The COJECO BluePrint Fellowship
All Projects
Jewish Fairy-tales
The project will create original theatrical performances for families with children based on famous Jewish children’s books drawing from Yiddish culture and the wealth of the Russian-Jewish literary heritage.
ALEX NOTKIN Was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. Graduated from The St. Petersburg Theatre Arts Academy 2008. Worked in various Russian and European feature films, TV series, Commercials and theatre productions. Lived in Israel from 1990 to 2004. In 2013, in St. Petersburg, Alex directed his own theatre show ‘The Letters of Vertinsky’ in which he also starred as the lead. This production participated in various European festivals. Alex has also established himself as a well known Voice Over actor: Among his Voice Over highlights are: AVATAR (The Russian Version) in which he dubbed the lead Jake Sully played by Sam Worthington, TERMINATOR 4, SALVATION where he dubbed Christian Bale, Crab Sebastian in Walt Disney’s The Little Mermaid 2 and many more. In 2014 Alex moves to New York City to pursue his acting career, he then completes an acting Conservatory Program at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and continues working as an actor, Voice Over artist and stage director. His recent U.S. projects include: Theatre: Serge in ‘Art’ which he also directed at the Marilyn Monroe Theatre NY Officer Augustus in the Off Broadway production of ‘Green Card the New Musical’ TV and Commercials Madam Secretary, Mozart in the Jungle, Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, Sheepshead Bay, Ponder and Ghostek Commercials Voice Over Mercedes Benz, Metlife Stage Directing ‘Art’, ‘Defendant Maurice Chevalier’-Off Broadway, ‘Loitering’-Off Broadway Collaborated with WZO and Russian Speaking Jewish communities in New York.
Jewish Meditation for Russian-speaking Jews
The idea was to expose Russian Speaking Jews to Jewish Meditative practices minus the religion as well as create community after the event through sushi and refreshments. This way the group exists to learn meditative / contemplative practices while supporting each other in their personal and social development. Two events took place: June 1, 2015 […]
Steven Perchikov was born in Belarus and immigrated to the United States at the age of 4. Steven is interested in poetry, spirituality and entrepreneurship. Steven currently works at a technology startup, as well as volunteers, brainstorms social businesses and spends a lot of time with close family and friends. For his COJECO BluePrint Fellowship community project, Steven created a workshop series on Jewish meditation for the Russian-speaking Jewish community.
Alya Adelman was born in Kharkov, Ukraine and immigrated to US in 1994. Alya was fascinated with theater since her early childhood and by the age of 14 already produced her first play for the school graduation. After moving to the United States, she worked with a talented director, Simon Rivkin, who led a Russian acting studio in Boston. In New York, she continues advancing her career at HB and Terry Schreiber studios, as well as learning modern dance techniques with legendary Mary Anthony. She currently performs as part of Lost and Found Project.
JewTrek
“Our Journey Home” Exhibit The show is about, the different paths taken by Jewish Immigrants leaving the former Soviet Union and the places they’ve journeyed in their hopes to find their way home. This project was created in conjunction with Yelizaveta Rudnitsky. Show took place at NYU Bronfman Center Gallery – 7 East 10th Street, New […]
Just In Case / На всякий случай
A photojournalism project focusing on objects that immigrants hold onto. Interviewing Soviet Jewish immigrants about and photographing the possessions they’ve carried with them through their journey and beyond. An exploration why we as humans are so often attached to “things” and are they time machines, reminding us of the past.
Kaddish for the Machine
Kaddish for the Machine is an interactive installation, dedicated to the memory of the victims of Nazism. The event took place on November 7, 2013 at Hadas Gallery 541 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn.
Igor Molochevsky is a new media artist, documentary filmmaker, and photographer. His work is based on mixed media and technology reintegration. His workflow includes live coding, interactive and generative programming, kinetic sculptures, sound design, and digital imaging. His work is defined by de-structuralization of visual and conceptual paridigms. His installations have been exhibited alongside such artists as Ai Wei Wei, Komar & Melamid, Ernst Neizvestny, and Michael Chemiakin.
KinoFERMA
КиноФестиваль Еврейской Русскоязычной Молодежи Америки On Sunday, October 12, 2008, the JCC in Manhattan hosted KinoFERMA, the first-of-its kind film festival showcasing the works of young Russian-speaking Jewish directors and animators. The Festival presented short films and animations, several of which had already been recognized at prestigious international film festivals and others that premiered for the first time. […]
Yevgeniy Klig was born in Odessa, Ukraine and immigrated to United States in 1997. After graduating from Stony Brook University with a degree in Electrical Engineering, Yevgeniy worked for a major telecommunication company involved in the implementation of the high-tech communication solutions. During his tenure as an engineer, Yevgeniy went on the Taglit trip that inspired his interest in Jewish identity exploration.
From 2007, Yevgeniy participated in a number of Jewish identity and leadership development seminars and fellowships, becoming an active lay leader. Having been selected as one of the first four recipients of the COJECO Blueprint Fellowship Grant, Yevgeniy created a Russian-speaking Jewish film festival "KinoFERMA." Motivated by this experience to become a Jewish community professional, Yevgeniy began working for a JCC in Brooklyn (Marks JCH of Bensonhurst) as Director of Teen Services, consulted with COJECO as a volunteer coordinator during Superstorm Sandy, and created various young adult social programs for the NYC Russian-speaking community.
Prior to joining GPG, Yevgeniy worked as a Senior Director of Russian-speaking Programming at Moishe House, managing 12 RSJ Moishe Houses across the globe and organizing multiple learning and training conferences for the young adult Russian-speaking Jewish community.
Yevgeniy resides in Brooklyn, NYC with his wife Lisa and a fat cat named Yuriy.
KlezMixed
Recording and a live performance of a fusion of live Klezmer and other Jewish music with contemporary Electronic Dance Music and other dance and electronic sounds.
Knots for Jews – Macramé Workshops
Jews are all about knots. Whether tying a knot under a chuppah or on the tzitzit, Judaism is full of knot references, spiritually and physically. Macramé workshops will provide a nurturing and expressive environment for artists and non-artists alike, build connections to form long lasting relationships and provide a chance to tie spiritual Jewish symbolism […]
Anya Marfin was born in Moscow, Russian and emigrated to the US in 1995 after living for a few years in Israel. She is a local NY artist and a designer who graduated from Parsons School of Design with Bachelors in Fine Arts majoring in Product Design. She started her career designing fashion handbags for major American companies. After becoming a mom, she became a teaching artist and has been teaching and making art in her home-based studio using different media - painting with acrylics, watercolors, sculptures with clay and wall hanging with macramé. She’s currently teaching ceramics at Marlene Meyerson JCC in Manhattan.
Kruzhok
Cultural events and social outings for Russian-speaking Jews ages 50+. Event series, created as part of the COJECO Blueprint Fellowship, included: “Бранч под музыку”, a fabulous brunch at City Winery, with a performance by Lisa Gutkin, a Grammy-winning artist, offering a vibrant blend of Jewish melodies, jazz, blues, and much more! A great event for […]
Marina Mirchevskaya is originally from Moscow and has been living in New York for almost twenty years. An artist early in life, she now works as an art director and designer in the advertising industry. After earning her BA in Advertising Design from Syracuse University, she worked for a number of design agencies, start-ups, and nonprofits. Her work extends to the Russian Jewish community in various capacities, running enriching camps in Israel, volunteering at community centers in New York, and participating in leadership programs and fellowships.
Kultur-lige Movement in Ukraine, 1918-1930s
An exploration of artistic output of the Kultur-lige movement in the context of Yiddish and Soviet culture in Ukraine in late 1910s – 1930s. Event took place November 3, 2014 at YIVO – Institute for Jewish Research
Oksana Rosenblum graduated from the Jewish Theological Seminary with a Master’s in Jewish Art and Visual Culture in 2005. She received a Diploma in Jewish Studies from Oxford University in 1999, and gained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Cultural Anthropology from Ukraine in 1998 and 2001. Since 2005, Oksana has been free-lancing as a visual researcher in the field of Jewish art and history, working for the newly created museums of Jewish History in Warsaw and Moscow, among others. Her field of expertise and interest is the history of Jews in the Russian Empire, Soviet Union and contemporary Ukraine. As a hobby, Oksana studies Persian and Indian music, and occasionally performs with ethnic group ensembles.
Le Grand Voyage
The project will focus on the creation of a theatrical piece about immigration with a Clown troupe. Clown form is a perfect way to express complex life experiences and will become an engaging performance to adults and children alike.
Letter to God – A Staged Reading
An English language adaptation of a theater play by a Jewish-Ukrainian playwright Anatoli Krim, that will begin with a staged reading with a goal of a full staged play.
Lyagushki
Interactive multi-media concert for children, incorporating theatrical elements, based on updated versions of songs from classic Russian films and cartoons, as well as his original compositions.
Andrew Tuzhilin is a musician and educator who has been working with children for the past 5 years. At a young age Andrew attended Green Meadow Waldorf School where he began his musical journey, and was introduced to the world of theater. He received his education from the Berklee College of Music and worked on a multi-media project at Brown University. Andrew is currently working on the children’s project Rolie Polie Guacamole.
Maria was born in Samara. At the age of 8, together with her family, she made Aliya to Israel, and 23 years later, in 2013 she came to the US as a visiting scholar at NYU Stern School of Business. Maria is a Marketing expert; she has an MBA and a PhD in Marketing from the Ben Gurion University in Israel and experience in consulting and working in the banking and high tech industries. Today Maria is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Marketing and Director of MS in Marketing online program at Yeshiva University.
