an attractive abstract table sculpture (FIG 592). But its function is to mark the seven weeks between the second day of Passover and Shavuot; its division into seven sevens—the triangles are shifted one each day, from side to side of the bronze rods—its gold embossed with 49 pairs of Hebrew letters as a reminder of the obligation for the Jewish mystic to meditate on each of those days as s/he prepares him/herself for the Sinai moment. Thus the work—a distinctive multi-media semi-abstract sculpture called “The Time “Til Sinai”—is, in fact, a functional omer counter.”
I created this post to share information about the progress on the ephemera of Arnold's work. I will post this link on Facebook and with family - anyone may view updates as they wish, and I will no longer post these updates on Facebook.
I also invite you to share stories about Arnold. You may email me, FB message me, or add a comment below.
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06/30/2017: I haven not posted for a few weeks. Yesterday I met with Steve Cotham, McClung Collection Manager. Today I ordered archival materials, and will submit the information to the Arts and Culture Alliance Bailey Fund which awarded a small grant to pay for the materials. Steve will pick up architectural plans and the carved printing plates in 2 weeks, which will allow me time to finish documenting the information about the plates. This is really happening! Next, I will document marketing materials and materials from the shows that included Arnold's work. Slides, negatives, prints are still to be sorted and selected; as well as personal history.
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05/15/2017: This headline reminded me of Arnold's thinking when he recreated the old Ivanhoe steakhouse for the Copper Cellar, The bar, placed in the central area, fit this description: "The Pleasure of Watching Others: How the architecture of living spaces creates a stage for the exhibitionist and a theater for the voyeur." [https://medium.com/the-omnivore/the-pleasure-of-watching-others-2f11a2171e3e } There has been some change to the Cappuccino side, but not much to the Copper Cellar side, Arnold selected most of the objects in the display areas. And the raised booths were his idea, so the server and the customer would be at the same eye level. My favorite booth is the one to the left as you enter the CC side, copper table and large enough for 3. He also lowered the visual sense of the ceiling. I thing the windows on the CC were done by Richard Jolley - in his earlier years. **** 05/05/2017 Today I am working of a proposal for a small grant for an assistant archivist to help review, sort, and select photographs, slides, negatives. My next task will be to select and document another category of the ephemera. Project submitted 05/07/2017. ****
04/24/2017: This morning, we documented the architectural drawings. They are read for the McClung Collection now. **** 04/17/2017 Much of what is needed will require my time. I will be writing a grant proposal to seek funding support for a qualified person to assist with the photographic materials.
Letter from Steve Cotham: April 17, 2017 Dear Ms. Schwarzbart: It was a pleasure to visit with you on Friday at your home and to explore the possibilities of placing the Arnold Schwarzbart Collection in the archives of the McClung Historical Collection in the East Tennessee History Center. I am very excited about moving ahead with this project, placing the legacy collection of your late husband’s life story and his work with us in the History Center. Arnold Schwarzbart had a remarkable life, and you have done a truly remarkable job of being the resident partner/curator of this large collection of paper, photographs, and artwork. Sincerely, Steve Cotham, Mgr. Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection Knox County Public Library System East Tennessee History Center
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04/14/2017 Steve Cotham came to the studio to review what I have. He is interested in all the ephemera, a selection of molds, books, and other items. It will be my task to document the printed materials - newspaper articles, promotional mailings, catalogs from shows, architectural drawings. And, then, there is the mountain of slides and negatives - to be sorted, duplicates set aside. Steve has staff who will place these in archival materials. I also need to write a bio - another interesting challenge. Arnold has had an interesting and varied life and career. I invite you to share stories. The materials may be viewed by request. And, at some time in the future, the Collection will acknowledge the materials in a formal manner.
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Decision: 04/12/2017
After 2 years of considering where the ephemera of Arnold's work should be placed, and with good advice from knowledgeable individuals, it will be placed with the C.M. McClung Historical Collection, I met Wednesday, April 12, with Steve Cotham, collection manager, and he is excited about this and said I may share the decision. Thanks to all who have helped and/or listened to me as we have worked through this. The Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection is the history and genealogy department of the Knox County Public Library. As a research library, no collection materials circulate, and none are available for interlibrary loan.
This is my first post to the Legacy Project site. I will be adding pages as I document the work that Arnold produced during his 35 year career designing and creating Judaica for the home and commissions for synagogues, nursing homes — and even the Nashville Zoo. You can see samples of his work on www.schwarzbart.com. This WordPress site will be linked to that website when it is a bit more developed.
The pages with more information are organized on the dropdown menu.