Register to attend online 50 Seats Remaining

Measuring Mourning: A Ritual for Loss

A Virtual Event

This presentation explores a recently-resurfaced Ashkenazi women’s tradition of feldmestn—the practice of measuring ancestors’ burial places with candlewick, later burnt for the living and the dead.

This virtual presentation explores a recently-resurfaced Ashkenazi women’s tradition of feldmestn—the practice of measuring ancestors’ burial places with candlewick, later burnt for the living and the dead. How can this two-century-old Eastern European Jewish tradition help us grapple with contemporary catastrophes, as well as old displacements, genocides, and assimilation? When we do not know where our people are buried, what do we measure? Brown will share some of her own art practice and conclude with an open-ended maker space.

Maia Brown (she/her) is a visual artist, Yiddish musician, writer, translator, and educator. Brown has a background in oral history and fine art, including a Watson Fellowship to study storytelling and advocacy in South Africa and the North of Ireland. She received her Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts at Goddard College. She is a dedicated student and teacher of her own tradition as well as the many ways people have reached out to each other across communities.

This event is presented as part of the Yiddish Book Center's Public Libraries Program, a partnership with the American Library Association. Made possible by the Lilly Endowment, Inc.

Register and you'll get an email with instructions on how to participate via Zoom.

Technology requirements: you'll need a device or a computer with an internet connection and Chrome browser, microphone and speakers to participate. 

We strive to make events welcoming for people of all abilities. To request accommodations (i.e. hearing assistance, ASL requests, or other ADA inquiries), email sday@spokanelibrary.org.

For all event information inquiries, email connect@spokanelibrary.org or call 509-444-5300.

Upcoming events