THE ART OF JEWISH PAPER-CUTTING: A HANDS-ON WORKSHOP

Cutting pictures out of paper is a traditional Eastern European folk art. Jewish paper cuts are called "papir shnitte" and often incorporate designs such as menorahs, animals, the Tree of Life; and the walled city of Jerusalem. They are created by folding a piece of paper in half, cutting the design through both pieces of paper with a craft knife (such as an X-Acto knife), and unfolding the completed paper cut like a valentine heart. The design is then pasted onto a larger piece of paper or cardstock of a contrasting color.

In this hands-on workshop, Itke McCrea will teach us about the art of Jewish paper cutting with some inspiring examples, including images she has designed and cut herself based on this recognizable traditional style. Then, workshop participants will have a chance to experiment with drawing and cutting their own Jewish paper cut images. Paper cuts can be hung in a window or displayed against a contrasting colored background. All materials (various types and colors of paper, and X-Acto knives or scissors) will be provided.


BIO

EDITH (ITKE) OTCHIN MCCREA is a creative person who lives in Ithaca, NY. In 2013, a community-made music video of her song, "You've Been Fracked!" won the national #DontFrackNY video contest sponsored by Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon. Itke went on to write several more environmentalist songs and make them into music videos. She then spent some time as a puppeteer, writer, and director for Magic Garden Puppets, a Waldorf marionette troupe based in Cortland, NY, and as a puppet and props builder and puppeteer for The Cherry Theatre in Ithaca. A 2021 graduate of the YIVO summer program, Itke was accepted as a Yiddish Book Center Translation Fellow in 2022-23, translating Shira Gorshman's Yiddish novel, Khanes shof un rinder (Hanah's Sheep and Cattle) into English. Her translation will be published by Cornell University Press/Northern Illinois University Press in October 2025.


FESTIVAL INFO

This event is part of Yiddish Folklife Festival of the Finger Lakes (YFFFL), a new three-day arts and cultural festival taking place April 25-27, 2025 at the Lifelong Community Center downtown and other venues in Ithaca, NY.

Featuring live klezmer music, folk dancing, a community potluck, cooking and cultural workshops, a nature talk, an academic lecture, an open mic, and other community events, this intergenerational, all-ages festival is open to the public, including those new to Yiddish music and culture.

*Please see YFFFL Full Festival Schedule for YFFFL full festival pass & links to other individual events of the festival.


YFFFL SUPPORTERS

We thank our partners: Klezmer Ensemble at Cornell University and Jewish Studies at Cornell University for working with us to put on this festival!

We thank our sponsors: Temple Beth El, Congregation Tikkun V'Or, and Ithaca Area United Jewish Community for supporting Yiddish Folklife Festival of the Finger Lakes!

We thank our funder: This festival is made possible in part with funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, administered by the Community Arts Partnership.