JANE MEANS: NEW ART EXHIBIT!!!!

WE'RE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THIS ART SHOW ON BEHALF OF ORA MEMBER JANE MEANS!!!!!!

Rosalyn Kliot Update!

Rosalyn's work can be seen July 5-31 at the New Seasons Market  7703 Nyberg St. Tualitan, OR

This is a Solo Art Exhibit and the work is stunning!!!!!

See a sample of her work in the last post just below this!

Rosalyn Kliot Solo Art Exhibit!

"Tree Series No. 7"

ORA member Rosalyn Kliot will have a solo art exhibit from May 5 through May 30 at Village Frame & Gallery in Multnomah Village.  The exhibit is entitled 'Verticality.'

A First-Friday reception will be on May 6th from 
6 to 9 pm.  Come see Rosalyn's beautiful collage work!  We're so proud of her!

Village Frame & Gallery
7808 SW Capitol Hwy
Portland, OR 97219
Tues through Sat 10-6
503.245.8001

JOIN ORA NOW!!!!!

We're excited to share the benefits of belonging to a Jewish Arts Collective!
Come to our Annual meeting on June 5th at Neveh Shalom and meet us!

Our meeting will begin at 2....if you would like to be an exhibiting artists, you'll need to jury,
but that isn't a requirement for membership!

QUESTIONS? Write us!  oraartists@gmail.com

JAM starts TODAY!!!

JAM (Jewish Arts Month) IS:
3 weeks of rotating art exhibits: 
a different set of artists each week

Exhibits are in the lobby of Mittleman Jewish Community Center
6651 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, Oregon

All art is available for sale.  Admission is free.

Each exhibit goes up on Sunday, and comes down on Friday.


Week #1 (Feb 28 - March 4) 
Glenn Decherd, Ellen Green, Brauna Ritchie, Wendy Russell, Sharon Segal

Week #2 (March 6-11) 
Jane Means, Diane Moeglein, Diane Russell, Joyce Shields, Bob Sorkin

Week #3 (March 13-18) 
Diane Fredgant, Ros Kane, Esther Liberman, Eddy Shuldman, Julia Waco

DIANE RUSSELL ON KOIN TV NEWS!

Kudos to ORA's wonderful artist/member Diane Russell. We're using one of her paintings to advertise JAM.

Click on the link or paste it into your browser.

MAZAL TOV Diane!!!!! We are so very proud of you!

http://koin.com/?s=diane+russell

check out her blog:
http://www.dianerussell.net/blog/

JEWISH ARTS MONTH

6651 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland Oregon

Sunday-Friday you'll find a different exhibit of art.

All art for sale!!!! come see us!

Dani Dennenberg

SHARON SEGAL: Lifelong Artist and Educator

This is the first in our new series of articles about ORA artists.
Tune in regularly to learn about our uniquely talented artists!

One of two studio spaces in Sharon’s home. 

by Abby Cohen

Sharon studied Art history, Studio art and Elementary education at UCLA. In her profession as a teacher, Sharon always included art in her lessons. 

Sharon uses many media, and enjoys painting, sculpture and drawing. She is more interested in self-expression than in any particular technique. 

Why art? “I don't know. It's just something that I do, it's a passion that I have. I'm a visual person and a visual learner. It makes me feel good to see something that is "me". And once it is done, I can't even believe I did it; I don't even know where it came from or remember the process. Some higher force made me do it. One of my teachers once said, ‘First you work with your heart and then, you work with your mind.’ I think that is true for me.”

I asked Sharon about her process and inspirations. She said, “I start with an idea; usually it’s the subject matter, rather than a color, or form, medium, or material. So I often start with a concept, and then I get a ideas about how best to do it. I take a lot of classes and workshops whenever I can. Sometimes my inspiration is from a class I took, something I’ve just learned, and I get excited about that.” 

Sharon said that she does not have a particular linear process, or one way of thinking about making art. "I think all different ways." Sharon likes to maintain a looseness in her work and does not create tightly controlled pieces. She loves the feeling when starting a new piece, enjoying likes the freedom that comes before decisions have to be made. Her favorite moment however comes when she looks at her work afterwards and says, “I did that!.”   

Sharon used to paint in oils, but the fumes and long waiting time for the paint to dry inspired her to switch to acrylics. Sharon loves color, but is also drawn to color, and lately has been doing more pieces in black and white. She enjoys working in 2D and 3D equally well. Finding new materials is very exciting for Sharon; lately she has been adding drywall compound to her paintings, and another new tool is a Gelli printing plate, which allows one to print without a printing press. 

Some of Sharon’s recent explorations in clay. 

Sharon takes an intuitive approach to much of her work, and loves to stand back and say, “Wow, I like this!”

Is there any part of the process that she doesn't like? “When it feels like it’s not working.. You have to get in my head and know what I'm trying to say. I just want to express what I want to express but sometimes it's hard to do that. Sometimes something in the elements will bother me: wrong size element, wrong color. I like when people's work pops and I wonder how to make my work pop. I take classes a lot. I want to learn more about how to make color pop. I used to do all bright, but I realize now you do a little bright, and if you do all neutral colors and a little bright, it can be more effective.” 

Sharon aspires to take a break from painting and devote some serious time to working with clay. She has begun to make clay vessels, and wants to delve more deeply into that medium.

The most inspiring places for Sharon are the ocean, the beach, and also just walking around her neighborhood. She looks at everything, and finds inspiration in her backyard, in ginkgo leaves and other everyday elements of her surroundings. She has taken inspiration from the life cycle of a camellia, and flowers growing between gravestones in a cemetery. 

Judaism sometimes influences Sharon’s  work through embellishment. Being with ORA and Jewish singing groups, and other connections with the Jewish community have informed several series of works. “If we have an art project, such as (one we did about) Miriam, I do research, ,and it has helped me delve into Judaism.” 

Painting inspired by Tu B’Shevat

Sharon’s energy is irrepressible. She said she is “hard to pin down; I’m all over the place. I never get everything done. I like reading, exercise, meditation, painting. I don't make a schedule. I let my day flow.”

ORA artists Diane Moeglein and Victoria Epstein will be selling their beautiful artwork at this event, along with many others.  Come on down… it'll be great!

Click on this flier to see it larger:

Support Our Artists!

ORA's very talented jewelry designer, VICTORIA EPSTEIN, is a featured artist in this year's Holiday Gallery of Lake Oswego.  This gallery show will be open for about a month, highlighting the work of about 30 local artists. It is hosted by the Arts Council of Lake Oswego, in their 510 Museum Artspace.  There will be an opening reception on Friday evening, November 20th as well as a First Friday reception on December 4th.  Holiday Gallery hours are Tuesdays - Saturdays 11am to 6pm, from November 20 through December 23.

510 Museum Artspace is located at
510 First St in Lake Oswego, OR
(503) 675-3738

****************

Also, Victoria and our glass artist DIANE MOEGLEIN will be participating in this year's Holiday Extravaganza a Congregation Kol Ami in Vancouver on November 22 from 10am to 4pm. 

CKA is located at
7800 NE 119th St in Vancouver, WA
(360) 896-8088

Come out to support our artists AND have a great time!

What a Party!!

       This weekend's TASTE OF ART and 
CELEBRATION OF ART were resounding successes!!
Huge thank-you's go to everyone who worked so hard to make this pair of events so wonderful, to our beloved volunteers, generous donors & vendors, and also to everyone who came out and supported us!

Celebrations of ART!!

SAVE THE DATES:
 
       Saturday, October 17  
                & Sunday, October 18

TASTE OF ART party: 
Food for the body and soul!

Saturday, October 17th from 7 to 9:30 pm the TASTE OF ART preview party will fill Mittleman Jewish Community Center's Ballroom to the brim with original works of art, wine and food tastings, beer tastings from Ambacht Brewing (including their famous Matzobrau Beer) and Gompers Gin, 
live music, and a preview of Sunday's CELEBRATION OF ART sale.

Sunday, October 18th from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm, will be our 9th annual CELEBRATION OF ART  exhibit and sale in the MJCC Ballroom.  
ORA - Northwest Jewish Artists is the only arts organization devoted to promoting art created by Jewish artists in Oregon and Washington. The sale will feature original art work in many media by over 20 of these Jewish artists.  George Fendel and Rich Garber will be providing music as visitors browse the aisles of art.

With every $25 spent on art at Saturday's 
Taste of Art or Sunday's Celebration of Art, the buyer will receive a RAFFLE ticket toward one of five distinct prize packages.  Prizes include a fabulous date-night downtown at the Westin Portland, a Hillsdale/Multnomah gift basket, an Art of Cooking package, and more!  The raffle drawing will be held at 4 pm on Sunday; buyers need not be present to win.

Both events have free admission. Come nourish your spirit!

Designing A Better Art Booth!

Special Guest Instructor Fred Harwin assesses the work of Team 3

ORA artists were a busy bunch last Sunday. 

Fred Harwin isn't your average consultant/instructor. He's an ocularist, medical illustrator, artist, AND..he also holds a degree in interior architecture.

ORA artists heard a number of basic design principles and suggestions. They were then broken into 3 teams and had to set up an show table within a time limit.

Giggles and friendly debates ensued as each team wrestled with a variety of objects. It was great fun! 

Following the set up, Fred led us all on a walk-about. We toured each table and discussed what worked and what could be better.

Thank you Fred! You were charming, patient, humorous, and taught us well!!!!!!

Call for Jewish Artists!

Theatre Reviews: 4000 Miles

http://dennissparksreviews.blogspot.com/2015/05/4000-milesartists-repsw-portland.html

http://www.broadwayworld.com/portland/article/BWW-Reviews-4000-MILES-Is-Funny-and-Poignant-Just-Like-Life-at-Artists-Rep-20150508#

Glowing reviews for the current production of Amy Herzog's '4000 Miles,' playing at Artists Repertory Theatre. In the lobby and lounge of the theatre you will find ORA's themed exhibit, in conjunction with Geezer Gallery.  The play runs through May 24th. Don't miss it!

A.R.T./Geezer/ORA: A Trifecta

TRIFECTA! I humbly redefine this term to mean: when three non-profit art groups collaborate around the themes from Amy Herzog's wonderful play, 4000 MILES. Artist Repertory Theater (1515 SW Morrison), Geezer Gallery, and our humble artist collective, ORA Northwest Jewish Artists. 

President Obama was in town last night, which translated into some traffic jams near the theater...but "the show must go on!"...and so it did! 
We had a wonderful turn out...the mood was lively and of course the play was fantastic...a must see!

If you missed our First Thursday event, don't despair! This Saturday May 9 you can drop by the theater between 6:30-7:30 to schmooze with some artists and see/buy art! Better yet, buy a ticket to the play and see it all! The gallery is also free and open to the public Tues-Sat from noon-6pm!

Thank you A.R.T. and thank you Geezer. Two remarkable gems that bless this community!

Come Celebrate With Us This Thursday!

It's this Thursday! How exciting! 
The Artists' Reception for our latest exhibit is this Thursday evening from 6:30 to 7:30 at Geezer Gallery - Artists Repertory Theatre, celebrating the play "4000 Miles." There will be food and champagne, a chance to meet the artists, and to see the special works of art that our artists have created for this show. Admission to the reception is free… come join us!

Leslie Elder: "4,000 Miles" Portraits

This is one of of several portraits Leslie has on display at Artist Repertory Theatre in downtown Portland. The show has been juried and curated by Geezer Gallery and opens May 7th at 6:45 pm.  As mentioned in previous posts, the art in the show is based on themes in the current play "4000 Miles." The subject of this beautiful portrait is Sonia Liberman, mother-in-law of ORA artist Esther Liberman. 

All the artists in the show read the play, used their imaginations, and created art to reflect the characters and/or themes of the play. Leslie says "I wanted a strong woman with a gleam in her eye to represent Vera, one of the leading characters in the play."

Come to our opening on May 7th and meet Sonia (the model), Leslie (the artist), and Vera (the portrait).   Buy tickets to the play and meet Vera, the character."

Edited May 8th: model, artist, and portrait came together at our opening reception last night!

HOW THE 4000 MILES ART SHOW/TRIFECTA GETS SET UP

9 AM: Artists arrive and deliver their art
10 AM: A few more artists deliver their work...
meanwhile we begin gently unwrapping each individual piece of art, carefully leaning paintings and photographs against the walls, draping fabric art over the cushioned benches, and  3-D pieces were spread out on tables.
11AM: Patricia (curator) begins painting display stands. Diane and Eddy take apart the frames that will eventually hold the titles and prices of all the artwork.
NOON: Break for a little wine and lunch at Gilda's

1PM Patty sends Eddy and Diane home. Patty and Amy survey the art and begin to imagine where everything will go.