"Crack", Dot", "Bam", "Soap"
I am so excited to tell you about Project Mah
Jongg opening at
Museum of Jewish Heritage, Battery Park, New York City, May 4th, 2010. Oy, I can already hear the tiles clicking and the women shouting out "Mah Jongg! I knew the symbols on the Mah Jongg tiles before I could read. (My mother was a seaso
ned player).
"Mah Jongg Lady"
The photo shown of "Mah Jongg Lady" was a whimsical three dimensional figure ( styled like a Mah Jongg tile) that I created out of a painted brick for a local Cancer charity auction in Connecticut. (We had to create "art" out of a brick". ) By the way, never will I attempt epoxy glue again.
Mah Jongg Lady evolved in my mind quite easily as I grew up surrounded my Mah Jong ladies, including my mother and all of our neighbors in Brooklyn an
d than in Fresh Meadows, New York.
Mah Jongg In The Catskills
I remember my mother getting ready to play Mah Jongg in the 1950s. She played both evening games and daytime ga
mes during the summer (in The Catskills).
During the weekly evening games, mom would pull out the bridge table and chairs and cover the table with a plastic quilted cover and tablecloth. I can't believe I now sell similar items in my shop , "Kitsch n Stuff".
Mah Jongg Night: Candy And Refreshments
The best part of Mah Jongg night for me ( as a child) was the refreshments. What would Mah Jongg night be without filled candy dishes, cakes, soda etc. Mom would let me sample the goodies before I was tucked in for bed. But, of course I could still hear the gals calling out "bam", "dot", "crack", "soap,. the names of the tiles which form suits.
Project Mah Jongg At Museum of Jewish Heritage
The upcoming exhibit "
Project Mah Jongg", takes place in a 1000 square foot hexagonal gallery and will chronicle the artifacts associated with the game as well as Mah Jong
g's social and cultural history for Jewish women in America. According to The Museums website visitors to the exhibit will experience the ambient soundscape created by sound designer Timothy Nohe who has reproduced the sounds and voices of women playing the game.
The exhibit, designed by Abbott Miller of Pentagram, features artwork by Christoph Niemann, Isaac Mizra
chi, Maira Kalman, and Bruce McCall and was curated by Melissa Martens. An accompanying publication called "Mah Jongg: Crak, Mam, Dot", edited by Abbott Miller and Patsy Tarr is available in
The Pickman Museum Shop
About The Museum: From Their Website:
"The Museum of Jewish Heritage is A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. "Created as a living memorial to those who perished during the Holocaust, our Museum honors those who died by celebrating their lives - cherishing the traditions that they embraced, examining their achievements and faaith, and affirming the vibrant worldwide Jewish community that is their legacy today" .
Learn More About The Exhibit, Museum And Mah Jongg:
http://www.projectmahjongg.com/about.html
To Read More About Mah Jongg click on this link:
http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/2009/10/mah-jongg-and-martinis-vintage-mah.html
Group photos shown are the courtesy of
http://www.projectmahjongg.com/about.html
Books About Mah Jongg
Mah Jongg - Companion Volume to the Exhinbition " Project Mah Jongg" Published by the 2wice Arts Foundation
http://www.pickmanmuseumshop.com/mahjocovotop.html
A Beginner's Guide To American Mah jongg by Elaine Sandberg
http://www.pickmanmuseumshop.com/begutoammahj.html
A Mah Jongg handbook: How to Play, Score, and Win by Eleanor Noss Whitney
http://www.pickmanmuseumshop.com/mahjohahowto.html
Mah Jongg Made Easy by National Mah Jongg League
http://www.pickmanmuseumshop.com/mahjomaeainb.html
The Great Mahjong Book: History, Lore, and Play by Jelte Rep
http://www.pickmanmuseumshop.com/grmabohiloan.html
References And Articles About Mah Jongg Collectibles
An Interview With Antique Mahjong Set Collector Carol Ann Harper
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/an-interview-with-antique-mahjong-set-collector-carol-ann-harper/
Mah Jongg Musuem:
http://www.mahjongmuseum.com/
Mah Jongg Sets
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/board-games/mah-jong
Mah Jongg Gifts
http://www.funwithmahjongg.com/
C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at
dianne@cdiannezweig.comVisit my website,
CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of:The American Society of Journalists and AuthorsThe Authors Guild, Inc.
Oh, my what can I say about "Ros-al Floral And Antiques" ?
ll under way at "Ros-al Floral And Antiques. Oh how I remember some of these collectibles in my dorm. Hello ceramic and wax mushrooms. Welcome butterflies and frogs. They are all there for you to buy and have once again.
gevelo and Christopher Glinton have crammed every room of this two story building with collectible souvenirs, snow globes, religious collectibles, carnival chalkware, vintage Zen, floral arrangements, garden collectibles, Asian figurines, planters, jewelry, vintage buddas, whimsical collectibles and more.
ly different collectibles, gifts and decor. You stretch your brain a little and realize that there are collectors for just about everything. And that is a good thing. This shop is for those of us who enjoy a little something quirky, odd and cheesy. Have fun!
