The Light Within - Art Celebrating Jewish Culture

SUSAN BAIM

I was born in Chicago. We lived in Albany Park until we moved to Lincolnwood when I was 5 years old. When I was 10, we moved to Southern California, where I began my "formal" Jewish education. In Lincolnwood, I had gone to Sunday School, but in California, I started Hebrew school. As a child, I was painfully shy, and the thought of standing and speaking in front of a sanctuary of people for my Bat Mitzvah, even people I knew and loved, was so terrifying that my parents had to come up with another option. Instead of having a Bat Mitzvah, which would be one day out of my life, I could take an additional year of Hebrew school. I opted for that additional year. My three younger sisters, who were not particularly shy, were not given a choice. They all had their Bat Mitzvahs. While I am no longer as terrified of public speaking as I was back then, I am still not comfortable with it, and when the opportunity came for me to have an adult Bat Mitzvah, I did not take it. Like many of my peers, I can still read Hebrew (albeit very slowly), but except for a few words in prayers, I don't know what the words mean. I love the Hebrew alphabet, and some of my artwork reflects that. I have incorporated the words Chai and Shalom in Hebrew in several of my pieces. I also make polymer clay hamsas and Magen Davids, both as parts of a mosaic and as stand-alone wall hangings. Although I am not as religiously observant as a Jew as I could be, being Jewish has always been a very important part of my life and it always will be.

I have done some type of artwork my whole life, but about 20-some years ago I discovered the wonders of polymer clay, and I have never looked back. There is so much that can be done with this medium, from sculpting to "painting" with clay. My favorites are using different techniques to make beautiful surfaces, as well as different ways to manipulate colored clays to make interesting and exciting (or subtle) patterns. I make everything from earrings and pendants to trinket bowls to mosaic wall hangings. The more colorful a piece is, the happier I am. In addition to polymer clay, I make beaded jewelry using various bead stitches. I also like making gel plate prints to be used as collage papers. This is Susan's 2nd exhibition with Anatomically Correct Arts.

Poppies for Peace

8 x 10"

$160

This piece depicts my wish for peace and safety in Israel. The handmade tiles are made with different colors of polymer clay manipulated to give depth and feeling to the background. The flowers and leaves are hand sculpted and embellished with Pan Pastels and gold acrylic paint pens, and the poppies have been finished with polyurethane gloss varnish.

Hamsa

8 x 8"

$150

The hamsa symbol protects against the evil eye and negativity. Each tile is handmade of polymer clay; in some I used various techniques to manipulate the clay into bright colorful patterns, and in others I used different surface materials on white clay, such as alcohol inks, glitter, Pan Pastels, mica powders, foil, and acrylic paints. The hamsa is made of different colors of pearl polymer clay and is embellished with gold foil and acrylic paint pens. A Swarovski crystal is placed in the center finger. Polyurethane gloss varnish finishes the piece.

Roses of Old

8 x 8"

$150

This piece symbolizes the strength of Jews throughout history and in modern times. It is meant to have a vintage, weathered feel. The tiles are made with white and colored polymer clay embellished with alcohol inks and acrylic paint. The roses, berries, and leaves are made of white clay that has been colored with Pan Pastels. The piece is finished with polyurethane gloss varnish.

PHYLLIS BRODNY

Phyllis is the daughter of a first-generation American Jewish mother and a first-generation American father, granddaughter of Eastern European immigrants, I came into this world in Boston with my 100% Ashkenazi Jewish DNA intact (as confirmed by 23andMe). Early memories of Passover seders at Bubbe and Zedie's house and watching great grandparents praying and dovening at shul resonate within me in a profoundly personal way. Although I am less traditional in my religious practices, I am solidly connected with my religion and my heritage. Amongst many luxuries of being born in April of 1945 just as WWII was drawing to a close, was the privilege of an American education, ballet lessons, piano lessons, and art classes at The Boston Museum of Fine Art. I also had a Jewish education at Temple Israel in Boston, and went to Sunday School and Hebrew School. My family moved to Chicago in the fall of 1959. I arrived just in time to start high school and Sunday School at Temple Shalom where I was later confirmed. College followed at The University of Michigan receiving a BS in Design and then Graduate School at The University of Wisconsin receiving a MA in Printmaking. Around 1968 requirements for teaching in schools suddenly changed. A teaching certificate instead of the MA previously accepted was required. In addition, the preponderance of colleges and universities did not hire women so my art career pivoted to book designing, gallery sitting, etc. while continuing to create art at BrodnyAtelier, a studio I rented at The Contemporary Art Workshop in Chicago.
Despite limited opportunities for women in the late 60s and 70s, I had successes which included a lovely write-up in the Chicago Sun Times, a first place award at Old Orchard Art Fair, and exhibit space in The Old Town Fair. Over the years I have had careers in telecommunication, and antique jewelry and was a certified appraiser. I now have my BrodnyAtelier studio at The Palette and Chisel Academy of Art in Chicago. Presently I am working on Gourdography, painting fantasy landscapes, and sculpting. In 2019, just weeks before the Covid pandemic, my book, The Fine Art of Gourdography came out and is now sold at Botanic Garden shops as well as elsewhere. In the book is storytelling though visual art. Most recently as featured artist, I exhibited over 30 works in an exhibit called The Secret Life of Gourds.

Two Bagels and a Cup

Oil on Canvas

17 x 21"
$650
It is said that the bagel had its beginnings in Polish culture in the 17th century. The dough was boiled rather than baked to circumvent an anti-Semitic law prohibiting Jews from baking bread. As a purist and a former Bostonian, I say, DO NOT BAKE A BAGEL without boiling first. The word Bagel comes from the Yiddish word bagel or perhaps the German word Beugel for a bracelet. In written records from Krakow as early as 1610, some say the circular shape was likened to the shape of a stirrup as an acknowledgment to Jan Sobieski, who led Poland to a victory against Turkish invaders. A similar-looking Polish bread called Obwarzanek, however, dates back to 1394. In the United States, bagels were brought to New York with the arrival of Eastern European immigrants of the late 19th century. Their popularity began spread from the Jewish markets to mainstream popularity in the 1970s.

Chanukah Tradition #11

A Menorah, A Dreidel and A Gift

Color Photography
11 x 14"
$425
Gourds Kikayon (קִיקָיוֹן qiqāyōn) is the Hebrew name of a plant mentioned in the Biblical Book of Jonah. It is also known as a gourd in English. The plant is associated with the story of Jonah and is a symbol of God's forgiveness and redemption" Book of Jonah, Chapter 4: From the Jewish Publication Society translation of 1917. On the Sedar plate. K'ra (Pumpkin/Gourd) is phonetically similar to the word "kara"; the former means pumpkin/gourd, and the latter means "to tear apart" and "to proclaim." Jews ask that God "tear apart" every evil decree against us and "to proclaim" our good merits or blessings. This can serve as a reminder for us to be thankful and hopeful for the future, even when things seem difficult to handle.

Laura Frisch

Laura primarly works in latex and acrylic paint on canvas, collage, and upcycled cardboard. She has exhibited at Emily Oaks Nature Center Gallery, Morton Grove Civic Center, and Morton Grove Public Library. She enjoys participating in Anatomically Correct's Brush with Nature plein air festivals regularly. Laura also facilitates group murals at camps, community centers, and schools. She teaches art lessons privately to students of all ages. She also teaches Adaptive Art at NTDSE, as an art specialist at Makom Solel Lakeside, Ramah Day Camp, and at Mothers/Men Against Senseless Killings (M.A.S.K.OnTheBlock.org). Laura illustrated the book "Run, Run, Run, A Child's Book About Gun Safety". She believes art can repair the world. This is Laura's 3rd exhibition with Anatomically Correct Arts.

Tree of Life Eye Spy

Mixed Media

8 x 10"

It's a whimsical walk through the Torah,

"Tree of Life" with hidden references.

$150

Tikkun Olam: Repair the World

7th grade students at Lev Learning, Makom Solel Lakeside

16 x 20"

Not for Sale

7th grade students at Lev Learning are in the midst of becoming B'nei Mitvot, children of the commandments. Our students focused on one aspect of the Torah, the commandment of Tikkun Olam, repair the world, for this art piece. Throughout this year they each have been working on a personal Mitzvah Project where the students focus their efforts towards a non-profit organization ranging from animal shelters to food pantries to medical emergency organizations and more.

When discussing this piece of art, the students wanted to convey how they are working to repair the world. Taking the literal "Olam" or world, they used various hues of blue and green while cooperatively painting the canvas. The background color of yellow was used as a contrast between the happy bright shade and the yellow ribbons representing the call for the release of hostages from October 7. The 7th graders then researched Jewish organizations which provide help in Israel. They included each of these as a collage piece on the canvas. They hope that viewers will go to these websites and take action with Tzedakah, donating or volunteering.

Larry Greenberg

I am a Jew by birth, by identity, and by practice (if unorthodox). I am an adherent of hadar. This is pride based on unapologetic Zionism and freedom from the psychological baggage of the diaspora. I am deeply attached to the four thousand year tradition of my people. Against the odds, we have survived horrors and sorrows, punctuated by occasional acceptance and triumphs. With resilience and self-confidence, we look forward to the future. I am equally proud of the Jewish people's immense contributions and continue to make to our Western civilization in so many spheres, even if unrecognized by most people. Immersed and committed as I am in the culture and history of American and the West, I find myself a balanced denizen of both worlds. This is Larry's 3rd exhibition with Anatomically Correct Arts.

Fear Not

Charcoal Pencil on Paper

20 x 24"

$400

This drawing is from the song, "The World is a Narrow Bridge," Gesher tsar m'od depicting a soldier contemplating going into battle. The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldier is wearing a tillit and a prayer shawl whose fringes are the commanded item. He wears a tefillin (phylacteries) on his head and left arm near to his heart. These items are commanded in the paragraph immediately following the Shema. The wearing of the kippa, also known a yarmulke, stems from Talmudic times, indicating a man's humility before God.

Eishet Chayil (Woman of Valor)

Colored Pencil on Paper

18 x 24"

$250

This drawing is an expression in a Shabbat prayer to honors wives; in this case the woman depicts the allegorical heroine of the biblical Book of Esther who risked her life to save her people.

Old Einstein

Charcoal Pencil on Paper

14 x 17"

$150

This drawing shows the man late in life at Princeton University, reflecting on a life of well-earned renown for his scientific insights while suffering derision for practicing "Jewish science." Despite his rejection of most religious rituals, he respected those who were observant. In America, he actively embraced Zionism and worked passionately for Jewish causes worldwide.

Leslie Hirshfield

Leslie Hirshfield received her Master of Fine Arts from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York, and her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois. She taught at the School of Visual Arts in New York, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, The Evanston Art Center and is currently teaching private classes at her studio at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center in Evanston.

This painting is in memory of my mother's family who came to this country before the war leaving family members behind who perished in the Holocaust. Depicted are my grandmother, her nephew, brothers, sister-in-law, and great grandfather at my great grandmother's gravesite in Lodz, Poland, 1912. Although I know them mostly through photographs, stories, and mementos, they are part of my life and helped shape who I am.

Lodz, Poland, 1912.

Oil on Canvas

36 x 48"

Not for Sale

Pauline Kochanski

Pauline Kochanski is a multi-disciplinary artist, independent curator/juror, writer, published poet, and teacher with a love of words. Pauline is pleased to have exhibited art in juried and invitational shows internationally, nationally, and in the Chicago area. She received numerous awards and recognitions for her work from Best of Show, first place, and honorable mentions to receiving Illinois Arts Council Grants, and was a featured artist in 2003's Chicago Artists' Month. Her work is in numerous private collections. Visual art and writing are her artistic mediums. The past is written, immutable, the future unknown...all we have, is this present moment to live, love, and be.

In 2017, I created the series "The Past is Still With Us" about my ancestors that reflects the lost history, pain of the past, and the pain that lives on in future generations.

Both of my parents were survivors of the Holocaust of WWII and I am the only child of this union.

This piece is about roots; the unknown family, the family that existed, that holds us together even when we do not know them, as they existed as real people and in the DNA of the present. The gold leaf represents light. The light that enters our lives through the cracks of pain and loss. This is Pauline's 5th exhibition with Anatomically Correct Arts.

Where do the Roots Lay

Acrylic, Ink, Gold Leaf

12 x 12"

$1,000

Robin Langer

Robin Langer has been creating art since 1980 when she began catering, where food and presentation were her medium. She has studied sculpting, acrylic painting, and charcoal drawing with many teachers in the Chicago/Evanston area and Guatemala. Currently, she is taking classes at the Noyes Cultural Center, and Insight Art Studio in Skokie. This painting, Touching the Jordan River, was inspired by a photo I took during a recent trip to Israel in 2019 with my Rabbi, a Baptist minister, and a Lutheran minister. Our tour guides were Palestinian and Israeli. I had never been to Israel before and I am so grateful to have experienced so many different perspectives, religions, languages, smells, tastes, not to mention the sights. In this moment, there was a connection and awe that I witnessed and felt. I can only imagine what was going through this minister's head, knowing the history and the holiness of this sacred place, where Jesus once touched this water. Being a Jew requires curiosity, openness searching for meaning, and connections to my ancestors who came before me.

Touching the Jordan River

Pastel

13 x 15"

$450

Samuel Leopold

This oil painting is a mix of the sites and architectural details of Jerusalem, specifically the Jewish Quarter. The enduring symbol of a mosaic Tree of Life is featured front and center and Israeli flags wave above the scene.

My Jewish life started with growing up in New Orleans as a "Delta Jew", a community of Jews that have small congregations along the lower Mississippi River. I attended the usual traditional programs that a Jewish kid would: temple, Hebrew school, and a Jewish summer camp in rural Mississippi. I was part of Tulane's Hillel in college and stayed associated with some of the Jewish activities in New Orleans for my early career years. I moved to the Chicago area in 1997 and was active with parts of the Jewish community in Evanston and Rogers Park. I have visited Israel several times, married an Israeli, and we now live with our three children in semi-rural Indiana. This is Samuel's 2nd exhibition with Anatomically Correct Arts.

Mosiac Sky

Oil on Canvas

18 x 36"

$ 2,000

Amanda Leigh Lichtenstein

Vintage Judaica Installation

Private Collection

Last year, amid the rising tide of anti-semitism that swept across the world after fresh conflict erupted between Israel and Gaza, I started to obsess over the beauty of menorahs. I grew up in Skokie, steeped in Jewish culture and tradition, and over the last year, I've been drawn to the menorah as a powerful symbol of Jewish beauty and resilience.

There are two main kinds of menorahs. The "temple" menorah usually has seven branches while the nine-branch Hanukkah is made especially for Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after war destroyed it. The miracle of Hanukkah, a single day's worth of oil burning for eight days, serves as a timeless reminder of the power of hope and divinity. Each year, Jewish families gather to light the menorah, kindling a flame that burns bright even in times of utter darkness.

This collection celebrates vintage brass menorahs as tangible connections to the Jewish people in all our complexity and diversity. I'm particularly drawn to menorahs made in Israel, in the mid 1960s, with their colorful enamel and nods to Brutalist design, and I love the ornate brass oil lamp menorahs from North Africa, including Morocco. This collection also features a variety of vintage Judaica, including Hanukkah candle box designs, made in Israel. I sourced many of these objects from Jewish homes in the Chicagoland area, a testament to the vibrant and significant presence of Jewish families in Skokie and across the North Shore. Skokie, in particular, has long been a hub for Jewish life, with its rich community history rooted in survival and cultural pride. The objects in this collection carry not only stories of faith and celebration but also the enduring struggle and joy of Jewish communities everywhere.

Menorah 1

Vintage brass menorah with Brutalist design and enamel accents, made by Hen Holen, Israel, mid 1960s.

Menorah 2

Vintage brass menorah featuring a red enamel torah and lions on either side, made by Hen Holen, Israel, mid 1960s.

Menorah 3

Vintage brass menorah featuring green enamel letters for "shalom" or "peace," made by Oppenheimer, mid 1960s.

Menorah 4

Antique brass menorah featuring a central temple menorah flanked by lions and ornate border, made in Morocco as a hanging oil menorah, year and maker unknown.

Menorah 5

Antique brass menorah featuring roped branches and a central Star of David symbol, year and maker unknown.

Menorah 6

Vintage brass menorah with a brutalist design, featuring a Star of David inside a menorah, year and maker unknown, likely mid 20th century.

Menorah 7

Vintage brass menorah with ornate Baroque-style details, an enamel menorah symbol and the Hebrew letters for Hanukkah, made by Tamar in Israel, mid 1960s.

Menorah 8

Vintage mini menorah for children with a Brutalist design and the word "shalom" in Hebrew, year and maker unknown.

Judaica 1

Vintage brass ark doors that open to reveal the 10 commandments, featuring a Brutalist design made by Wainberg in Jerusalem, mid 1960s.

Judaica 2

Vintage etched brass candlesticks for Shabbat, made by Wainberg in Jerusalem, Israel, mid 1960s.

Judaica 3

Vintage bronze and enamel torah book stand holder with Star of David on top, made in Israel, mid-20th century.

Chanuka Candles for Children - product of Israel by Ner Zion

Candles Menora by Menora or Hadash, Ltd., Sderot, Israel

Anita Ivy Miller

I did not learn Hebrew until I was twenty. The Hebrew language was my key to Judaism. How could I truly be engaged in Judaism without praying in Hebrew? My prayers chanted in Hebrew brought me closer to the person I wanted to be.
Tikkun Olam means 'heal the world.' In praying I want to heal myself and aspire to do positive things for others. I think that this is also implied in the other word in the painting Ahava which means love. This phrase and word are now messages within me and bring me closer to others. This is Anita's 2nd exhibition with Anatomically Correct Arts.

Heal the World - Tikkun Olam

16 x 20"

$300

Leonid Osseny

Leonid was born in 1948 in the city of Nizhny-Tagil, Russia. In 1963, Leonid became a student at the Ural College of Applied Arts and later attended Belarus State Theater and Art University studying art and design. After graduating, he worked as an architect and restorer at the Belarus Institute of Renovation and Conservation. Since 1991, Leonid has worked as an architect, designer, freelance artist, and illustrator. Leonid Osseny's art and research were recognized in numerous exhibitions nationally and internationally. Among them, are shows at the ArchiTech Gallery, Chicago, and the International James Joyce Symposium at the National College of Ireland, Dublin. Other exhibition venues include the Irish American Heritage Center in Chicago, Evanston Public Library, and the Gene Siskel Film Center. His work was published in the Joyce Studies Annual, Fordham University Press, and can be found in public and private collections in the United States and Europe. He has several original drawings for James Joyce "Ulysses" on display at the James Joyce Museum in Dublin, Ireland. In 2014, he received the Award for Artistic Excellence from the Skokie Fine Arts Commission. This is Leonid's 4th exhibition with Anatomically Correct Arts.

Old New Synagogue in Prague

Watercolor

48 x 34"

$3,000

The Old New Synagogue is one of Prague's longest-standing Jewish sites and the oldest active synagogue in Europe. Situated in Josefov, the synagogue is one of Prague's first Gothic-style buildings. The impressive structure, built in 1270, is a major attraction for lovers of architecture. For over 700 years, the Old New Synagogue was Prague's main synagogue and the primary place of worship for Prague's Jews. While Czechoslovakia was occupied by the Nazis during World War Two, the Old-New Synagogue was preserved plans were made to dedicate the building as a museum of Jewish artifacts.

The Wailing Wall

Tapestry

20 x 27"

Not for Sale

The Wailing Wall, also known as the Western Wall or Kotel, is a sacred site in Judaism that holds great historical significance. It is a section of a retaining wall built by King Herod to expand the Temple Mount. The wall dates back to the 2nd century BCE, and the lower half of what is visible today is from Herod's time. The upper parts were added in the 7th century AD. The Wailing Wall is considered the most sacred place in Judaism because it was as close as Jews could get to the Temple Mount for thousands of years. The wall is believed to be the Western Wall of the Second Temple, which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. The term Wailing Wall comes from the practice of Jews weeping at the site during Roman rule. The wall is also known as the Kotel, which means Wall in Hebrew. Many Jews visit the Wailing Wall to pray and leave written prayers in the crevices of the wall. Regular prayer at the wall did not start until the late 19th or early 20th century. The Wailing Wall is a point of conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The Dome of the Rock, a holy site in Islam, is partially located on the bed of the ancient Israelite temple.

Exodus

Oil on Linen

23" x 37"

$1,200

Leslie Outten

Leslie Outten is a representational artist working primarily in oils. Leslie holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL. After her children left home for college, Leslie returned to school to follow her passion; art. She earned degrees in Painting and Illustration from the American Academy of Art, Chicago, and completed Reggie Ezell's Year Long Master Calligraphy Course in Winnetka, IL. Leslie's beginning of Judaic Art began when she studied with Ezell. Assignments to create calligraphic pieces with a theme drew her to her Eastern European Jewish roots. Over the years, she has produced many Judaic-themed art pieces for her synagogue, individual clients, as well as The Ark. She was a founding member of the Chicago Plein Air Painters, is a member of Oil Painters of America, The Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, and the Chicago Calligraphy Collective. Leslie has exhibited and sold her art throughout the US and Canada.

This painting represents the connection of generations; the upturned head of the innocent Bat Mitzvah youth to the elder sage of love and wisdom.

L'dor Vador

Oil on Canvas

12 x 17"

$1,850

Naomi Pollak

My parents raised me in a culturally Jewish community in South Africa. My father left Poland and was able to reach South Africa after living in Israel in the 1920's and was considered a "Palestinian" as described on his passport. My mother was a first generation South African whose parents had settled in South Africa from Latvia and Lithuania in the early 1900's. I was able to attend a Jewish day high school where I was able to immerse myself further in Jewish history, Torah study and the Hebrew language. I started to paint over 20 years ago when I was inspired by the concept that the Jewish Torah, its
laws and lessons, embodies the concept of "Be Loving to your neighbor (as one) like yourself - Leviticus 19:18". My first painting that I completed was based upon this text and involved the lights of Judaism which would illuminate the world - Chanukah lights, shabbat candles, a memorial candle and a charity box.

The assault on Israel of October 7, 2023, distressed not only Jews in Israel and in the diaspora - but many others worldwide. They have mourned the loss of innocent lives and the plight of hostages from many countries in a war that Israel has had to fight on many fronts. My granddaughter's Bat Mitzvah this past January happened to coincide with the Sabbath where the weekly portion, "Bo" was read Exodus 10:1-13:16. Every Shabbat when we light the candles, we pray for peace and we have a sense of hope that we can look forward to a time of peace for the Jewish people. The Hebrew words around the candles come directly from this portion Exodus 10: 1, verse 3. These words translated mean, "Let my people go so that they may serve me" - these words remain on our lips and we hope for peace. I continue to paint in either oil, charcoal, watercolor and pastel. Many of my paintings hang locally and abroad and have been accepted in juried art shows. This is Naomi's 7th exhibition with Anatomically Correct Arts.

Sabbath Light

Watercolor

14 x 11"

$125

Nancy Rosen

Nancy was born in Chicago, and except for her four years at the Kansas City Art Institute earning a BFA in painting and sculpture, this is where she has remained. A dedicated painter as well as a gifted teacher and mentor, Nancy has devoted her life to painting, exhibiting, and teaching. She has shown her work in galleries and exhibits across the country, and though her paintings can be a bit difficult to categorize due to her unique use of mixed media and surfaces, most of them are figurative. She combines oil bars, China markers, graphite, and oil paint on a variety of surfaces, including gessoed paper, pieced and handmade papers, linen, and rice paper. Her pieces feature infinite detail and layers, textures, and colors. Nancy has shown her work in a variety of settings including shows at the Kansas City Art Coalition, Elmhurst Museum, Milliken University, The Post Family, and the Illinois Art Institute.
Her work has also appeared in movies and on TV - most recently in the Netflix series Grace and Frankie, where her work is shown as Frankie's (actress Lily Tomlin) paintings. This is Nancy's 2nd exhibition with Anatomically Correct Arts.

Mehiel Rivkin

Student from Yeshivas Tiferes Tzvi

Orthodox Day School, Chicago

Archival Print from Original Painting

Yehuda Gerber

Student from Yeshivas Tiferes Tzvi

Orthodox Day School, Chicago

Archival Print from Original Painting

Beth Shadur

Beth Shadur is an artist whose work has been exhibited in solo and group shows nationally and internationally in museums, galleries, art centers and universities. Her work, comprised primarily of works on paper, is included in Christopher Finch's Twentieth Century Watercolors, Abbeville Press, and in many catalogues and publications. Shadur's work is represented in private and public collections in the US and abroad, and exhibitions have included shows at the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Cultural Center, Butler Museum of American Art, Davenport Museum of Art, The Drawing Center, NYC; the Downing Museum in KY, and the Hudson River Museum. She has completed over 150 murals as both private commissions and as public and community art projects. She is part of the artist collective, Space 900, Evanston IL and the Jewish Artists Collective Chicago. From 2012 to 2024, she was Gallery Director at Prairie State College, Chicago Heights, IL; and served on the Board of the Illinois State Museum from 2016-2024.

My own Jewish background reflects an influence in all that I create, particularly in the concept of Tikkun Olam, meaning "taking care of the world." From the time I was young, we were taught that taking care of others, and most particularly, "the other" was the most important value to embrace. At this dangerous time, my Jewish faith commands me to do all that I can to fight xenophobia, bigotry, racism, and all other forms of hate. While I don't know what these upcoming years will bring, as long as I can express myself through my art, I will find a way to survive.

Witness

Watercolor with acrylic and collage

31 x 28"

$2,500

My works of the "Tikkun Olam" series, investigates the image and symbolism of the hand in its many gestures and roles, especially as it is used in cultures to express healing; healing is reflected as both personal and worldly. The works are intended to create prayers for world healing. After the events of 9/11, my confusion and despair served to push my work to aspire towards a supplication for healing. Many of these works use the symbol of the hands blessing and praying, asking and making a plea for peace, or at least resolution to conflict. Hebrew words and prayers appear painted on the hands to convey these prayers. This whole series was created in the years post 9/11, but are truly relevant today in a time of troubling division and hatred.

Sara Thobe

I am a lifelong artist and painter. My work is both expressionist and realistic, for I feel that the representational gives the artist the best opportunity to convey a story, emotion, or a state of mind. Everything I paint, I choose because the people and places have significant meaning to me. I choose subjects that allow me to paint with the most passion, honesty and feeling of purpose; Judaism is at the top of this list. I enjoy doing portraits, for nothing is as intricately expressive as the human face. My travels greatly inspire me as well, capturing that moment in time. My finest work happens when I let the process take over and instinct guides me; then painting begins to feel like dancing. Perhaps the best thing about a painting is the feeling it gives you that cannot be put into words.

Rabbi Israel Meir Kagan, "Chofetz Chaim" 1839-1933.

16 x 20" Acrylic on canvas

Rabbi Josef Rosen, "The Rogatchover Gaon" 1858-1936.

16 x 20" Acrylic on canvas

Rabbi Aharon Kotler, 1891- 1962.

16 x 20" Acrylic on canvas

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, 1895-1986.

16 x 20" Acrylic on canvas

The Kotel: Men's Section

9 x 11" Oil on canvas

Elie Wiesel 1928-2016

18 x 18″ Oil on canvas

Moritz "Moshe" Wolkenfeld 1908-1945

36 x 24" Oil on canvas

Laurel Watson

I am a lifelong Jewish Chicagoan who tries to make art on the rare occasions.

Shalom, Acrylic and Ink on Canvas, 10" round

Reuven A. Robinson
When I was four, my grandfather invited me to daven (pray) with him in our community's great synagogue. Zadeh (grandpa) was awesome, as was the synagogue's artwork: Bible pictures on tall stained glass windows, a dome to see heaven fifty feet above, a gold embroidered Ark curtain wherein the Torah scrolls resided, and even more visual wonders. At home, we celebrated all the yom tovim (holidays), made even richer by grandma (Bubeh) and grandpa living downstairs so that I always got a delicious dose of cooking from grandma and my mom. Moreover, Zadeh told me stories of his youth in Grodno, Belarus. My Jewish community was so ever-present, so encompassing back in the 1950s: Kosher butchers, bagel bakeries full of your favorite types, the Hebrew bookstores. There, even Simon my barber, and Mr. Kaplan the druggist, had "hakcents" (accents). In this ethnic-spiritual cocoon, I grew up, so naturally, the first "masterpiece" I painted was of a Jewish holiday scene in watercolors. I went to art school after high school and became an art teacher. I painted murals, illustrated, and even designed a Chanukah children's activity book. I taught high school and enlisted my public high school artists in a unique scroll project for the Spertus College Artifact Center, a children's art museum. In 1994, we organized an art tribute to Jerusalem, reaching about 500 religious school students, and exhibiting in Chicago area venues and also in Jerusalem. I now teach children at PlayThinks School, where we are painting a mural on Genesis, the first book of the Jewish Bible. My private work is representational and abstract, both secular and religious.

My cartoon, is a visual synopsis of life in a semi-mythical home of the 1950s, when I was raised. I remember stories of aunts that kept live fish in their bathtubs waiting to be made into gefillteh fish. I helped my mom to grind up meat for meatballs, I saw grandpa making wine in the basement and later saying a Kiddush at the Yom Tov (holiday) table upstairs. After the "fressing" (eating), dad weighed himself with alarm in the bathroom. The cartoon compresses all the holiday preparations into one day, one house. Yes, its a bit satirical but it was drawn with love and tears, all in fun.

Jewish Foods

Mixed Media/Print

10 x 12"
$150

Self-Portrait: Young Jew Wearing Tefillin

Pen and Ink Drawing

11 x 14"

$200