Ever since she was a little fairy princess girl, Naomi loved to make things, with paper, scissors, and glue, or fabric, or paint or clay, or whatever hands could do. Howeve
r, she also wanted to save the world. To that end, she earned a PhD in biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and embarked on a satisfying career in research (for a c.v. with scientific publications, please click here). At the same time, she took evening classes at the Maryland Art Institute, and the Baltimore Hebrew College, where she studied picture framing, gilding, paper making, illustration, and Torah, conversational Hebrew, and Jewish mysticism, respectively (no, she did not become a nouveau Kaballah devotee). When the creation of her artwork became more meaningful to her than her research, she made the decision to retire from science and become a professional Judaic artist.
Naomi's main sources of inspiration are Jewish liturgy, holidays, and life cycle events, but she is equally inspired and challenged by requests for private commissions. She works in two- or three-dimensions. Although she is best known for her work with quilling, an antique art in which paper strips are shaped and applied as ornaments, she works with gilding, collage, and gouache, as well. The majority of her work is one of a kind, but she occasionally offers limited edition lithographs or giclees of selected pieces. She completes her artistic vision by doing all of her own matting and framing. Naomi's award-winning work has been exhibited in a variety of museums and galleries, and featured in books and other publications (for a resume with artistic publications click here.). One highlight of her artistic career was receiving her accreditation from the Quilling Guild.
Although she retired from the world of science, Naomi feels strongly about maintaining a community involvement. She moved from Baltimore to Rochester, MN in 1990, and once there, Naomi helped found a co-op gallery for local artists (the SEMVA Gallery). She was the Director for its first three years, during which time she had major responsibility for such matters as legal and tax issues, finances, public relations, staffing, bookkeeping, personnel issues, and sales. The Gallery has just celebrated fifteen years, all in the black. Naomi also served on the Boards of Seasons Hospice, and the Rochester Public Library. In 2007, Naomi moved to Johnston, RI. She is currently the Treasurer of the Society of Gilders, a member of the American Guild of Judaic Art, the Liturgical Arts Guild, the Pomegranate Guild of Judaic Needlework, the Quilling Guild, and the North American Quilling Guild.