Call for Jewish Artists!

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.

ORA and Jewish Arts Month

This is a picture of Shemaya Blauer at our Celebration of Art 2010 sale. She will demonstrate her technique of Touch Drawing on March 15th at the MJCC (6-8 pm). Come check it out!

Not only will ORA be at the March Art Spark (see the previous entry), but we will also have a show in the MJCC Lobby during the entire month of March!

If you've never been to the MJCC (Mittleman Jewish Community Center), this is a great opportunity to come check out this superb facility.

First of all, you'll discover some great art (the shows will rotate weekly). Every Sunday a new show will go up! Second, you can ask for a tour and check out the amazing athletic facilities.

Checkout the you tube video made by our friend Lauren Botney..... a little preview of Jewish Arts Month (JAM)! Just click on the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LMFuLRxUWo

MJCC 6651 SW CAPITOL HWY......503.244.0111
Come visit the living room of Portland's Jewish Community!
.

Friday and Saturday

Rosana Berdichevsky and Esther Liberman will be exhibiting their artwork at the annual Holiday Market at Portland's French American International School [This is a fund raiser for the school.]

Friday, Dec. 7th 3pm - 6pm
Saturday, Dec. 8th 9am to 6pm
Free admission.

8500 NW Johnson St, Portland 97229. Corner of Cornell & Miller Roads.
More info: http://www.faispdx.org

This event includes food and gift vendors, a Parisian Cafe, and wine tasting from several local and international wineries.

Sounds yummy - art, food and wine - a great mix

About our artists

Once in a while one of our artists will be highlighted....today it is Esther Liberman of Lake Oswego, Oregon.

Esther is a beadwork artist specializing in beaded jewelry and Judaic ritual objects. She is known for her Kippot made entirely of glass beads, and her detailed Mezuzot and Yahrzeit candle covers created with thousands of tiny beads. Local customers also love her unique Mah Jongg bracelets and Hamsa pendants.

She holds a degree in Ethnic Arts and throughout her studies, she continued to be fascinated by the beads and needlework.

"I have done every kind of needle work imaginable," she says, "but I keep coming back to the beads. They just speak to me; they always have. The dance of various cultures is best accentuated by beaded costumes, and the music by beaded gourds!"

Liberman loves to explore the possibilities presented by mixing traditional forms with modern materials and aesthetics. Tribal African beads shine in modern jewelry, while ancient Hebrew texts are revisited with computer-produced beads.

Esther is a co-founder of ORA - our Portland art collective and completed an ambitious website for the group which can be visited at www.northwestjewishartists.org.

Her own personal website can be seen at www.geocities.com/estherbeads.

Her work will be for sale at the upcoming Hadassah Fair this Sunday - November 18th from 9 am - 4 pm.
This is held at Neveh Shalom, 2900 SW Peaceful Lane, Portland.
More info: http://www.portlandhadassah.org

Liberman will also be selling her work at at the annual Holiday Market at Portland's French American International School, which is a fundraiser for the school. This sale takes place Friday, Dec. 7th 3pm - 6pm and Saturday, Dec. 8th 9am to 6pm. Free admission.

8500 NW Johnson St, Portland 97229. Corner of Cornel & Miller Roads.
More info: http://www.faispdx.org

This event includes food & gift vendors, a Parisian Cafe, and wine tasting from several local & international wineries. (It IS French, you know : o ) ]

Photos and ....

Here are a few photos from the show at Neveh Shalom.

It really was more wonderful looking in "real" time....



More photos of this event will be published on our website. That site [see link at left: ORA website] is also a way to contact each of the artists and/or look at some of their work.





And our next event will be at the Oregon Jewish Museum from February 7th to the 24th.....

The Day After

Wow - what a show. The social hall was truly transformed - the crowds never stopped coming - the coffee and yummies were great and the art and music were superb!

After all those superlatives - can we do this again? YES!

Nothing like a group of supportive women to keep each other going - creatively and emotionally.

Most of us are tired today but our creativity is running away with ideas for the "next" project - individual and/or collective.

Photos of the show to be posted when one of the picture takers sends them on to me.

And a personal PS: As a a long time Boston Red Sox fan - their winning the World Series last night was the ultimate capping of a super great day!