Art Mitzvah
by Jill Duff-Hoppes
Joanne Fink launched her highly-successful art career more than 35 years ago designing Jewish wedding contracts, known as ketubahs. A ketubah serves a dual purpose: it is a legal religious document and a symbol of a couple's love and commitment to one another.
At the age of 22, Joanne visited the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia with ketubah samples in tow. To Joanne's delight, the museum agreed to sell her ketubahs, which featured traditional Jewish motifs such as the Star of David and a Torah scroll, delicate flowers, and other beautiful imagery.
In the ensuing years, Joanne's career would reach dizzying heights across an array of artistic genres, but she never stopped designing ketubahs.
"I want to celebrate and acknowledge the milestones and events of people's lives," says the 59-year-old Longwood resident. "I see how meaningful and touching this art is to the people I make it for."
A native of Philadelphia, Joanne graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981 with a degree in sociology. She comes from a musical family and has had a lifelong interest in art.
During college, Joanne began studying the art of calligraphy and has been lettering ever since. After graduation, she opened a design studio and spent many years working in the greeting-card industry.
In 2009, Joanne embarked upon a new adventure that ultimately became Zenspirations, a best-selling collection of books and other products featuring her method of patterned drawing and uplifting sentiments. The Zenspirations series, which includes books about lettering and patterning as well as adult coloring books, has been printed in six languages.
Joanne has more than a million books in print, including one titled L'Chaim: Celebrate Life: Jewish Expressions to Color and Inspire.
Her art, and her life, took an unexpected turn in 2011 when Joanne's beloved husband, Andy Trattner, died unexpectedly of a heart attack. The devastating loss led Joanne to write and illustrate the book When You Lose Someone You Love, which contains excerpts from her personal grief journals.
Joanne with friends.
"It's a gift of comfort for people who have lost loved ones," Joanne says. "It lets you know that you're not alone, and however you're feeling, it's OK to be feeling that way."
Joanne helps mentor other widows by co-leading a group called Widows World, which is comprised mostly of local Jewish women. The group meets once a month at Joanne's home.
"It's a wonderful, supportive group of what I call wisters, which are widowed sisters, Joanne says.
She often creates memorial art for members of the group to mark important occasions such as the anniversary of their loved one's passing. Joanne has also taught memorial art workshops at gatherings and conventions for widows and parents whose children have died.
"I believe in the power of commemorative art," Joanne says. "It's just a way of showing that you care. I use my art to help heal hearts, because that's important to me."
Joanne has also come up with a very modern way of helping people support those they care about. She created a line of Zenspirations Care-Moji stickers, which can be texted, emailed, or posted on Facebook. Her Care-Moji line includes a colorful collection of Shalom stickers, featuring 36 of Joanne's favorite Jewish sayings, such as First Class Mensch! and Oy Vey!
Joanne is deeply entrenched in the Jewish community, both locally and beyond. She has served on the board of the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida and has contributed pro bono design services to many Jewish agencies and synagogues. And, she was a founding board member of the American Guild of Judaic Art.
Faith is a fundamental part of Joanne's personal life and a key component of much of her artwork. Her Zenspirations line includes Bible, prayer, and scripture journaling books and /////Expressions of Faith///// coloring books and calendars.
A self-described spiritual seeker, Joanne is a member of the Congregation of Reform Judaism in Orlando. Her artwork, including examples of her ketubahs, adorns the synagogue walls and the office of Cantor Jacki Rawiszer.
"There is a spiritual depth that is present in every one of Joanne’s pieces, in addition to her great artistry," Cantor Jacki says. "Joanne creates art like she lives, with compassion and genuine understanding and empathy for others."