THANK YOU OREGON ARTS COMMISSION

THANK YOU!  THANK YOU! THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!

We just finished writing our evaluation for the Arts Builds Community Grant we received in 2011. Jewish Arts Month wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of this granting organization.

Our planners worked hard to document each and every event held. We took copious notes and learned a lot. We made a few mistakes but we had numerous successes. 

Stay tuned. We will soon post what is scheduled for JAM 2012~

We chose not to apply for another OAC grant this year. RACC is supporting our Playwriting for Seniors program (Acting Our Age!)

We hope the community will now contribute financially to support our JAM endeavors. In fact, we are seriously contemplating a name change.

It will still be JAM....but we are thinking that Jewish Arts Moments might be a more accurate idea. Spring will become a season of Jewish Arts Moments...more than can possibly be contained within a month!

Care to donate? Send a check written to the Mttleman Jewish Community Center with JAM written on the memo line c/o

6651 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland 97201

See y’all soon!               

Acting Our Age- HUGE SUCCESS!

There is something very powerful about hearing your words come to life. On August 14th, 2011 the auditorium of the Southeast Community Music Center filled with friends, family and community to hear the plays written by 7 residents of Rose Schnitzer Manor. The writers were amazed by how their short one-act plays came to life on stage.


Illness prevented two residents from attending but a recording of the plays will help them hear the performances.


Applause was mighty following each reading and our resolve is to do it again!


We want to SHOUT OUT our gratitude to our sponsors....The Oregon Arts Commission, The NEA, Cedar Sinai Park, The Mittleman Jewish Community Center, and The Northwest Council of Jewish Women (Oregon Chapter)and Portland Center Stage.....and of course ....


MATT ZREBSKI, playwright, director and teacher for all his efforts!  All the writers delighted in working with him and look forward to future opportunities to do it again!


THANK YOU to our actors: Gavin Hoffman, Paige Jones, and Debbie Lamedman!


Eddy Shuldman teaches the writing class at Rose Schnitzer Manor and coordinates Jewish Arts Month. Todah Rabbah (thanks) Eddy!


And we can't close this blog article without acknowledging our playwrights.....We Love You and hope to see you continue writing plays and stories and poems. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.

Play 1: Birthday Surprises by Martha Pomeranz

Play 2: Injustices by Francine Stone

Play 3: Food For Thought by Michael Mogell

Play 4: Our Golden Years by Barbara Dubin

Play 5: Forecast: 17 Hours by Ruth Henning

Play 6: Tango by Charlotte Wiener

Play 7: Mrs. Who? By Evelyn Hirsch

JAM 2011 is OVER.....but STAY TUNED!

TWO wonderful projects are still underway.


The Older but Wiser writers at Rose Schnitzer Manor are in the revision stages of their original 1-act plays.
We are searching for a venue and some actors......!  YES, these plays will be read by professional actors in a public setting. The plays are fabulous, even in their infancy. You will want to see these plays!


The kids photo group has been actively putting together their photos. Once we have a venue, we'll host a display of their creative efforts.....


please stay tuned!

JAM @ Neveh Shalom

".Gateways." ORA Art Exhibit Opens  Date:  April 8, 2011 Location:  Congregation Neveh Shalom                2900 SW Peaceful Land                Portland, OR  97239                503.246.8831 New offerings from all working members of ORA: Northwest Jewish Artists on exhibit in glass display cases outside the Main Sanctuary. The theme of Gateways will explore both phyical and metaphorical passages. The exhibit will open on Friday, April 8th, with an introduction in conjunction with Erev Shabbat services that evening. The Second Shabbat of EVERY MONTH will be known as ORA SHABBAT!Prayers including the theme of our shows or art will be included. During the kiddush following the service you can learn a little more about the art work from Laura Joy Fendel, fabric artist.

The exhibit will remain on display from April 8 through the end of May.
Admission is free, during all open hours of the Synagogue.

MORE MUSIC

Jewish Community Orchestra Spring Concert
Conducted by John Carter
The Jewish Community Orchestra provides enjoyable music for the Jewish and greater community of Portland. Join us to celebrate Jewish Arts month.

Beethoven Symphony No. 3
Bloch Baal Shem Suite 
       with Yvonne Hsueh, violin


Date: Sunday - April 10, 2011 Time: 3:00 PM Location: At the MJCC 
Cost: Tickets available at the door. $10 adults, $8 seniors, $5 students. Children under 6 free.

April 5 Call for artists~!

ORA Call for Artists: 
Information meeting for all prospective members
 

Date:  Tuesday April 5, 2011
Time:  7:15 pm
Location:  Congregation Neveh Shalom (in Zidell Chapel)
               2900 SW Peaceful Land
               Portland, OR  97239
               503.246.8831
Admission is free, and all are welcome.  Come find out more about ORA's organization, and options for membership.
ORA:Northwest Jewish Artists is introducing a new membership structure, so that all adult Jewish Artists may join.
New membership year begins June 1st, so come to this meeting and have your questions answered.
Can't make it? Write us at oraartists@gmail.com...include your phone number and out membership secretary will contact you!

OPEN MIC POETRY NIGHT

I can't think of a better venue for this event.
Come on down to Hair of the Dog....home of remarkable beer and fantastic food.
Bring your poetry and sign up to read or just come to listen.
We're asking for a modest $3 cover charge.


This should be awesome!
See you there! Wednesday March 30, 6-8pm
61 SE Yamhill Street
Portland, OR 97214
(503) 232-6585

Tram: Oak/SW 1st Ave MAX Station

JEWISH THEATER COLLABORATIVE- TUESDAY!!!!!

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Well-Being: The Life of Lillian Wald
Jewish Theatre Collaborative
Date: Tuesday March 29, 2011
Time: 7 - 8:30 pm

Location: Mittleman Jewish Community Center 
              6651 SW Capitol Hwy
              Portland, Oregon
              503.244.0111

Tickets:  $12 Adults
             $ 8 Seniors/Students
Premier performance of a two-person play based on the biography of Lillian Wald, a Jewish social reformer in the realm of urban poverty and pioneer of Public Health. Wald used her ingenuity and social creativity to find solutions to profound social malaises at the turn of the 20th century. 
Presented by Jewish Theatre Collaborative, as part of Women's Heritage Month.

ESTHER BLUEBERGER AT 1pm!!!!!!

Sorry, I misposted.....


Sunday at OJM the wonderfully funny yet poignant film will screen at 1pm. This is a wonderful educational opportunity for everyone middle school aged and up.


Gain insight about the middle school years, hear local middle schoolers talk about it afterwards!


The film is free.
We are asking for a $5 donation to cover custodial costs.


The Oregon Jewish Museum only seat 50 people....


see you there!

HEY, HEY, It's Esther Blueberger

This is a wonderful film! A coming of age story perfect for middle and high schoolers as well as adults.


We're showing it at OJM Sunday March 27th at 2pm. The film is free! We are asking for a $5 donation to pay custodians to clean the auditorium. 


This is an educational experience for all! Five middle schoolers have previewed the film and talked about their experiences with cliques, parents, bar & bat mitzvahs, friendships and more! They will lead a talk-back after the film. Their insights are amazing!


I think adults and kids will appreciate this opportunity to talk about growing up. It's a wonderful learning opportunity for  everyone!


Come join us! You will be glad you did!

OpEn MiKe @ Hair of the Dog!!!! 3/30/11

                Want to read your work ? You can reserve a spot in the line up....or just come listen !
                                              ALL AGES WELCOME!
                     TO RESERVE A SPOT WRITE TO  jampdx@gmail.com

The Arts Through Jewish Eyes- Wonderful!!!!

Sara Harwin, artist and David Fuks , m.c.

SIMPLY wonderful! Last night's program was at times hilarious and other times serious and enlightening. We were treated to insights into the lives of talented souls who call themselves artists, musicians, writers, and propagandists!

Go to our Photos page to see snapshots of last night's panel.

And go to our calendar link above to see what's coming next!

Hint: MJCC Lobby......an art show goes up Sunday morning, March 6th  and remains on display through Friday. Repeat again for the next several weeks...new artists and new displays each week!

The Arts Through Jewish Eyes- March 3rd @ MJCC!

Join us for this wonderful panel discussion with David Fuks as our moderator!

Panelists will include:

Cantor Deborah Bletstein - a new arrival here in Portland, serving as Cantor at Neveh Shalom;  background in opera, musical theater and jazz before becoming a cantor.

Ed Goldberg - popular on-air host for Portland's Classical Music station 89.9;  he is a writer, music critic, and film critic.
Dr. Merritt Linn - a writer of fiction, about to complete a second novel
Joel Luxenberg - young talented musician;  nationally known for his trumpet playing
Wendy Westerwelle - popular actress, singer, writer;  known for her one-woman shows:  Rose;  Soph
Sara Harwin - well known artist known for her high quality artwork and Judaica

     ADMISSION IS FREE ! donations appreciated.

   MJCC  6651 SW Capitol Hwy Portland, OR  503.244.0794

         This event is sponsored by the MJCC, The Oregon 

     Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts

CLICK ON THE LINK!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LMFuLRxUWo

Tonight! Ernest Bloch Lecture @ OJM

The Life and Music of Ernest Bloch: Problems and Paradoxes, Lecture by Dr. Alexander Knapp, Music Research Associate, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

Date:  Thursday, February 24
Time:  7:30pm

Oregon Jewish Museum
1953 NW Kearney St

General Public:$8
Museum Members: $5

Seating is limited to 50 per lecture. Make your reservations early.
Select this link for secure online reservations

OUR CALENDAR IS UP AND RUNNING!

We've been a bit stymied by the technology required to post a calendar directly on the blog BUT the link to our calendar is in small red print at the top of the blog. Click it and find yourself transported to a detailed calendar. Keep checking the calendar because new events will be added periodically.

Can't find what you are looking for? Leave us a message here and we will post an answer quickly!

If you have trouble with the link then just cut and paste this address into your browser!

http://www.northwestjewishartists.org/JAMcalendar2011.html

thanks for visiting our site!!!!

PICTURE THIS!

A group of 6-8th graders will work with photographers Jo Grishman and Katy Weaver to create photo essays- about their jewish identity and how it is reflected in their daily and family lives.


This is very exciting stuff!  If you know kids then you know how creative they can be!


When they have finished their coursework there will be a one night gallery show. It should be pretty exciting. We don't have a gallery date set yet...so stay tuned. This will be on of several pop up JAM events.

It Is...and It Isn't

While it isn't officially a part of Jewish Arts Month (JAM) here in Portland, the Portland Jazz Festival will be serving up some amazing music!  And it comes in mid-February! JAM will launch our festival sometime in late February....but we're proud of this JAZZ Festival and encourage everyone to check it out!!!!!!

http://pdxjazz.com/portland-jazz-festival  has the complete schedule...but this is the gist of the festival (below) .....

..........WOW!!!!!
--------------

BRIDGES AND BOUNDARIES: 
JEWISH & AFRICAN AMERICANS PLAYING JAZZ TOGETHER

The 2011 Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Portland Jazz Festival presented by US Bank will be held Friday, February 18 through Sunday, February 27 at venues throughout Portland. The week-long festival will include jazz education and outreach along with a series of concerts all supporting the 2011 theme,Bridges and Boundaries: Jewish & African Americans Playing Jazz Together.

Among this year’s headliners are the SFJAZZ Collective, in the world premiere of new repertoire paying homage to African American pop icon Stevie Wonder; NEA Jazz Master Randy Weston, performing solo piano in support of his new release, The Storyteller, and autobiography, African Rhythms: The Autobiography of Randy Weston; celebrated clarinetist Don Byron and his new project dedicated to the great Jewish entertainer, Mickey Katz – a reunion of the groundbreaking and virtuosic klezmer ensemble that recorded Byron’s eponymous Nonesuch album and spearheaded the klezmer revival in the 1990s; a special performance by The 3 Cohens, featuring siblings, trumpeter Avishai Cohen, saxophonist/clarinetist Anat Cohen, and pianist Yuval Cohen; famed African American violinist Regina Carter will return to Portland, presenting her newest project, Reverse Thread, which traces the musical history of African cultures, including tribes of Ugandan Jews; saxophonistJoshua Redman - son of African American saxophonist Dewey Redman and Jewish American dancer Renee Shedroff – leading his new project, James Farm, that includes both African American and Jewish American musicians; and the Portland Jazz Festival’s new Artistic & Community Ambassador, bassist Esperanza Spalding (who will lead her new Chamber Music Societyin an exclusive Portland area engagement).

Jewish Community Orchestra Joins JAM!

We are pleased to welcome the Jewish Community Orchestra to JAM. They bring one concert to our festival and are already thinking about what special programming they can provide for 2012!!!

April 10, 2011  3pm at the MJCC....we'll have more information about tickets and program as we approach the event.

WELCOME musicians! We are thrilled to have you on board!

The Jewish Film Festival joins JAM!

JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

The Portland Jewish Film Festival explores themes of spirituality and Jewish identity throughout all parts of the world, especially how American Jews perceive themselves in a larger social context. The films, in their abundance, touch on tragedy, embrace humor, and recount the emotional and tangible gains and losses of a people.

2011 dates: April 3-17, 2011   Stay tuned for a schedule.