ORA ARTISTS IN BEAVERTON!

Art on Broadway is a gallery in downtown Beaverton. Several ORA artists juried in to a one month show which will be up the entire month of December.

This is a beautiful little gallery representing numerous artists. Each month they rent a portion of the gallery to an art group. ORA was delighted to be invited! This morning we delivered our art and their co-op members juried our work. Selected items will be hung/displayed and all are available for sale!

The new show opens December 3rd.....and December 10th is the reception, from 6-9 and we hope our friends will come celebrate ... shop for art!

12570 SW Broadway, Beaverton OR 97005 - ph: 503.601.3300

Giving Thanks

We give thanks for many things today.
For our spiritual inspiration, for the support of our families and friends.
For the Portland Jewish community's encouragement and sponsorship of our efforts.
For the friendships we've found through this group, and the new ideas coming from our interactions.
For the freedom to create art as we wish.
For things we don't have the words to express, but we know it's there.
And for you, reading this. Thank you.

Picture: Tiffin Crystal Cornucopia

ART Enhances the synagogue experience!

Hiddur Mitzvah is all about beautifying a ceremonial object or a ritual. ORA is pleased to continue exhibiting a few artists at a time in the foyer of the main sanctuary at Neveh Shalom.

This opportunity allows us to fill the lobby will color and light. It gives congregants an opportunity to look at art, meet artists and talk about some of the questions we always wrestle with. WHAT MAKES ART JEWISH? Is it the theme of the art, the religion of the artist?...well, you get the picture!

The second Friday night of each month features a service called ORA Shalom....a Shabbat for the senses. We are so pleased to be a part of this monthly event that allows all of us to redefine our spirituality in various ways.

Featured through the beginning of February are:

JAN KATZ: 2D paintings

ESTHER LIBERMAN: Beadwork

EDDY SHULDMAN: Fused Glass

DIANA UNTERSPAN: Fiber Art

Artists can be contacted directly if you are interested in purchasing or commissioning a piece. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the synagogue.

• Stop by and check out the work.

• Visit our website (listed in the left column of this blog)

• Are you an artist? Join us!

• Want to buy or commission some art? Contact us! oraartists@gmail.com

• Questions about the art you see? Come to services, meet the artist and ask her yourself....or drop her a note care of our ORA email!

• Drop us a note and give us some feedback.....

Jewish Photographers 1890-2011

Carole Glauber is a former member of ORA. Her photography adventures have shifted to doing research, writing and speaking. Those of you with a passion for photography might appreciate this new class offered by Melton.

Here's the info:

WINTER: Picture This! Jewish Photographers

(5 sessions: Jan. 10-Feb. 7, 9:15-10:30) @ Congregation Shaarie Torah

$90 Tuition

$10 Materials

Developed and taught by Carole Glauber

Through readings, discussions, and photographs, we will explore

photographic work by a diverse number of Jewish photographers from

1890 to the present, and along the way we’ll examine history, culture,

technology, and changing religious beliefs that impacted the

development of their photographic style and subject matter.

TO REGISTER:

Morasha/Melton Mini-School
7410 SW Oleson Rd, #404
Portland, OR 97223

(503) 384-2476
rachel@meltonportland.org

www.meltonportland.org

Diane Fredgant and Esther Liberman

One of the major questions we always seem to wrestle with is.....Is it fine art or is it fine craft? In the case of these two artists the answer is a definitive...."YES!"

Diane creates stunning paintings on silk that in many ways are her personal prayers. Her deep study of text opens her to spiritual visions that express a joyful heart. Silk is a demanding medium requiring great care. A single error can ruin yards of precious fabric, but in DIane's capable hands, the cloth is transformed in a magically spiritual creation.

Esther works in beads....hundreds and thousands of tiny beads. She works with needle, thread and high quality beads in a quiet and meditative fashion. It isn't just her choice of beads and color....it is the way these beads transcend their individual forms to become part of an intricate spiritual message. Amulets, memorial candle holders, bracelets, and ritual head coverings speak of love and spirit.

Leslie Elder and Emunah Noa !

Leslie Elder (above) is a founding member of ORA. Her watercolors reflect her passion for representing jewish life as well as scenes from nature. In this picture Fred Harwin and Leslie are discussing her display at the Celebration of Art.

Emunah Noa (left) works with ceramics and creates beautiful ritual objects. This was her first experience with Celebration of Art and we were happy to have her in our show.

Photo credits go to Ellen Shefi, ORA member and photographer.

More scenes from CoA- Diane Russell and Glenn Decherd

There were so many wonderful moments at Celebration of Art 2011. We continue our series of photos of our terrific members and guests. THANK YOU to Ellen Shefi for taking these pictures. It's pretty demanding to set up your own booth... but to also get around to everyone's booth and snap off some shots... WOW!

DIANE RUSSELL (above) joined us for her first CoA event. Her portraits of local and nationally known musicians were a hit!

GLENN DECHERD (below) managed to evade the camera but his pottery captivated his customers! This was Glenn's first CoA as well!

ORA Northwest Jewish Artists is proud of the many talented artists who joined us this year!


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ORA SHALOM and FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE- 9/12/11

A very special night of music, art, and spirituality comes to SW Portland tomorrow night at 7:30 !

Neveh Shalom will play host to the instrumental music of Klezmocracy and the remarkable vocal stylings of Cantor Deborah Bletstein.

This will be the second time we have had Friday Night Live....and if it is anything like the one last spring, it will be a rocking night!

ORA artists Jan Katz, Esther Liberman , Eddy Shuldman, and Diana Unterspan will have their art work on display in the lobby and will be present to talk with folks right after services.

It will be a beautiful evening...the music will breathe fresh life into our liturgy. The traditional music is beautiful but when we mix it up once in while , the prayers take on new meaning and new life. Put that together with beautiful art and you have a magical evening.

The art will remain on display for the next few months....come to shul! it will be special!

The artists:

Jan Katz paints stunning acrylic paintings ...portraits, landscapes and abstracts- all tell stories in vibrant color and motion!

Esther Liberman brings beads to life in her spiritual interpretations of ritual objects like kippot and yahrzeit candles. Her jewelry is breath-taking.

Eddy Shuldman loves glass and frequently uses it as a way to express her studies of Jewish texts. The lobby exhibit features four Torah adornments/breast plates.

Diana Unterspan works with fibers in various forms. Felting and other interesting techniques lend a poetic quality to her work. She creates intriguing abstracts...several framed examples are on display...and she also makes women's hats (not on display).

SHOW YOUR COLORS!

Laurie Fendel, Sabina Wohfeiler and Barbara Berger are our featured artists today.

Barbara uses her camera to transform the "every day" experience into something unique. She helps the viewer see what she sees. Remarkable!

Sabina is well known for her watercolors but has recently explored the possibilities of pastels. Nature inspires her art and the results are stunning. Customers raved to us about her work and about meeting her!

Laurie has redefined fabric sculpture. Mystical, spiritual, and colorful....her designs inspire!

Pictured here is a commissioned piece that tooks months of designing, cutting and sewing.

ALL IN THE FAMILY!

Scenes from our pre-show set up!

Quilter Sharon Stern and daughter Anna Kodesch, extraoardinary painter were located side by side!

Two vastly different media...but same life force and energy! Keep an eye of these two artists.... this is just the beginning!

photo credits: Ellen Shefi

DAVID SLADER- One Man Show!

Sorry for the small print...this was the best I could do!

David is an ORA member and a very talented portrait artist.

His show opens with an artist's reception Wednesday, Nov 2nd 6-9pm at Gallery 903 at 903 NW Davis.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of his works will benefit the Children's Healing Art Project. YAY!