A Jewish Living Delaware Exclusive Interview
Emma Driban, Editor
In this year’s February issue of Jewish Living Delaware, Cantor Deborah Katchko-Gray shared a piece with us about Sacred Sounds Reborn. In our correspondence, I learned that she and husband Dr. F. Scott Gray are also art hobbyists, making beautiful crafts inspired by the nature surrounding their new home in Lewes.
Deborah shared, “Living in Lewes, I was guided by a friend to know the thrill of sea glass hunting. A walk on the beach became an adventure and a delight in discovering sea glass and unusual shells. My husband joined me and loved finding driftwood—we now both love creating with these natural elements.”
Among their pieces you will find mosaic-decorated string instruments and mirrors, driftwood Shabbat candle holders and menorahs, and more. Deborah and Scott call these #PrayerfulCreations—spiritual treasures for sacred moments in life.
Now, their Prayerful Creations are available for purchase, bringing the beauty of art and the outdoors to our at-home religious practices.
In April, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to sit down with the artistic duo and learn more about their creations and the inspirations behind them.
Tell us a bit about your craft. What inspired you to start making?
Deborah: I began with Swedish weaving. I was always interested in colors and patterns, making tallises and then challah covers and table runners, things like that. When we came to Delaware, my friend Robin was really into sea glass hunting. I had never even heard of it, but apparently it’s a big deal in this area. I started walking the beach with her and delighting in finding sea glass and interesting shells. I began collecting them. I thought, I like patterns, I like colors, I like to be creative; it might be fun to make something with these! I started with ukuleles, violins, mirrored frames, and cellos. I love getting these discarded instruments, instruments that were literally going to be in the garbage, and turning them into something beautiful.
Scott: About two years ago, I was trying to figure out what I was going to do in retirement. We were in a thrift store, one of those places where they have all kinds of items you can go through. We were walking through, and I happened to see a shelf with a piece of driftwood with some candle holders on it. That one was being sold for an extraordinary amount of money, but I saw it thought to myself, oh that’s kind of interesting, maybe I can do something like that. I decided to investigate what it would take to do it, and it wasn’t much in the way of tool investment, but it takes a bit of skill and a steady hand. So, I started looking for driftwood when Deb went out looking for sea glass. I’d take a big bag and haul stuff home that seemed like a good size for Friday night candle holders. I had a few pieces that were too big and I thought, well maybe I can make a menorah out of this. At this point I’ve done maybe a half dozen menorahs, but it all just turned out to be something that was doable and a different kind of art to make. Our same friend, Robin, who introduced us to the sea glass is also into collecting antique glass insulators. It can be hard to find pieces that aren’t damaged, but I found I was able to turn them into Shabbat candle holders as well.
Where do you find your media? Do you source all of your materials locally or find pieces to use in your travels as well?
S: It’s all from Delaware beaches. Everything is local. Initially, I started by going to one particular beach, but any beach we go to where she looks for sea glass will do, and I look for driftwood pieces that will be small enough to work with. The key for me is finding the right piece of wood. I walk by a lot otherwise they might become a fire hazard.
D: An artist shouldn’t reveal their location, hahaha. We don’t want anyone stealing your driftwood. We like to find everything locally and, when we can, give new life to items that might be destined for the trash otherwise.
S: It’s hard to find pieces that aren’t damaged, whether that’s Deborah’s seashells or my insulators, so we have to keep our eyes open. Whenever we’re out window shopping, we are also on the lookout for pieces we can use for crafting. We like to have the ability to hunt for things at our own pace that might be good for one of our crafts.
What inspires you to make your prayerful creations?
D: We’re both newly retired—I like to call it rewirement—and I feel like it’s something we can do together. He’s a retired orthopedic surgeon; I’m a retired cantor. He’s used to doing technical stuff with his hands; I’m used to being artistic and creative. We are both used to being integral parts of our communities. Now that we’re retired, it’s been nice to find a way to express ourselves in a quiet, healthy way. It gets us outside, in nature, walking on the beach. We go to antique stores and thrift shops and then we get to spend time together creating at home here in Lewes. It’s been a nice way to bring in these aspects of our lives and helping us get used to being retired—we’re so used to being busy and this has been a nice way to spend our time.
How do religion and/or nature influence your art?
D: My kids always say that my vocation and avocation are like the same thing. Because I’ve lived such a strong Jewishly identified life, I kind of see it as seamless. I’m always thinking about music, Jewish music, Jewish art. I make tallises and challah covers, too. But with the sea glass it’s something different, something beautiful. I think for me there is a concept of beautifying Judaism.
S: I try to keep my driftwood pieces to Jewish themes. Our holidays often involve candles, whether that is a typical Shabbat or Hanukkah—the festival of lights—so I’ve drawn a lot of inspiration from that. Maybe someday I’ll branch out; I don’t have to make Shabbat candles, it can be other things, but I like that they’re multi-use, practical decorations. I take joy in creating things that I know people are going to use in their homes, especially for their Jewish traditions.
Have you ever incorporated Hebrew text, Jewish symbols, or Talmudic stories into your sea glass work? If so, how do those elements find their way into your pieces?
D: I like to work in Jewish stars and musical notes. I have a cello where I used the f-hole to write Shalom, so I do try to sneak symbols in where I can. In my tallises, of course, I always put in a torah, Jewish stars, I’ve included kiddush cups. I try to find ways to include Jewish symbolism.
Can you tell us about any particular pieces of your art that hold deep spiritual meaning for you?
D: One of my first cellos. I’m very drawn to purple and the piece has purple flowers with this beautiful sea glass. I just find it very inspiring and soothing, the way the lines move. Especially with his candle holders, too, I think it’s a beautiful way to bring in Shabbat with something meaningful and kind of funky and creative.
Has working with sea glass, driftwood, and other found media changed or deepened your understanding of certain Jewish values or concepts?
D: Hiddur mitzvah is the commandment to create something beautiful with ritual objects, to make things particularly gorgeous if you are going to use them for a Jewish purpose. The idea of putting a little more joy and color and art into something that’s going to be used for a Jewish purpose honors that commandment.
S: It’s different than creating a painting and letting it hang on the wall. Our stuff is more than decorative, it’s meant to be used.
D: As a cantor, I always felt like a kind of cheerleader for Judaism. I think this is a nice, quiet way, for both of us, to put out Jewish things into the world that will bring people closer and encourage them to light candles in their home and bring them closer to nature. The driftwood, the sea glass, the candle lighting—I think that’s a way of putting out a good message to keep Judaism in your heart and your home.
S: I always envision Jewish families standing around the things I create to do their at-home religious, or even secular, ceremonies. I look for pieces that are unusual, because no menorah is the same. I’m inspired by thinking about who might buy the piece, not just for display but for use. I think of the importance of family and celebrating the holidays and shabbat together.
Any words of encouragement for those standing at the edge of their own creative journeys?
D: Just do it!
S: Don’t be shy!
D: One thing I’ve learned in life is that if you stand in the corner and wait to be asked, most likely nothing will happen. We have to be our own advocates if we want to see something happen. Don’t wait for permission.
S: I didn’t think I had any artistic skill, so people shouldn’t be afraid to be inspired by something or have a spark. Often it comes serendipitously. And don’t be afraid to mess things up and break what you’re making because you get better at it as you move on.
Check out their gorgeous wares at the West Side Creative Market in Rehoboth Beach on June 23, 5–9 PM. 19826 Central St, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.
For question or commissions call 203-0482-1726 or email CantorDebbie@gmail.com or FSGray@gmail.com.
