Growing exhibition showcases Jewish artists
“The exhibition remains community based, as a space where Jewish artists are encouraged to come together and exhibit their work, without judgement or fear.”
A record number of Jewish artists exhibited their work on May 28 at the launch of the Showcase of Jewish Artists exhibition at the B’nai B’rith NSW Centre.
This year’s exhibition – held until June 4 – featured entries by 58 artists, not just from Sydney, but also for the first time from the Blue Mountains to Byron Bay, and even as far as Melbourne.
The featured artists range in age from 12 to 87, and all produced beautiful and unique artworks, including paintings, drawings and sculptures.
Entry was by gold coin donation.
In the past decade, eight exhibitions for Jewish artists have been held at the B’nai B’rith Centre, starting in 2013, when it was co-hosted with Newtown Synagogue as part of B’nai B’rith’s Day of Jewish Culture and Heritage project.
Since 2017, B’nai B’rith and COA Sydney have joined forces to co-present the exhibition, at the B’nai B’rith Centre’s new location at Barker Street, Kensington. “While the name of the exhibitions has changed over the years, the objectives and values have remained steadfast,” Vivienne Radomsky, B’nai B’rith NSW’s marketing manager, said.
“The exhibition remains community based, as a space where Jewish artists are encouraged to come together and exhibit their work, without judgement or fear.”
Participating artists included Gillian Hodes, Steve Durbach – whose artistic name is Sid Sledge – Ann Milch, Ethne Benn, Michael Shteyman and Harry Aizenberg.
Aizenberg – a 2016 National Art School graduate who uses texture and tone to provide emotional complexity – entered the exhibition for the fourth time, with a large acrylic painting titled 1939.
The artwork is based on a photograph by Roman Vishniac, who had surveyed eastern Europe through the lens prior to World War II.
Published in A Vanished World, it was of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz, as he was speaking with his students in a bookshelf-lined room in Mukachevo, Ukraine.
Aizenberg’s painting ups the scene’s scale with dramatic effect, while keeping its original black-and-white form, and warm, intimate feel.
Shteyman’s entered artwork, Fiddler’s Violin, is a delicate sculptural work that took more than 300 hours to complete, across eight months.
He moulded recycled cardboard, worked with embossed papier mache, and applied finishes using acrylic paint and varnish, to realistically depict a violin and bow.
“My passion is in sustainable art, and I have been pursuing this using cardboard, to create sophisticated sculptures and works of art,” he said.
“It is often challenging to build elaborate shapes, especially curved.
“But completing the project, and surprising people at the creative and complex uses of cardboard, is very satisfying.”
Other highlights of the exhibition program included a “make your own metal sculpture” workshop with artist Peter Rozario on May 30, and a “meet the artists” cocktail party on June 1.
Ethne Benn with her featured artwork.
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