Volume 67, Issue 3  

Yeshiva To Host First Artist In Residence Program
by Alexander Grange

For the next few months, Yeshiva will host the prescience of Tobi Kahn, the university’s first-ever artist-in-residence.  Professor Shoshana Golin, Yeshiva University’s Adjunct Instructor of Art, has scheduled four events, open to both Wilf and Midtown campus students, for the fall semester.  One additional program, exclusively for the honors art students, will also take place in the upcoming months.

The first event will occur on Oct. 20th at Kahn’s studio, and will offer students a unique opportunity to observe some of Kahn’s work-in-progress as well as work that is soon to be displayed at the Jewish Museum.  Kahn will speak about the creative process, from conception to execution, to a group of roughly forty Yeshiva students.  Due to space constraints, students are encouraged by the art department to sign up as soon as flyers are posted.   

The second event, called “Micro-Cosmos,” is not open to the public, but roughly 75-100 tickets will be available to Yeshiva students.  This show will take place on Nov. 14th at the Jewish Museum, where, coincidentally, the works from the first event will be on display.  Amongst the crowd at this gala opening night reception will be members of the art community and the press.

Subsequently, on November 14^th, Kahn will visit the Wilf Campus to present a slide presentation of the works that have influenced his philosophy: “Sacred Spaces and Sacred Objects.”  This event will also be open to all students.

In his final scheduled public event, which is slated for December 17th, Kahn will revisit the Wilf Campus to speak individually with students interested in art.  Students are encouraged to show Kahn their work for critique and advice. 

Professor Golin strongly encourages all students to take advantage of Kahn’s presence on campus.  "Creative students tend to feel isolated within the college's community.  This will be an excellent opportunity for them to connect with a community of artists in a social and stimulating environment,” she enthused. 

Student sentiment around campus is somewhat conflicted in anticipation of this new program.  Several students responded positively to the idea of an artist in residence.  Daniel Solomon, a YC freshman, noted that “I think the artist in residence program has the potential to enrich campus life and further benefit the Yeshiva for years to come.”  YC junior Brahm Weinberg agreed and observed, “I think it will be interesting to see how someone who comes from a similar background as ours incorporates his Judaism into his work.” 

Some students, however, believe that this program is bound to fail in a school so distanced from the world of art.  “There is little interest for this type of thing here at the Yeshiva.  Art here is just another requirement,” commented one student who wished to remain anonymous.  Professor Golin sees this program as a solution to that very point, believing it will help to bring more art into the Yeshiva students’ life. 

Kahn graduated from the Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy Yeshiva University High School for boys and is therefore in a unique position to respond to Yeshiva’s artistic needs.  Professor Golin remarked that, “Tobi's personality overflows.  He has an open and giving nature, especially so with students.  He wants to be available to them.  This giving nature is a key factor in this budding program.”  Kahn, a prominent member of New York’s Jewish community, and is a renowned international artist whose works have been displayed at the Guggenheim Museum.  He is now preparing for an event at the Center for Jewish History (CJH), where the Yeshiva University Museum is located.   

Professor Golin is looking for students who are interested in film to document the events and Kahn’s participation at Yeshiva University.  Anyone who is interested can contact her at Sgolin212@aol.com or visit her at the Advisement Center or the Art Studio in the penthouse of Schottenstein hall.

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