UM MILLER CENTER FOR JUDAIC STUDIES
PRESENTS THE ARTWORK OF KENNETH TREISTER
Renowned artist will exhibit “Eight Days of Creation”
Coral Gables, FL (November 17, 2009) – Kenneth Treister’s “Eight Days of Creation,” will be permanently exhibited at the Sue and Leonard Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies (5202 University Dr.) , University of Miami. The collection will have its premier exhibition open to the public, on Wednesday, December 9th at 7:30 p.m. The “Creation Collection” will provide insight into the very essence of the story of Creation particularly in a cultural and spiritual sense – one that all can understand and appreciate.
Mr. Treister’s “The Eight Days of Creation” was painted for the Miller Center and contains eight, original oil paintings telling the Hebrew Bible story of the Creation. The Miller Center will host a special Robert Russell Memorial Foundation lecture by the artist and by Rabbi Edwin Goldberg of Temple Judea. A reception with light refreshments will be held. Seating is limited (RSVP ccjs@miami.edu or 305-284-68882).
This wonderful series of paintings is based on the biblical concept that God created the world in seven days and on the eighth day created the Garden of Eden and turned his creation over to man. The paintings have a touch of humor – unusual in the contemporary field of art. Throughout all of the paintings God is pictured as the Creator and artist portrayed as a simple man wearing a suit, tie and hat. Popular imagery of Eden, fruit trees, birds, Heaven and man in God’s image, are all accounted for in the well-rendered art sequence. Nevertheless, God always seems to be working on something larger than himself – all while making it a priority to paint a wondrous landscape for mankind.
In essence, as the artwork’s catalog states, “The paintings in this exhibition are created not to make you laugh, but rather to smile.” Treister’s masterpiece of “The Eight Days of Creation” is an important collection of oil paintings with a provoking message from the Jewish religion and their culture.
Mr. Kenneth Treister is a renowned architect, sculptor, painter, photographer, author, and lecturer. His sculpture for the Holocaust Memorial on Miami Beach, a major influence in this community, is visited everyday by school children who are brought there by their teachers.
Established in late 1998 as a university-wide academic research center, The Miller Center has provided the framework for an objective, in-depth exploration of the issues, trends, and processes that have affected the Jewish people over the last 100 years. The Center continues to be engaged in research, publications, and outreach activities—such as lectures, conferences, and symposia—to which the university community and the general public are invited.
For more information, please call the Miller Center at (305) 284-6882. You can also log onto http://www6.miami.edu/miller-center/.
The University of Miami’s mission is to educate and nurture students, to create knowledge, and to provide service to our community and beyond. Committed to excellence and proud of our diversity of our University family, we strive to develop future leaders of our nation and the world. www.miami.edu.
For additional information, please contact Elizabeth Amore at 305-284-6266 or eamore@miami.edu