On Being an Artist

The three plays and the libretto in this collection were all written by Judith Weinshall Liberman when she was in her eighties. All four dramatic works are semi-autobiographical and give expression to the insight the author gained through half a century of creating visual art and of writing. The first play, SOUL MATE, was inspired by Ms. Liberman''s collaboration with a gifted young composer on her own first musical play. Both VINCENT''S VISIT and JUDITH AND ANNE were inspired by the author''s experience as a visual artist, especially by the years she devoted to creating her three series of artworks about the Holocaust. TO BE AN ARTIST integrates elements from VINCENT''S VISIT and JUDITH AND ANNE into a musical play in which the characters express themselves not only through frank dialogue but also in twenty lyrics which provide insight into their minds and hearts. Also included in the book are black-and-white reproductions of twenty-five of Judith Weinshall Liberman''s artworks. These reproductions are designed to help the reader better understand some of the matters discussed in the book.