COLLABORATING WITH YEHUDA HANANI
cellist, professor
1985
Bnai Jehuda - Chai sculpture
1986, wood
In 1985, Blitt was drawing to the music during a rehearsal at the Aspen Music Festival. Blitt was moved by the rendition of Shostakovich. After the rehearsal, Blitt complimented the soloist, Yehuda Hanani.
Blitt invited Yehuda to record music for her wood “Chai” sculpture for the Donor alcove at Temple B'nai Jehudah, Kansas City, Missouri. In a friend’s home, on top of a mountain, Hanani recorded “Prayer for Jewish Life” by Ernst Bloch. This music played when one walked under the arch created by the “Chai” sculpture.
1989
Hanani honored Blitt by playing a selection at her opening at the Goldman Gallery, Haifa, Israel.
1994
Hanani honored Blitt by playing a selection at her opening at the Aspen Institute, Aspen, Colorado.
2000
Blitt directed Photographer Stuart Huck in placing Blitt art in nature to create the film Caught in Nature. After the photographs were approved and organized, Huck combined the photographs and the music with Yehuda Hanani’s CD performing one of Bach’s Suites for Solo Cello.
Inspiration
Caught in Nature
“What a thrill it was for me to combine my paintings and sculpture with the charismatic playing of my dear friend, internationally acclaimed cellist Yehuda Hanani in beautiful Colorado. I love what Yehuda once wrote about a “sense of wonder and mischief” in my work. It was fun creating an art film with spirit.”
2002
In 2002, Blitt created a series of paintings inspired by the music of Bach’s Suite for Cello, performed by Hanani. These paintings were exhibited by the Nevada Museum of Art in conjunction with Hanani’s Bach performance with the Reno Symphony.
