IMAGE: Coming Together, a piece in clay by Linda Bourne, was inspired by, “the horrific killing of George Floyd ... I still don’t understand where that kind of hatred comes from.” This piece “was a way for me to express my feelings that we need to come together to find our commonality. I feel that once we are open to meeting someone in the middle, we might actually find they are not that different from us.” 

How have you dealt with this very difficult time of uncertainty? Are you going for long walks? Protesting? Writing poetry? 
ORA: Northwest Jewish Artists will provide a virtual outlet for exploration on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 6:30 pm. Virtually view pieces of art in the creation process and talk with 16 artists who are members of ORA. Attendees will be able to talk with artists and learn about their creative processes. The artists will discuss how they have used this difficult time to inspire meaningful pieces of art.
Presented by Mittleman Jewish Community Center, in partnership with ORA, this exhibit lets you participate in a reflective, thought-provoking, creative experience, and you can purchase the art if you wish.
A video of all of the pieces will be shown through their creation process in a looping video in the MJCC lobby from Sept. 13 through Oct. 31. 
To register for the Zoom Virtual Gallery and Artists’ Discussion go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtfumqrz8uG9U5CcRupkenyf--NGMkaAIg
The MJCC will have a listing of the artwork on its website with the price after the show at oregonjcc.org/arts-culture. To purchase a piece, email MJCC Arts and Culture Manager Lenny Steinberg at lsteinberg@oregonjcc.org. The payment will go directly to the artist, who will contact the purchaser about pickup/delivery.

Midsummer, a hand-cut paper by Annelie Thurin, was inspired by nostalgia. “I made this in June, remembering my childhood Sweden, a time when life felt safe and simple. Hand cutting small pieces of paper is therapeutic. I can get completely lost in the process of creating a new picture, and sometimes even several at a time. Completely stress free.”

 

Under Construction: Beaverton Garage & Center for the Arts, photographed by Leslie Peltz, was inspired by several traumatic events – a death in her family and COVID-19. “When I ventured out, it was to walk. What I discovered surprised me. The city of Beaverton is changing with busy construction sites – apartment buildings under construction or planned in the residential neighborhood on the south side of Farmington Road and an arts complex including housing, a hotel and a garage by City Hall between Cedar Hills Boulevard and Hall Boulevard. I began taking pictures with my iPhone X. The piece in the show is just one view of one construction project at one point in time. I am intrigued by the projects and the opportunity to document from inception to completion. Each construction site has signs about restrictions while working, including social distancing, wearing masks and staying home if sick. Construction workers stop to talk with me about the project and seem pleased that I am taking pictures.” 

The Horizon of Our Uncertainty, an acrylic painting by Linda Zahavi, synthesizes her own experience of uncertainty and unknowing at this time, as well as a collective vision from her work as a counselor and art therapist.  “The process, itself, reflects 'false' arrivals, likings, not likings, knowings and unknowings, but continuing step-by-step responding to what’s arising in the moment."