Portraits: Creatures Great or Small

Barbara Sills Gelman
The artist has created sculptures in several media, using a Representative style. Drawing on life experiences, reactions to the impact of world events and studies in Biblical text, she creates a sculptural narrative.
After having dabbled in sculpture over the years and gaining pleasure from it, she decided to pursue sculpting as her creative outlet. She began studies and found a mentor in Anne Ruppert, a talented stone sculptor, through the Montgomery County Recreation. After retiring from her other work in medical technology and office manager, she began studies at Montgomery College in 2009, and then joined the ongoing "Practicum Group" class.
Having absorbed Jewish thought and values for so many years, it came naturally to express that understanding through sculpture. Her art has been called "midrashic" by admirers who recognized the Torah inspiration in her work. The influence of a Mystic tradition enters some of her work. Ms. Gelman also draws on life experiences such as family bonding and motherhood and reactions to the impact of events, both local and worldwide, feminist and general. Every piece weaves a story, but is first conceived according to the color, shape, and texture of the medium.
Barbara does not identify as a "professional artist", since she doesn't aspire to sell her work, though she has given pieces to family and friends. It gives her great pleasure to work on each new challenge.
You may see her work on Facebook under Barbara Sills Gelman.

The artist's work has been exhibited in the Senior Perspectives Shows at theJewish Community Center of Greater Washington, in Student Art Shows at Montgomery College, Takoma Park, Maryland and in the Jewish Art and Authenticity exhibition in 2010-2022. The artist is a second generation Washingtonian and life-long member of Adas Israel Synagogue. Her work, "Dreams" has been displayed in the their library since 2003.
Ms. Gelman's work is largely a reflection of her multiple studies with a Jewish Study Group over a period of fifty years. She also taught Synagogue Religious School for forty three years, gaining insights, as she reviewed the subjects and prepared to engage the students with her art.