In celebration of #JewishAmericanHeritageMonth, we’re reflecting on the work of Maira Kalman—an artist and writer whose illustrated storytelling blurs the lines between observation and memory, humor and history. For Kalman, drawing and writing are a form of journalism, a daily practice of witnessing the world through monumental and mundane fragments. From fashion and food to moss and rubber bands, her work captures the chaotic poetry of everyday life, anchored by the counterweight of history, loss, and resilience. Through it all, Kalman reminds us of the quiet beauty in paying attention and the power of art to inspire a sense of shared humanity in light of life’s overwhelming events and details, such as in this work, created for the 2005 reprinting of the iconic guide for writers, William Strunck, Jr. and E.B. White's "Elements of Style. 🎨: #MairaKalman, “Bread and butter was all she served.” 2004, gouache on paper. #JewishMuseumCollection. (fb)

Ilit Azoulay’s “Unity Totem” (2024) reimagines 19 ritual objects—most from Jewish communities across the Arab world—in a vivid digital photocollage. Textiles, amulets, and Torah ornaments appear as if suspended from a mobile, spinning outwards in a stark space. The Jewish Museum’s collection includes many objects that were made to be handled and used. This composite “totem” re-animates them, awakening their spiritual energy and bringing it into the present. Inscriptions on the artist-designed frame, inspired by insights from two spiritual healers, complete the activation, evoking both devotional practices specific to Judaism and shared human yearning. “Unity Totem” was recently acquired by the Jewish Museum, where it was exhibited in “Ilit Azoulay: Mere Things” (September 13, 2024–January 5, 2025). 🎨: #IlitAzoulay, “Unity Totem,” (2024), inkjet print on Dibond in wooden and metal frame with accompanying text. #JewishMuseumCollection (fb)