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Mission and History
The Jewish Artists Initiative (JAI) of Southern California is an artist-run advocacy organization committed to fostering visual art by Jewish artists. Our goal is to identify the needs of artists whose work is informed by their identity and to create avenues of support for their work. We promote exhibitions, lectures, a web presence, and a dialogue aimed at educating the community-at-large about the diversity and richness of contemporary art and Jewish culture.
The JAI was originally conceived by the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles in partnership with the University of Southern California Casden Institute and the USC School of Fine Arts.
The L.A. Story
HUC-JIR Museum
One West 4th Street
New York, New York
On View: September 4, 2007 - January 27, 2008
Artists' Reception: Tuesday, October 23, 2007, 6-8 PM
Artists' Panel: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at 7 PM, featuring Ruth Weisberg, Bill Aron, Pat Berger, Tony Berlant, Joyce Dallal, Sam Erenberg, Bonita Helmer, Victor Raphael, Elena Mary Siff, and Eugene Yelchin
The L.A. Story investigates the impact of place and the search for artistic community on the creativity of artists who share a religious, cultural, and spiritual heritage by presenting a selection of work from ten contemporary Los Angeles Jewish artists. Working in diverse styles and mediums, with each expressing an individual voice, their range of subject matter addresses politics, myth, memory, spirituality, surrealism, Kabbalah, and historic narrative. Techniques include metal collage, oil painting, drawing, photography and digital manipulation.
"A commitment to Jewish issues and values is pervasive and from a personal perspective," says Laura Kruger, exhibition curator. "The sprawl of Los Angeles impedes a physically close art community and so they meet informally with other Jewish artists to study texts, discuss current issues, world affairs, and maintain a collegial rapport. At the same time, their physical environment - the endless, cloudless skies, the vast, sere desert and the sea at the edge of the earth are repeated elements in many of their works."
Report on the Jewish Artist Initiative Exhibition ‘The L.A. Story'
Currently on Exhibition at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Museum, New York
The reception on October 23rd for the ‘L.A. Story' was very gratifying. We had quite a nice turnout for the reception as well as a very lively panel discussion. There was a real sense of engagement with our audience. The show is mounted in three rooms and includes the work of Bill Aron, Pat Berger, Tony Berlant, Joyce Dallal, Sam Erenberg, Bonita Helmer, Victor Raphael, Elena Mary Siff, Ruth Weisberg and Eugene Yelchin. The show was selected by Laura Kruger, Curator of the Hebrew Union College Museum. The exhibition is accompanied by a handsome catalogue with a forward by Jean Block Rosensaft and essays by Matthew Baigell and Laura Kruger.
The New York exhibition was made possible through the enlightened generosity of Steven Fogel, the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles, and the Angell Foundation. We are very grateful for their support. ‘The L.A. Story' continues through January 25th so if you are in New York between now and then please plan to see it. Hebrew Union College is located at One West 4th Street, New York, N.Y. 10012. It is on the edge of the New York University campus between Broadway and Mercer.
Bonita Helmer Solo Exhibition "Without Beginning, Without End"
George Billis Gallery LA, January 15 – March 1, 2008
A reception for the artist will be held Jan. 19 at the gallery from 5 – 8 pm.
2716 S. La Cienega Blvd., Culver City/Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 838-3685
This will be Bonita Helmer's second solo exhibition at the George Billis Gallery LA. Helmer's latest series of neo-expressionist abstract paintings "Without Beginning, Without End" will be on view. Gold, blues, grays, silver converge forming cosmic landscapes delving into the existential, spiritual, and quantum theoretical understanding of the origins of the universe. Her explosive swirls of color are reminiscent of peering through a telescope into a cosmos of epic grandeur.
Helmer currently teaches at Otis College of Art and Design and has exhibited national and internationally, including the Espace Bateau Lavoir in Paris, The Orange County Museum of Art and is currently on view at the Museum of Hebrew Union College, New York at NYU. She has received reviews from Art in America, L.A. Times and the California Art Review.
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This exhibition changes bi-monthly. Artists' Directory |  |
