This session and last, Crane Lake Camp has had the opportunity to create silk paintings for theChadar Ochel with the unbelievably talented Nancy Katz. Nancy Katz has been silk painting since 1990 and is known all over the world, especially throughout the Jewish community, for her beautiful works of art. She has a long history of camp and Jewish camping and is excited to be back in a camp community. “It’s nice to just plug in and join the community,” she said.

“I came to Crane Lake Camp to create silk painted banners for the dining hall to beautify the space and bring camp life in,” stated Katz. By the time Katz’s visit in complete, we will have four different banners for the dining hall, two with the word “shine” and the other two with “Crane Lake” drawn across. The popular Crane Lake song “Shine” by Naomi Less influenced the two “shine” banners that were made first session. “The song has become a part of camp life and there are many ways we make the camp our own,” Katz said.

“The banners start off with all white silk and by the end of the day tomorrow it won’t be like that anymore. I like to say the campers bring it to life,” Katz said. On all the banners, campers and staff members’ handprints are incorporated to represent the loving community we have here. It’s amazing to see how many people offer their handprints to the banner without even being asked. Campers and staff can literally walk by, get their hand traced and be on their way…it’s that easy. Last session, some campers had the opportunity to help paint the banner and they will also have that opportunity again this session.

“Crane Lake is one of the friendliest, warmest and most generous camps I’ve worked with,” remarked Katz. “After having a lovely time first session, it is so sweet to join the community again. It is extra special to come back and be welcomed,” she added. Katz has known Debby Shriber for a long time and is having a great time working with her in the camp environment. She also enjoys working with Crane Lake because it’s very active; there’s always movement and activities going on. One specific act of kindness Nancy received from our community was from Billy. She usually works on a frame that’s two feet shorter than the one she is working with now, but given the larger space she needed a larger frame. “God Bless Billy and his skill, he created one of the largest and strongest frames I’ve ever seen,” she said. “And he was a gentleman about it,” she added.

After campers add their handprint to the banner, they often forget which handprint is theirs. “It’s great to see that despite not knowing which handprint is theirs specifically, they know they are a part of the community and that’s what really matters,” remarked Katz. Nancy strives for the campers to have fun while creating the banners. She wants them to have a positive art experience in the community that has a long-term effect. “I don’t see it much here but a lot of people get intimidated by art making and what we will see tomorrow when people are painting is that some people are afraid they will ruin it. The impact of this particular art form is that you really can’t mess it up,” she said. Katz believes it is important that this is something permanent on camp that will remain in the dining hall for a long time, if not forever. The campers will be able to leave their legacy on camp with these banners and will be able to come back years from now and still see their beautiful artwork on display.

The four banners created represent so much more than just hands on a banner, they represent the community, love, and creativity we all share here at CLC.

By Lindsey Blackman, Communications Specialist