CHAMSAH:

 

CHAMSAH- HAMSAH: No Matter How You Spell It....

....it is a protective amulet representing the hand of God.

Hamsa in Arabic, Chamsah in Hebrew....it means 5 (as in 5 fingers)

This mystical amulet is also known by other names. 

Muslims call it The Hand of Fatimah.

Christians refer to it as The Hand of Mary.

Jews know it as the Hand of Miriam.

As a protective amulet it is thought to keep away the evil eye. 

There are many explanations for this amulet and different opinions about whether the fingers should point up or down. 

I'll let you decide!   All three of these glass items will be available for purchase at ORA's Jewish Arts Month sale at the MJCC (6651 SW Capitol Hwy- Portland, OR) March 6-11. I am also happy to accept a commission to make the Chasmal of your dreams!

12"x12" sushi style platter

6" diameter shallow dish

                                                                 6" shallow sushi style dish

The Play Is The Thing!

The OLDER BUT WISER Writers of Rose Schnitzer Manor have completed their one-act plays!


We are proud to announce the premiere of these plays on August 14th (SUNDAY), The curtain goes up at 4pm. Doors open at 3:45. The plays should conclude by 5:30pm


These plays will be directed by well known local playwright and director, Matthew Zrebski and will feature local professional actors who will read each play.


Admission is free, however we are asking for a donation of $10 to help pay the bills!


A portion of this event is sponsored by the Oregon Arts Commission and a portion by the Portland chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women. The Mittleman Jewish Community Center has also been a generous supporter of all JAM events.


The Southeast Music Center
3350 Southeast Francis Street
Portland, OR 97202-3066


Surprised to see a JAM event in August? The writers began their work this spring, but illness and other commitments disrupted our plans....so who says we can't JAM a little in the summer?


Join us please!

My View Out Back!

I am blessed to have a forest and creek in my back yard. Two steps out of my studio door and this was my view today, captured by my iphone camera.

Yesterday it snowed, rained, hailed, and snowed some more. Today, it is pure sunshine.

It only takes a few minutes of staring out back to refresh and renew my spirits.....I am ready to go back and tackle my next project.

I am not posting as frequently because I am working hard to organize Jewish Arts month.
Check out that blog to find out what great events are connected with this almost 12 week "month!"

jewishartsmonth.blogspot.com

CHAIR AFFAIR 2010

Last but not least, I get to put my plan into motion for the chair affair. The Chair Affair is a benefit for the Community Warehouse, one of the finest non profit organizations I have ever seen.

Jewish Arts Month has demanded a lot of my attention and I have sadly been unable to work on my project.

As of 10pm, my glass is in the kiln and hopefully about noon tomorrow I will know whether I will meet the deadline or not.

I posted a picture of the stool I planned to alter in some way.....
so stay tuned. I will post a picture of the transformed piece on Thursday.
Wish me luck!

Jewish Arts Month Calendar!

It's just this easy....
click on this link    http://www.northwestjewishartists.org/JAMcalendar2010.html
and you will find the JEWISH ARTS MONTH CALENDAR.


You can go to the Jewish Arts Month (JAM) blog to learn more about individual events.
jewishartsmonth.blogspot.com/

I'll be posting there routinely. If these links don't work, cut and paste them into your browser!
  

A Fresh Start

I have finished my final sketch and tomorrow I will finally shop for saw parts and the glass I need.
Jewish Arts Month planning has been all consuming and now it is time to get serious about my own art.

I have sooo much glass in stock and of course, the piece I need is the one piece I don't have!
Friday I will buy my challah instead of baking...and will spend the time cutting glass instead.
My plans are ambitious and hopefully I'll be able to post pictures of my progress.

I need to make a tough decision about my Chair Affair Project. It looks like the table idea I had is just too big to make it work this year. I will hold the table top in reserve and perhaps use it next year. With 2 art shows looming in the near future, I need to use my time wisely.

Pre-JAM Slam!

That's our name for the party.
Rumors are spreading that possible city dignitaries may attend.
Hmmmmm....wonder who they're talking about?

We'll be Jammin'

February 24th (time tba)....it's a party and you are invited! Mittleman Jewish Community Center Ballroom in Portland Oregon. This is our Kickoff event for Jewish Arts month.

Lots of artists, actors, musicians...and some special guests. Food, drink, entertainment........More details to follow. Stay tuned!

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)!!!

JAM is coming to Portland!

There's a reason I haven't been posting....I've been busy!

JAM stands for Jewish Arts Month. With the grant writing talents of Helen Gundlach of the MJCC, we have been crafting a proposal to recognize the Jewish Arts in Portland....visual, music, theater, film, writing....(still working on a dance component)

Yes there are Jews in OH-ree-gone...

and they will make an artistic plash this spring.

stay tuned!