Making Hope Happen Art Exhibition Celebrates 70 Years of Jewish Family and Children’s Service Helping Western Pennsylvanians
Artworks Inspired by Human Stories of Challenge and Hope
PITTSBURGH (December 19, 2007) –Jewish Family and Children’s Service (JF&CS) has helped Western Pennsylvanians at critical stages of their lives for more than 70 years. From life transitions like parenting, aging and death to crises like infertility, family violence and unemployment, JF&CS has been here with vital support, no matter how difficult the problem, and regardless of a person’s background or ability to pay. That’s why JF&CS is recognizing this milestone with Making Hope Happen, an original art exhibit on view from February 18 to May 16, 2008.
The curatorial project is organized by JF&CS in collaboration with the American Jewish Museum of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh. To date, sponsors include the Anne L. Caplan and Irene V. Caplan Endowment Fund of UJF Foundation, The Fine Foundation, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, Reed Smith LLP, Staunton Farm Foundation and Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. “Making Hope Happen celebrates 70 years of serving Western Pennsylvania residents and the challenges that thousands of people have overcome to enhance not only their own lives, but the lives of those around them,” said Aryeh Sherman, executive director of JF&CS. “We want this exhibit to educate viewers about the many issues that people may face throughout their lifetimes and the hope that happens at JF&CS every day.”
JF&CS Clients Inspire Art
The original artworks featured in the exhibition are inspired by actual stories of individuals served by JF&CS in each of its primary service areas. Regional artists commissioned for the show were challenged to create pieces that interpret and respond to these case studies. The eight pieces range in medium from site-specific wall drawings and kinetic fabric sculptures to paintings, prints and photographs. Overviews of each case study as well as general information on the agency programs and various social issues addressed by JC&FS will be posted throughout the exhibition.
“Visual arts can communicate ideas and tell stories in ways that words cannot,” said Leslie Golomb, co-chair of Making Hope Happen and a participating artist. “The stories that are interpreted through the various mediums will be both thought-provoking and inspirational.”
Exhibit Artists Are Among Region’s Most Accomplished
Eight of the region’s most talented artists are each depicting a case study from one of JF&CS’ primary service areas including:
Leslie Ansley, Special Needs
Ansley is a painter, muralist and educator who has exhibited her work in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago and Pittsburgh. She has created murals for the Central Northside and Squirrel Hill communities as part of the Sprout Fund Project.
Matt Forest, Aging/Older Adults
Forrest is well-known regionally for his drawing and printmaking accomplishments. He shares his talents with students at Carnegie Mellon University and West Virginia University.
Leslie Golomb, Guardianship
Golomb is the chairperson for Making Hope Happen, and she served as the founder and director of the American Jewish Museum for eight years. She has received recognition/awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, Pa. Council on the Arts and the State Museum of Pennsylvania.
Adam Grossi, Food Pantry
Grossi is a painter and video performance artist who was named the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts’ 2007 Emerging Artist of the Year.
Wendy Osher, Refugee and Immigration Services
Osher has taught at the Carnegie Museum of Art as well as public and private schools. Her work has been exhibited in Washington DC and Pittsburgh as well as internationally.
Philip Rostek, Career Development
Rostek is a painter and sculptor whose work has been exhibited in a number of solo and group shows in the U.S., Poland, Austria, Brazil, Italy and France.
David Stanger, Adoption
Stanger is an artist and curator born and raised in Pittsburgh. He was the director and curator of the American Jewish Museum from 2005 through 2007, and currently teaches painting and drawing at Carnegie Mellon University and Seton Hill University. His work has been exhibited regionally as well as nationally.
Dror Yaron, Psychological Services/Mental Health
Yaron is the photography studio coordinator at Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild in Pittsburgh. His work has been published in magazines and newspapers in the US, Europe and Israel; and his artwork exhibited in galleries, museums and alternative venues in NYC and Pittsburgh.
Four Programs Support Exhibit
While the artworks provide visual inspiration, four separate events will offer opportunities to engage the regional Pittsburgh community with thought-provoking discussion and education during the three-month show.
An opening reception on February 24, 2008 will feature an introductory program with Honorary Chair Karen Wolk Feinstein, Ph.D. Dr. Feinstein currently serves as president and chief executive officer of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative. Dr. Feinstein's passion for art and for improving the quality of lives in our community uniquely positions her as the "perfect" honorary chair for the opening of Making Hope Happen. She will be joined by Keynote Speaker Dr. Ronald Brauner, a nationally recognized scholar, author and lecturer who has devoted his professional career to Jewish education. Dr. Brauner, a Pittsburgh resident, will talk about “Imagination and the Human Spirit” and how organizations such as JF&CS make a real difference by providing hope, guidance and other support to those in need.
On April 9, an artist symposium called “Imaging Hope” will feature the show’s eight participating artists. Each artist will discuss how their particular JF&CS case study inspired them to create their work of art, determine colors and the artistic medium. The insightful discussion will be moderated by Delanie Jenkins, Chair, Department of Studio Arts at the University of Pittsburgh. Jenkins was named the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts 2007 Artist of the Year. The “Imaging Hope” event will begin at 7 p.m.
Making Hope Happen will close on May 16 with a final program integrated into the JF&CS’ Annual Meeting on May 15, 2008. Pittsburgh-born, California—based photojournalist Susie Shapira will share her work and experiences documenting the plight of the Burmese refugees. Ms. Shapira spent time with Burmese refugees in the refugee processing center nearest to Mae La camp, the biggest refugee camp on the Thai side of the border, as well as here in Pittsburgh with refugee families being resettled in our community with help from JF&CS.
All events will be held in the Robinson Building of the Jewish Community Center at 5738 Darlington Avenue, in the Katz Auditorium which adjoins the exhibit space.
Exhibition Hours
The free exhibition can be seen from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays.1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday and 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. Making Hope Happen is in the Berger Gallery of the American Jewish Museum, located inside the Jewish Community Center Robinson Building on Darlington Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood. For more information, visit www.jcfspgh.org or call 412/422-7200.
