CCJN Jewish Art and Jewish Artists event today

As part of its ongoing commitment to the Jewish community of Greater New Orleans, the Crescent City Jewish News (CCJN) has announced its first “Jewish Art and and Jewish Artists” event today, December 1, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Anna Gil's "Lamed: Teacher/Student" will be on hand at the first CCJN Jewish Artists and Jewish Art event slated for Dec. 1 at Beth Israel.

The event, designed to spotlight both Jewish artists working in various media and non-Jewish artists who focus on Judaic themes, will be held at Congregation Beth Israel, 4004 West Esplanade Avenue in Metairie.

Among the celebrated artists slated to appear in person will be painters Anna Gil and Aidi Kansas, sculptor Joan Zaslow and photographer Tom Oelsner. In addition art pieces representing the work of painter Hannah Chalew and tribal and abstract artist Justin Smith, will also be on display at the synagogue and community center.

Kansas will be displaying her work, which is intended to benefit the victims of amyetrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The debiliating disorder is incurable and invariably fatal in a short period of time. Former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason is one of the most well-known of those afflicted. Kansas lost her mother to the disease and was additionally prompted to dedicate herself to the eradication of ALS after a close friend of hers was also diagnosed with it.

Oelsner, a physician, uses his work in photography to superimpose images onto tiles, while Zaslow is a highly-regarded sculptor, whose works are often cast in bronze.

“There are very few opportunities for the entire New Orleans community to see the talented work of Jewish artists in one place or to see how the beauty of the Jewish faith has inspired non-Jews in such moving ways,” CCJN editor Alan Smason stated.

All attendees will not only be able to view the various works on display, but will be able to engage artists openly. Many, but not all of the works, will be available for purchase.

Gil, who has been featured in the CCJN over the course of the last year for her shows in Venice and Paris, has donated a painting to Beth Israel. “Lamed: Teacher & Student,” seen here. The congregation has yet to determine if the work will be kept long-term or if it will be used as a possible future fundraiser.

While Chalew and Smith’s works will be seen, they will not be present at the event. Smith’s primitive and tribal paintings were recently seen in two presentations at the New Orleans Healing Center.

The event is free and open to the public and light refreshments will be served.

This will also be the first time Jewish community members will be able to contribute to the newly-established Zachor New Orleans fund intended to establish a digital archive and library for the benefit of the Greater New Orleans Jewish community.