The Deaf Sound of Inspiration

2 summers ago, I had the opportunity to be part of an amazing experience with 50 other Jews from arond the United States, South America, Israel, and Europe at Brandeis Collegiate Institute (BCI) in California. We spent 26 days building a community together in a secluded valley oasis north of Los Angeles. This experience was also my first exposure to the deaf Jewish community, as two of the students, Sophie and Rebecca, were part of the non-hearing Jewish world. Raphael (my violin) had a wonderful time sharing music with those at BCI. Even Sophie and Rebecca, were able to enjoy the music by feeling the instruments vibrations through touch.

One day, I was hanging out in the lounge and Scott, a fellow BCIer, who was trying his hand at playing the violin. Sophie was there too, and as Scott lifted the violin to test out his skills, Sophie corrected his hand positioning. I was astonished! How could someone who could not even hear the music that a violin would make, know the correct hand positions?

I had a conversation with Sophie (through typing), and discovered that she grew up with music her whole life. Her mom plays violin, as well as her sister. However, she was told she would never have this prvilage as a deaf person.

So, over the next two weeks, we spent some time practicing together, and Sophie picked up a good violin technique very quickly. At the same time, several of the participants of the program were beginning to feel homesick, and by the 2nd week of the program, discourse began to become evident.

By the second week, Sophie's determination and hard work payed off. In front of over 50 people, Sophie performed the song "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" with Raphael. The determination of this performance was enough to inspire others in the program to challange themselves to be the most they could be with the remainder of our time together. (Click on the title of this blog, for a link to BCI)

The Eternal Soul

At Mt. Sinai, around 600,000 Jewish men (plus many more women and children) were present as we received the Torah from God. It is said, that every Jewish soul today is partially linked with these original 600,000. As time goes by, we get that much further away from the source of spiritual connection. So as each day passes by, we much try just a little bit harder, everyday, to reconnect with our linage and traditions. And as each day goes by, the more we strive to be positive and heal the world, the more of a postive impact we can have as each days connection builds on the last.

My Grandpa

Drawing Space

Story and Photos by Stacy Fisher • TODAY Magazine Writer

Technical illustrator and art teacher Sol Dember, a Simi Valley
resident, first began drawing in 1940 when he was in high school. He
attributes his interest in art to his late uncle, who spent many
hours imbuing his nephew with the principles of design while
conveying his love of art and the natural world.

“When I was in school, my uncle was a commercial artist in New York
City, and he did magazine covers,” Dember affectionately recalls.
“After school I would go to his house and learned a lot from him
about art technique.”

Later, Dember graduated from the New York School of Industrial Art,
and studied at the Beaux Art Institute in Paris. As a scientific
illustrator, his cover and story illustrations have appeared on many
books and magazines in the United States, England, Sweden, Germany,
Israel, Italy and elsewhere. His work has been displayed in the
Museum of Science and Industry in Los Angeles, plus many of his
paintings hang in the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and in the Air
Force Academy in Colorado Springs, as well as in industrial offices,
galleries and private home, to name just a few of the venues where
his work is exhibited.

Additionally, reproductions of his illustrations appear in a number
of encyclopedias and dictionaries. His illustrations have won him
numerous awards and worldwide recognition. He’s also known for his
sea and landscapes, and his pen & inks.

His art background includes a long stint as art director and in-house
technical illustrator at Rockwell Scientific, “doing all the
conceptual paintings of space vehicles and rocket engines for the Air
Force,” he says. “I also do science fiction and adventure magazine
covers, advertising, and story illustrations.” His résumé includes
Christmas card designs for national greeting card publishers like
Regal and California Artists, plus record jackets.

On the space program alone, he estimates he’s drawn over 500
illustrations, depicting everything from space vehicles to the
surface of imaginary planets. He says that he plans to loan some of
his paintings featuring space motifs and other science themes to the
Discovery Center & Museum in Thousand Oaks for display once the
center is completed in a few years.

Specializing in acrylics and watercolor, he has produced a number of
expansive murals as well, like the one in downtown Los Angeles at
Patriotic Hall located on 1816 Figueroa Street, where he created a
65-foot long by 14-foot high mural showing a timeline following navel
engagements from the Revolutionary War to World War II, and on to the
Korean War and Vietnam.

Being a well-rounded artist has unexpected benefits, too. “My wife
Betty and I have boarded 46 ocean cruises over the years,” he shares,
“with free passage because I taught watercolor techniques to the
passengers while we were on the high seas.”

Presently, Dember, 82, teaches airbrush illustration and computer
generated animation backgrounds at Moorpark College. He also teaches
part time at Pierce College at night. Between his full-time duties
along with all his freelance work, he says he gets in just a few
hours of sleep each night. But he insists he’s not complaining. “Art
is the love of my life,” second only to his wife, he says. He quips
that his hobbies are cleaning the pool and weed-whacking.

He’s published a series of 10 instructional videotapes demonstrating
techniques for painting animals, people, machines and scenery, Dember
remarks. He also has four art books on the market: Volume 1 & 2 on
drawing and painting the world of animals, one on painting scenery,
and another on airbrush technique.

Possessing an imagination that reaches to the stars, Dember’s
technical skills continue to be in demand. No subject is beyond his
brush. He is a master of his subjects, whether it’s a simple
rendition of the beauty of a sunset, or worlds beyond.

For information on Dember’s work, or to employ his artistic talents,
call (805) 526-5228.