Wendy Westerwelle and Renata Dollinger

Great news!
Triangle Productions will produce the one-woman play ROSE starring Wendy Westerwelle at the COHO theater here in Portland, April 1-25.
Jewish Arts Month (JAM) is proud to support this effort.
But wait, it gets better!
 Renata Dollinger will display her work in the lobby of COHO and she will also
join ORA artists at the Elements Gallery March 3-?.
Renata is an amazing artist , now well into her 80s. She paints vibrant pictures of shtetl life.
She has retired to Bothell Washington but is willing to bring her newest oil paintings to Portland where her fan base is extensive.
Look out Portland! The art scene is going to meet a powerful group of Jewish artists!

JEWISH ARTS MONTH GETS FUNDED!!!!!

It's official! JAM is coming to PDX.
Jewish Arts month is actually about 10 weeks long. Our web page will go up shortly.

This project is supported in part by a grant from the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal Agency.

We need donations to help fund this project. If you can help, please send a donation to the Jewish Community Center  5561 SW Capitol Hwy Portland Oregon attn: Beth Germain and be sure to say it's for JAM!!!!! This is a tax deductible gift!

THREE....yes 3 theaters will perform Jewish-themed plays. The Chosen, KinderTransport, and ROSE.
(More info later!)

Elements Glass will host ORA Northwest Jewish artists for a two week show.

Musicians will perform concerts in a variety of genre.

poetry slam

Drash Magazine presents Oregon Jewish Writers

Joanne Greenberg (author of I NEVER PROMISED YOU A ROSE GARDEN) will adult storytelling.

and the list goes on........and on!  stay tuned......nothing like this has been attempted (that we know of)!!!

Mizrach: facing east

In hebrew mizrach means east. It is a tradition in some households to mark the eastern wall of their house with some decorative element bearing this hebrew word. We face east when we pray, directing our energy toward Jerusalem.

I wanted to create a vessel. Something that could be wall mounted or dsiplayed on a tabletop. Something that incorporated the idea of a mizrach but would carry meditative prayers. I developed a prototype that I am pleased with. It's a little busy but I know how to proceed with the "real deal." In the mean time, I can use this Mizrach for my personal meditation practice....after all, practice is what this is all about!

This plate is asymmetrical and has two copper foil hands (chamsahs) fused between the layers of glass. The back is textured in a herringbone pattern which adds an unexpected warmth to the piece. I don't know if you can see it in the picture.

Gold ink was applied to the fingers. Each finger on one hand carries a hebrew meditation while the opposite hand carries the translations.  The shiny hebrew letters spell the word mizrach in dichroic glass.

I had a wonderful meditative session with it yesterday; filling the dish with water and floating candles.
I focused on shiviti and was able to clear the junk out of my head. Shabbat is almost here and I look forward to meditating with a second verse.

CHAIR AFFAIR 2010

I am pleased to participate again in the annual Chair Affair fund raiser for the Community Warehouse.

I picked up a large round piece of tempered glass....a table top at the warehouse a couple of weeks ago and this evening I went to IKEA to pick up some inexpensive legs.

Now comes the challenge..... designing an elegant table that will attract the attention of wealthy bidders willing to plunk down some big dollars for a most worthy cause.

The picture I have included is actually of a similar table top....being sold  on the web for $200!
(no legs, no chairs, no design elements)

Stay tuned......!