1990s Culture and Arts!
Aaron and Beverly Black donate a new Torah and cover to the Wolinsky Synagogue, 1991.
From January 1991 Baycrest Bulletin.
Donations of art enhance environment for patients, residents and members, May 1990.
From May 1990 Baycrest Baycrest Bulletin: “Art Committee members Sheilah Silverberg and Sheila Loftus (l-r) worked with Gallery one owners Sharon Fischstein (l) and Goldie Konopny (r) on a recent donation by such artists as Lynn Donoghue whose work ‘Time and Memory: Les’ (above) hangs in the Silverman Garden Court.”
Rich Judaic heritage on display in main floor museum, July 1990.
From July 1990 Baycrest Baycrest Bulletin: “Currently on display in the museum is ‘Memories and Treasures: A Look back at Eastern Europe’. In addition to organizing its permanent collection and special exhibits, the museum has recently become more involved in patient programming. When the Therapeutic Recreation and Expressive Therapies Department of Baycrest Hospital organized a series of educational seminars last year, groups of patients visited the museum, viewed the artifacts close up and shared memories which the objects evoked.
Artist donates her talent to benefit others, November 1991.
From November 1991 Baycrest Baycrest Bulletin: “Ellaine Feferman wanted to make a contribution to Baycrest, but couldn’t see herself sitting on a committee. ‘So I decided donated some of my talent as an artist,’ she says, perched on a ladder in the dining room of the Jewish Home for the Aged (JHA). Feferman, Baycrest’s Art Committee and art coordinator Vivienne Marcus decided that the 19 pillars in the dining room needed to be brightened up. So Feferman is painting and stenciling them with her own design of fruits and vines. ‘We decided to do the pillars in different colours to help the residents locate their tables in the dining room more easily,’ explains the artist. ‘Everyone will enjoy seeing Ellaine’s work for many years to come,’ says Marcus. ‘She has made a unique contribution to the Centre.’ Marcus hopes that other artists will come forward and offer their creative services.”
Take a walk through Old Kensington Market, March 1993.
From March 1993 Baycrest Baycrest Bulletin: “You and your family will have the opportunity to visit a special time and place in the history of Baycrest and the Toronto Jewish community, when Baycrest’s Kanner Heritage Museum launches its next exhibit, ‘A Walk Through the Neighbourhood: Scenes from Kensington,’ at the end of March. Funded by a Refelections Grant from the Ontario Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Recreation, the exhibit is being planned as part of Baycrest’s 75th anniversary celebrations this year. Baycrest began as the Toronto Jewish Old Folks Home on Cecil Street in the heart of Kensington in 1918. Museum committee members Shirley Grossman (left) and Elaine Glassman display one of the show’s exhibits, a model of the original Home created by Toronto artist Henry Balaban.”
Leventhal’s creativity enlivens exhibit, January 1994.
From January 1994 Baycrest Baycrest Bulletin: “Well-known Toronto artist Ian Leventhal volunteered his time and talent to create the colorful murals that enclose the Kensington exhibit on display in Baycrest’s Kanner Heritage Museum until April. Working on the exhibit brought back childhood memories for Leventhal who used to visit his grandfather at the Quality Restaurant on Spadina Avenue. ‘Visiting Kensington was like entering another world,’ he says. ‘In designing these panels I had the freedom to recreate that world through the eyes of a child.’ “
Mural depicts Baycrest’s history, February 1995.
From February 1995 Baycrest Baycrest Bulletin: “Ida Ashrow, a resident of the Jewish Home for the Aged, and Al Green, a long-standing Baycrest supporter, were among the guests at the recent unveiling of a 15 by 7.5 foot mosaic mural created in the Baycrest’s Creative Arts Studio to commemorate the Centre’s 75th anniversary. The colourful, 15-panel mural depicts scenes from Baycrest’s past, present and future and was designed by clients and staff with input from community members, including renowned artist and sculptor Sorel Etrog. The Hebrew inscription ‘Honour They Elders’ flows through the piece which is comprised of thousands of tiles and took two and a half years to complete. It has been permanently mounted on the exterior wall of the Jewish Home for the Aged, Abe & Elsie Posluns Building.”
‘Turn right at the cows’: Art treasures at Baycrest create a stimulating environment, December 1998.
From December 1998 Baycrest Baycrest Bulletin: “Art and interior design coordinator Vivienne Marcus (right) at ‘cow painting’ which provides a directional cue for patient Faye Edelist when she exits the elevator. The art pieces around Baycrest have become memory cues and practical navigational markers to help clients, many of whom have cognitive disorders, become familiar with their surroundings. The art also helps to draw out emotions, memories, and encourage conversation.”
Artist showcases her work, September 1999.
From September 1999 Baycrest Bulletin: “Textile artist Elaine Glassman recently held the first public exhibition of her colourful weaving, needlework and sculptures at Baycrest’s Silverman Heritage Museum. Glassman has been creating hand-woven and hand-crafted traditional Judaic artworks such as Torah covers, prayer shawls and chupahs for 35 years. She also paints and does paper mache. Here she poses with with a whimsical paper mache sculpture called ‘Off to the Bar Mitzvah’. This was the first time Glassman had seen all of her work under one roof.
Donors - Greens with residents at JHA arts & crafts, 1990.
From September 1990 Baycrest Bulletin.
Sculptor Marv Fagan poses with the totem pole he donated to Baycrest, c. 1990s.
This totem pole was carved from a hydro pole which stood for many years at the corner of Adelaide and Spadina in the heart of the garment district. Sculptor, Marv Fagan, thinks that his father-in-law, Ben Weinrib and his father, Harold Fagan, probably walked past it hundreds of times and may even have touched it. It is named after them. As a longtime Baycrest supporter and a member of the Men's Service Group, Marv and his wife, Roz, felt that this sculpture belonged at the Centre.
100th birthday celebrated in special way, July 1990.
From July 1990 Baycrest Baycrest Bulletin: “On the occasion of her 100th birthday, Ida Birdie Berk (seated, left) was honored by her children (l-r) Shirley Berk Simon and her husband Dr. Albert Simon and Isadore and Ruth Smith, who donated a sculpture to Baycrest Centre in her name. A patient at Baycrest Hospital for just over a year, Berk passed away in March. The bronze sculpture titled ‘Creation’ (above, right), on display in the lobby of the Baycrest Centre Foundation, was created by Berk’s daughter, Shirley, a well-known Montreal artist. The family has been involved in the development of Baycrest Centre since Berk’s father, Reverend Maurice Kaplan, helped found the original Toronto Jewish Old Folks Home on Cecil Street.”
Museum exhibits unique Jewish artifacts from around the world, November 1991.
From November 1991 Baycrest Baycrest Bulletin: “On display until January is the most ambitious exhibits undertaken to date by the Kanner Heritage Museum. ‘Ribbon of Faith: Judaism Around the World’ is a showcase of international Judaica rarely seen in one collection. Committee members (l-r) Dorion Liebgott, Lois Buckstein and Sheila Zeldin hold some of the many unusual pieces – a Chinese jam dish with a pagoda shaped lid used at Jewish holidays, a Yemenite bride’s belt and an Iranian silver samovar. Adding to the uniqueness of the show is a rare collection of Persian silver articles. More than 25 countries of represented, including Spain, North Africa, Ireland, Holland, India, Mexico and Chile.”
Recreation is theme of photo exhibit, March 1993.
From March 1993 Baycrest Baycrest Bulletin: “Toronto photographer Orah Buck captures the vitality of Baycrest clients and other older adults participating in recreation and leisure activities in a collection of 24 colour photographs unveiled at Baycrest during ‘Recreation Awareness Week’. Baycrest’s therapeutic recreationists worked closely with Buck to capture the images which illustrate that we can still be involved in recreational pursuits as we age. The photographs are on permanent display in the Recreation Room on the hospital’s main floor.”
Octogenarian discovers creative talent, January 1994.
From January 1994 Baycrest Baycrest Bulletin: “Through her art, 88-year old painter Minn Price Petersiel has become a philanthropist. Petersiel has been painting for just six years but has sold hundreds of her works and donated the money to orphans in Israel. At a recent celebration on 7West in the hospital, Petersiel (above) stands beside one of the five paintings she donated to Baycrest in honour of her late husband, Frank. ‘When my husband died eight years ago, I went to pieces,’ she says. ‘My children bought me some oil paints and told me I had to find a hobby. We were all surprised by the results.’”
Client mural brings Baycrest to life, April 1994.
From April 1994 Baycrest Baycrest Bulletin: “It’s been a major project for the Creative Arts Studio for almost a year, and when the 75th Anniversary Mural is finished, hundreds of clients, volunteers, community members and staff will have added a small, ceramic tile to the colourful mosaic depicting scenes from Baycrest’s past, present, and future. The Hebrew inscription, ‘Honour our elders’, flows through the work which was financed by a $17,000 grant from New Horizons. The mural will be installed this summer outside the Jewish Home for the Aged.”
Keepsakes tell the stories of Holocaust Survivors, December, 1997.
From December 1997 Baycrest Baycrest Bulletin: “A Tribute to Courage: Stories of Survival,a special exhibit now on display in the Kanner Heritage Museum, tells the stories of survivors’ lives before, during and after the Holocaust. It celebrates the power of the human spirit to overcome unspeakable loss and renew itself. Holocaust survivor Judy Cohen with family keepsakes dating back to 1910, on display in the Kanner Heritage Museum until March.”
Four generations celebrate Chanukah, December, 1998.
From December 1998 Baycrest Baycrest Bulletin: “Museum features menorah exhibit. The elaborate silver gilt menorah was made in Syria more than half a century ago and is an example of the type of work produced by the Jews of Damascus. The menorah is being featured in an exhibt currently on display for Chanukah.”
Zionist’s harrowing journey to Palestine part of exhibit for Israel’s 50th, September, 1998.
From September 1998 Baycrest Baycrest Bulletin: “Baycrest residents Joseph and Diana Jurman have contributed their story to a special museum exhibit celebrating Israel’s 50th anniversary.”