Aliza Freedman

Aliza Freedman is a Hebrew Calligrapher and Artist living in Melbourne, Australia. Since emigrating from South Africa in 1987 she has concentrated on producing Jewish Ceremonial Art, including Ketubot, Barmitzvah Portraits, Psalms and Prayers.

Aliza and her husband, Alan, have 3 children: Raphael Hersch, who is serving as a lone soldier in Sayeret Tsanchanim in Israel, Kelila Rachel, who will be studying at Bezalel School of Art and Design in Jerusalem during 2009/2010, and Mikayla Rose, who has 3 years of schooling left.

In 2001 Aliza completed a Certificate Course in 4-shaft Weaving, which compliments her National Diploma in Art and Design. In 2002 a silk and wool Tallit was hand-woven for her son’s Barmitzvah.

Aliza has contributed to art in the community by providing many pieces over the years to be auctioned by Sotheby’s as major fundraisers for the Jewish Museum of Australia in Melbourne. She has also worked with schoolchildren of all ages, participating twice as Artist in Residence at Mount Scopus Memorial College.

In 2005 a Barmitzvah Portrait was a finalist in the Blake Prize for Religious Art (Sydney, Australia) and in the same year a set of 4 Purim Portraits was exhibited in London at the Ben Uri Gallery. Aliza has participated in several group exhibitions at the Jewish Museum of Australia, which have also been on tour throughout the country. She has also had one major solo exhibition “Chai”, featuring works on paper, acrylic and hand-cut, as well as participating in an exhibition devoted to works celebrating the festival of Pesach.

Two current works, “Prayer for the State and Peace of Israel” (acrylic on paper, hand-cut), and “Rosh Hashana Challah Cover” (hand embroidered silk and appliquéd fabric) are on tour throughout Australia.

The “life Prayer” (image in Artwork, “Prayers and Blessings”) is featured in a calendar “Jewish Women Artisans around the World”, produced by the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute, U.S.A.

Aliza has recently been invited to join “Women of the Book”, a collaborative project of 54 International Jewish women, who will produce an artistic representation of a traditional Torah Scroll.

Aliza continues to be inspired by beautiful words that are found in religious and traditional Hebrew texts.

Curriculum Vitae
2009	Invited to join “Women of the Book”, to collaborate in an artistic representation of a traditional Torah Scroll.
2008	Artwork “Life Prayer” included in calendar featuring International Women Artists. Produced by Brandeis University, U.S.A.
2007-2009	Participating in Exhibition “New Under the Sun: Australian Contemporary Design in Jewish Ceremony lll ” at the Jewish Museum of Australia, Melbourne, and touring throughout Australia, with two works: Prayer for the State and Peace of Israel (acrylic on paper, hand-cut), and Rosh Hashana Challah Cover (Hand embroidered silk and appliquéd fabric).
2005	Set of 4 Purim Portraits exhibited at the Ben Uri Gallery, London, England.
2005	Finalist in the Blake Prize for Religious Art (Sydney, Australia) with a Barmitzvah Portrait, Parasha Shelach Lecha.
2004	Artist in Residence at Mount Scopus College, Melbourne. Worked with Senior School pupils.
2004	Solo Exhibition “Chai” at Jewish Museum of Australia featuring 18 works, acrylic on paper, hand-cut.
2004	Participated in Jewish Museum of Australia “Precious Platters” Exhibition. Auctioned by Sotheby’s Australia. Fundraiser for the museum.
2003	Image of work “Kaddish” included in “Jewish Museums of the World” by Grace Cohen Grossman, published by Hough Lauter Levin Associates / Universe.
2003	Work in Hebrew and Yiddish( “Nodeh Lecha”) completed for “Darkness to Light” Pesach Exhibition displayed in Carlisle Street, Caulfield, Melbourne.
2002	Silk and wool Tallit hand woven on 4-shaft floor loom for son, Raphael’s, Barmitzvah.
2001	Completed a Certificate Course in 4-shaft Weaving at the Handspinners and Weavers Guild, Carlton, Melbourne.
1999 - 2001	Illuminated prayer (“Sh’ma”) on exhibit at the Jewish Museum (“Blessed be the Work – Australian Contemporary Design in Jewish Ceremony II”), and then on tour through Australia.
1998 – 1999	Ketuba on loan to the Jewish Museum of Australia for “Jewish Family Life Exhibition”.
1998	Participated in Jewish Museum of Australia Mask Auction. Decorated Purim Mask donated to the Jewish Museum. Auctioned by Sotheby’s to raise funds for the Museum.
1997	Artist in Residence, Mount Scopus College, Melbourne, worked with Grades 5 & 6 (10 to 13 year olds).
1995	Decorated Memorial Prayer (Kaddish) donated to the Jewish Museum of Australia, Melbourne, (Permanent Exhibition).
1987 -ongoing	Freelance design and illustration, concentrating on Jewish Ceremonial art, eg. Illuminated Marriage Certificates (Ketubot).
1987	Immigrated to Australia.
1985 - 87	Freelance illustration and design work. Received Clio Award (New York) for packaging illustration.
1985	Commissioned to illustrate children’s book (Australian Publisher, Rene Gordon), “Megalotroll & the Turtomonster”.
1983 - 84	Employed by Advertising Agency, Young & Rubicam (Cape Town).
1982	Travelled to Australia, New Zealand (freelance design/illustration), U.S.A., Europe, Israel.
1980 - 81	Employed by Rightford, Searle-Tripp & Makin, Cape Town Advertising Agency.
1979	Travelled to Israel, Europe, including 5 months employed in a London Design Studio (Long John’s Workshop).
1978	Employed by Cape Town Advertising Agency Lindsay Smithers, F.C.B.
1975 - 78	Studied at School of Art and Design, College for Advanced Technical Education, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Completed National Diploma in Art and Design (Graphic Design).