Horses, goats, fish, chickens, bows and arrows – it was all pretty unusual, even for an Asylum Arts Retreat. We were so pleased to return to American Jewish University’s Brandeis Bardin Campus for a second edition of Reciprocity: LA Artist Retreat, and those of us back in Brooklyn are already missing that gorgeous sunshine. Our group of musicians, theater makers, visual artists, choreographers, poets, and filmmakers were joyful, generous, and inspiring. We spent time learning more about each other and each person’s creative perspective and Jewish background. We explored the unique complexity of the city of Los Angeles, and built some structures and resources for the group to leverage as they present work and expand their practice.
A highlight of our time was a surreal evening inside the futuristic House of the Book, a hidden architectural gem on top of a mountain, where we were led through a workshop-performance by Dan Levenson, as art students enrolled in the modernist faux-art school, SKZ.
We learned about the support for artists from the City of LA, explored Jewish text through movement, and had some outdoor adventures. We had such fun meeting everyone and working with our wonderful colleagues from American Jewish University (thanks Rotem!) and we look forward to seeing how the group continues to build and grow.
Photos by Matt Garcia
