Under One Roof Booklet 2019

UNDER ONE ROOF

SUKKAH ART EXHIBIT

INTRODUCTION

The Mayerson JCC welcomes the community to celebrate the Jewish festival holiday of Sukkot* with the Under One Roof Sukkah Art Exhibit. The exhibit leads visitors through our 1,300-square-foot sukkah* highlighting works of art created by organizations, agencies, and community groups from across the city. Thousands of people –from businesses to schools and individuals from throughout the community – visit the sukkah and all are engaged and inspired. This year, participating organizations used their fabric panels to explore the theme, “The Art of Conversation.”

Throughout this year, community programs explore the significance of words and conversations. As emphasized by our teachers at Global Day of Jewish Learning:

Words matter. From raising our voices to remaining silent, words have power. Our words can create. Our words can harm or heal. Words can explain, or they can obscure. Even our silences speak volumes.

Our Talmudic Sages taught us the concept of Sacred Disagreement, Machlochet L’Shem Shamayim. This is the idea that we can approach things from many different perspectives and completely disagree in the pursuit of building a stronger community. Within this, there are rules for how we disagree with one another, so that even in contentious discourse we recognize each other’s humanity and even divinity. B’tzelem Elohim recognizes that we are all created in the image of God. Our goal should never be to embarrass or shame other people because of their perspectives.

The Art of Conversation means we should strive to connect with one another, converse with one another, and share real ideas in honest and constructive ways.

Sukkot is the Jewish harvest festival, it is observed by building a temporary dwelling called a sukkah (booth) outdoors and focuses on welcoming guests, caring for the environment, and taking time to be joyful.

THANK YOU

2019 ARTIST MENTORS

Timothy Gold

Teri Hiudt

Julie Staller-Pentelnik

Debi Varland

Diana Woloshin

Judith Workman

PANEL PHOTOGRAPHER

Arrasmith & Associates, Inc.

Tony Arrasmith, Photographer

SPONSORS

Presenting Sponsor:

Funded in part by:

Arts & Ideas Season Sponsors:

The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr.

– U.S. Bank Foundation

Susan S. Friedlander

The Rockwern Charitable Foundation

Jen & John Stein

ADDING PAGE

NUMBERS WHEN CONTENT IS FINALIZED -VERONICA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Adath Israel Congregation

American Jewish Committee

Antonio Violins

ArtsConnect

BBYO Camp at the J

Cedar Village

Chaverim M’Israel

Cincinnati Art Museum

Cincinnati Ballet

Cincinnati Community Mikveh

Cincinnati Federation of Colored

Women’s Clubs

Cincinnati Hebrew Day School

Cincinnati Office of Human Relations

Cincinnati Rollergirls

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Clifton Cultural Arts Center

Congregation

Beth Adam

Congregation

Etz Chaim

Congregation

Zichron Eliezer

Crossroads

Easel Ready Art Studios

Golf Manor Synagogue

Hadassah

Halom House

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Hillel at Miami University

The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives

JEEP: Cincinnati Jewish Recovery

Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati Jewish Family Service Care Management and Counseling

Jewish Family Service Vital Support Center

The Jewish HospitalMercy Health

The JTeam

JVS Career Services

Kennedy Heights Arts Center

Klau Library, Cincinnati, Hebrew Union

College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Legacy Pointe Church

Mayerson JCC After Crew

Mayerson JCC Blue Jays

Mayerson JCC Community

Mayerson JCC Create Your Jewish Legacy

Mayerson JCC Fitness and Friends

Mayerson JCC Senior Center

Mayerson JCC Youth & Family

Most OutGROWing LLC

Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust and Humanity Center

Northern Hills Synagogue

Rockdale Temple

Rockwern Academy

Skirball Museum

Temple Sholom

Visionaries + Voices

Women’s Philanthropy of Jewish Federation

YAD (Young Adult Division) of Jewish Federation

ADATH ISRAEL CONGREGATION

Adath Israel is a Kehilah Kedoshah, a Conservative Jewish community that supports congregants during significant life events and in their journeys to become more involved, knowledgeable, and spiritually fulfilled Jews.

“A WELL-SPOKEN WORD IS LIKE APPLES OF GOLD SET IN A SETTING OF SILVER - Proverbs 25:11 .”

AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE

Through our conversations, AJC is a global voice for a global era. AJC’s international presence and unparalleled access to world diplomats, government officials, and religious leaders enable us to impact opinion and policy on the issues that matter most: combating rising anti-Semitism and extremism, defending Israel’s place in the world, and safeguarding the rights and freedoms of all people.

ABOUT THE PANEL

AJC, founded in 1906, advocates for Israel and the Jewish People and defends democratic values for all. A small group of board members met only once with AJC literature and talked about conversations we have with a variety of groups: faith leaders, legislators, diplomats, and government officials of different countries. We discussed the topics of conversations with which we engage others, such as anti-semitism, Israel, building bridges, BDS, inter-religious matters, and human rights. We sourced visuals from the AJC website and added our own tagline: “Our conversations shape a safer and more peaceful world.”

ANTONIO VIOLINS

ANTONIO VIOLINS

Family owned and operated since 1991, Antonio Violins has served the Greater Cincinnati and Columbus areas for 27 years. Antonio Violins offers rentals and sales for string instruments, ukuleles, folk instruments, and accessories. We offer our customers the best in customer service and community engagement through our knowledgeable staff, personal connections, comprehensive experiences, and partnerships with local establishments, embodied in our slogan: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Music.

ABOUT THE PANEL

A conversation is a talk between two or more people, exchanging news and ideas. There are two ways people can exchange ideas with each other, no matter what language they speak: mathematics and music. Both can be called a universal language. That’s what the Art of Conversation means to us—music as a universal language. We should all “Speak Music!” Focusing on what we do at Antonio Violins, our canvas expresses how a worldwide conversation can take place with music, no matter the musician’s race, ethnicity, religion, native language, instrument, or even musical notation. The musicians on the canvas are understanding and responding to the music they hear. Following our motto, everyone can (and should!) pursue life, liberty, and music.

ArtsConnect

Based out of Springfield Township, ArtsConnect brings the community together through the arts with affordable classes, camps and community events. We believe that where arts flourish, communities prosper and lives are enriched. Classes and camps take place in the Springfield Township Community Arts Center, and events occur throughout the township year-round.

ABOUT THE PANEL

ArtsConnect’s ArtLocal Art Show featured 50 local artists. We announced the Under One Roof exhibit at the show and invited artists interested in collaborating for this project. An eclectic group of artists emerged, excited to participate as a collective.

The artists included: stained glass artist, Jacob Hinnenkamp; photographer, Connie Springer; kaleidoscope artist, Steve Kosztala; and painting artists, Vince Gray and Marc Lambert. ArtsConnect proposed the topic, what does ‘the Art of Conversation’ mean to you? The artist collective felt that individuals all have unique points of view. When true, meaningful conversation occurs, a beautiful matrix of shared dialogue and points of view are exchanged, heard, and understood.

To illustrate the message, Connie shared photographs she had taken of individuals in meaningful conversation. The group made selections from the photographs to represent a broad community. Jacob transformed the photographs into simplified stained glass shapes. He also sketched the conversation ‘bubbles’ intended to symbolize different points of view. Marc and Vince painted the canvas, taking into account the original photos, texture and look of stained glass. Steve offered simplified kaleidoscope imagery, which Marc and Vince stylized. The kaleidoscope imagery symbolizes individuals coming together in conversation, creating a colorful dialogue of common understanding.

BBYO

BBYO is the leading pluralistic Jewish teen movement aspiring to involve more Jewish teens in meaningful Jewish experiences. With a network of hundreds of chapters across North America and in 50 countries around the world, BBYO reaches over 70,000 teens annually and serves as the Jewish community’s largest and most valuable platform for delivering fun, meaningful and affordable experiences that inspire a lasting connection to the Jewish people.

ABOUT THE PANEL

When considering “The Art of Conversation,” teen leaders shared that in their experience, the best conversations begin with a question. Thirty teens submitted questions they had about life, adults, school, and social issues. Some also submitted questions they would ask a new BBYO member with the intention of getting to know them on a deeper level. Questions ranged from serious concerns like “Am I enough?” to creative ice breaker-type questions such as “If you had all the Legos in the world, what would you build?” The teens arranged their written questions on our panel to form the word “why.” The original handwriting is smeared to represent the fear many have of being judged for asking questions that are often considered taboo. We invited the community to contribute to our panel by writing their answers to our questions or by submitting questions of their own. This panel ultimately represents the fact that that many questions have more than one answer, and many questions can only be answered with another question. Our hope is that our panel will encourage people to be okay with asking the hard questions; the questions that make people think, reflect, and connect.

CAMP AT THE J

Camp at the J offers a fun, active, and safe summertime experience, providing opportunities for children and young adults in the Jewish and broader communities to build friendships, learn valuable skills, stay active, and enhance their self-esteem. Our welcoming and inclusive environment values the dignity and worth of each individual. We work to foster positive relationships and build greater understanding among campers of all backgrounds, cultures, religions, gender identities, races, and physical and intellectual abilities.

ABOUT THE PANEL

There are so many people involved with Camp at the J that make every day amazing. While many staff members and campers had input, our oldest campers created the Camp at the J panel. They chose to show community through different colors of people and communication through a variety of word bubbles.

CEDAR VILLAGE

Cedar Village is a senior living community built on Jewish values, which provides services and support to adults and their families through all stages of aging. Cedar Village seeks to make every resident feel like they are right where they should be, each and every day. Values like respecting our elders, making our world a better place, giving back, growing multi-generational relationships and building a strong inner life are seen and practiced every day at Cedar Village.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Creative expression is part of daily life for many Cedar Village residents. When they considered this year’s theme, “The Art of Conversation,” members of the community began by discussing what they visualize related to the topic, such as images of greetings as ways to start a conversation. But residents wanted their art to not just be representative of conversation, but to be an invitation to conversation. In the painting, they show a central location within their community that is open and welcoming to all to sit and chat - two chairs in the lobby by the fire. Greetings were chosen from the many languages spoken by Cedar Village residents and staff (English, Hebrew, Yiddish, German, and Russian, to name a few) to hang above the fireplace as if lingering from past conversations held there and those yet to happen. As both the culmination of their artwork and as a conversation starter, residents attached a three-dimensional copy of their recently published children’s book, “Follow Me Beyond The Tree,” on the coffee table for viewers to remove from the panel and peruse. This book was written and illustrated by residents with the idea of opening an intergenerational dialogue about this special place they call home.

CHAVERIM M’ISRAEL

The Chaverim M’Israel (Friends From Israel) program brings two 18-year-old Israelis to Cincinnati from our partner city, Netanya, Israel. These teens have chosen to defer their Israeli Defense Forces service and come to Cincinnati for a year of community service. Through interaction and education in schools and other community events, these young emissaries help Cincinnatians form an increased awareness of and a connection with the land, culture, and people of Israel.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Having recently landed in Cincinnati, our Chaverim, Darya and May, look forward to starting conversations with people throughout Cincinnati through youth groups, community events, and schools. These bridges that are built represent the interactions they have and the connections they form with everyone they meet.

CINCINNATI ART MUSEUM

Through the power of art, we contribute to a more vibrant Cincinnati by inspiring its people and connecting our communities. Located in scenic Eden Park, the Cincinnati Art Museum features a diverse, encyclopedic art collection of more than 67,000 works spanning 6,000 years. In addition to displaying its own broad collection, the museum also hosts several national and international traveling exhibitions each year. Visitors can enjoy the exhibitions or participate in the museum’s wide range of art-related programs, activities and special events.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Inspired by Katsushika Hokusai’s painting, “Woman Reading a Letter,” this piece looks at the theme of communication through the written word. The Hokusai image shows a woman reading a letter; the Art Museum also invited the public to participate in the conversation. During the September Family First Saturday Program, visitors shared their thoughts about the piece through Japanese kanji character stencils and also got to color the Hokusai image.

This artwork combines themes from the museum’s exhibitions, Kimono: Refashioning Contemporary Style and Women Breaking Boundaries, which explores the role of strong women throughout art and art history.

CINCINNATI BALLET

Since 1963, Cincinnati Ballet has been the cornerstone professional ballet company of the region, presenting a bold and adventurous array of classical, full-length ballets and contemporary works, regularly with live orchestral accompaniment. Under the artistic direction of Victoria Morgan, Cincinnati Ballet has become a creative force within the larger dance community, commissioning world premiere works and exploring unique collaborations. With a mission to enrich, expand, and excel in the art of dance through performance, a high-caliber academy, and impactful education and outreach in local to global communities, Cincinnati Ballet reaches beyond the stage in programs that allow every person in the region to be part of the continued evolution of dance.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Artists primarily communicate not with words, but with imagery, color, and movement. Cincinnati Ballet’s dancers and choreographers share both their own personal and societal impressions and emotions through the movement of their bodies. It is a language of humanity not often expressed. This piece reflects Cincinnati Ballet’s commitment to continuing this type of important conversation.

CINCINNATI COMMUNITY MIKVEH

The Cincinnati Community Mikveh, located in Amberley Village, serves the Greater Cincinnati area. A mikveh is a pool used for ritual immersion according to Jewish tradition. This state-of the-art facility is open to Jews from every background and level of observance. Membership and appointments are available. The mikveh is under the auspices of Beth Tevillah Mikveh Society.

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Proverbs 18:21

“DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE, AND THEY THAT INDULGE SHALL EAT THE FRUIT THEREOF

“LIFE AND DEATH LIE IN THE POWER OF LANGUAGE

- MODIFIED QUOTE BY RABBI EVAN MOFFIC

CINCINNATI FEDERATION OF COLORED WOMEN’S CLUBS

Cincinnati Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs works toward the betterment of the community and race at large through the promotion of unity, action and exchange of ideas. The organization strives to promote the education of women and children, improve conditions for family living, protect the rights of women and children, secure and enforce civil and political rights for African Americans, and promote interracial understanding.

ABOUT THE PANEL

CFCWC determined that word art and pictures best serve to tell the history, longevity and purpose of the Federation in their panel. In a few words, the panel can be described as “CFCWC, our history and mission.” The top part of the panel provides a sense of history, depicting persons and city scenes during the 1900s. The words on the panel show how the organization encourages the importance of positive thinking. The use of pictures and words invokes thoughts of religion, spirituality, education, civil rights, love, justice, helping others and racial harmony.

CINCINNATI HEBREW DAY SCHOOL

Cincinnati Hebrew Day School cultivates a passion for learning and the love of Torah.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Our eighth-grade girls’ class which helped create the panel all had different opinions of what the art of conversation meant to them, from conversing with friends, to sharing words at dinner in the sukkah, praying, hearing a bird sing, or just having beautiful thoughts. They all worked on creating their ideas individually and then collaged them together. In our artwork, we wanted to capture the beauty and excitement of Sukkot and the feelings and conversations that are inspired and shared by its meaning. Whether by nature’s positive force to connect us, or the light which shines upon us when praying for the quality of love and positive connections with each other, our conversations are shared through song, the wind, nature and words.

CINCINNATI OFFICE OF HUMAN RELATIONS

The Office of Human Relations serves as a catalyst to promote the building of positive relationships between and among the various groups and cultures that make up Cincinnati. The Office works to mobilize institutions and individuals to resolve diversity issues while developing mechanisms to ensure equitable treatment of all persons. The Office also functions as an integral part of furthering relationships between various community groups and the City of Cincinnati Government.

ABOUT THE PANEL

This piece represents the beauty in diversity and how we as humans connect. The artwork features red and blue lines that mimic the interstates around Cincinnati. They are the life-lines of our city. All of us are connected somehow; this is depicted with puzzle pieces painted with multi-skin-toned drips. We use all our five senses when we communicate with others: listening, eye contact, talking, smell, and touch. Hence, on the puzzle pieces there are different features that represent our five senses. At the bottom are various types of buildings ranging from religious to cultural, including Cincinnati’s City Hall, where the Office of Human Relations reaches all 52 neighborhoods across the city, helping to bridge cultural gaps and improve the relationships and livelihoods of all our citizens.

CINCINNATI ROLLERGIRLS

The mission of the Cincinnati Rollergirls is to enrich the lives of our members and the Greater Cincinnati community through the revolutionary sport of flat-track roller derby. CRG is committed to creating an internationally competitive team of strong and athletic skaters; providing inclusive opportunities for developing skaters and support staff; and forming powerful connections with our fans to promote the growth of the sport. All league members associated with the Cincinnati Rollergirls are volunteers in skating, practice, and now, art.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Roller derby is a full-contact sport played on skates where athletes use their entire body to block, jam, hit, and evade their opponents. To the unknowing spectator, it’s often a battle of chaos. Penalties are called and phrases are yelled with no discernable pattern. But to the players and officials, there is a very specific language. Phrases signify second-by-second decisions that athletes have to make, or penalties that are called on them.

This panel explores the art of conversation by highlighting the unique language that athletes and officials use on the track. The centerpiece of the skate – the most identifiable object in roller derby – is surrounded with phrases, words, and exclamations that athletes use.

For example: Find the word “Umbrella.” “Umbrella” is a strategy where team members assemble to cover the opposing team rendering them unable to move, and spring their jammer (the point-scorer) free to begin scoring points faster. Phrases like “Lane 2,” enable teammates to communicate to one another where the opposing jammer is moving on the track, ensuring that the team can work together to block them.

We invite viewers to interpret these phrases and ask questions to open a dialogue about the sport that we love.

CINCINNATI SHAKESPEARE COMPANTY

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is a resident ensemble theatre company bringing Shakespeare and the classics to life for audiences of all ages. We hold the mirror up to nature, fostering empathy in our audience, and feeding the dialogue in the larger community.

ABOUT THE PANEL

With collaboration from leadership within the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, the panel portrays literary parallels within the theme of “The Art of Conversation”

Classical literature and theatre, Shakespeare especially, can sometimes be difficult for modern audiences to relate to. However, classical characters and stories represent a significant reflection of contemporary society. Simple ideas such as lost love, the joy of music, the art of poetry, the thrill of adventure, childhood wonder, and a multitude of others, are human experiences that we all share regardless of our place in history.

Our ability to converse with such ideas and characters from an age beyond our own, and in turn acknowledge their similarities to ourselves, has the potential to open up larger conversations with the world around us. Discussions about classical fiction, its characters, and its implications, could lead to a larger acknowledgment about contemporary life that would have otherwise lacked a segue into the conversation.

Empathy is easy to lose, and sometimes indulging in a piece of Shakespeare could be all it takes to reignite someone’s spark of humanity towards their neighbor.

CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO)’s mission is to seek and share inspiration. The CSO is a thriving, dynamic orchestra situated in the heart of a city on the rise.

ABOUT THE PANEL

In a sometimes polarizing society, music can function as a universal language, bridging cultural and social divides. As an arts organization, we use music to connect with our neighbors in the Greater Cincinnati community. Whether through school performances, performances in nursing homes or community centers, in parks or in Music Hall, music reminds us of our shared humanity. As one of our artistic partners, Brian Nabors, shared, “Music is a language that removes the illusion that we are too different to find commonalities. It is a direct line to our humanity and contains the never-ending potential to reflect our experiences, provide a nurturing environment of fellowship, and inspire the change we’d like to see in the world.” For the CSO, our goal is to use our shared love for music to join our neighbors in making Cincinnati a more inclusive and welcoming community.

This panel was created with the assistance of several community partners including Melodic Connections, West End Art Gallery, composer/pianist Brian Nabors, and students from Hays Porter School. Participants were asked to provide reflections on the way that music as a universal language inspires their connection with community. The panel is their artistic reflection of this theme.

CLIFTON CULTURAL ARTS CENTER

Clifton Cultural Arts Center’s mission is to strengthen the critical link between participation in the cultural arts and successful, healthy children, adults and communities. CCAC advances education, urban quality of life, and sustainability among local arts organizations. Serving residents of all ages, socioeconomic capacities and ethnic backgrounds, CCAC nurtures the interests of youth who will become Cincinnati’s future community leaders and arts patrons, promoting a healthy, vibrant community and sustainability of Cincinnati’s rich arts and cultural heritage.

ABOUT THE PANEL

CCAC staff incorporated the artwork for the panel with the organization’s annual Refugees Welcome Community Potluck. Partnering with local organizations serving Cincinnati’s newest residents, the potluck brings together neighbors new and old over a shared meal for conversation and connection. For this year’s potluck, CCAC partnered with RefugeeConnect, which advocates for and provides education and connection services to refugees resettled in Cincinnati.

After sharing a potluck lunch, attendees were asked: what does community mean to you? Neighbors shared stories of the different communities they’ve found and been a part of, and the meaningfulness of those communities in their lives. Attendees young and old drew their responses to the question: these drawings were adhered to CCAC’s canvas to represent the different conversations from the potluck.

CONGREGATION BETH ADAM

Congregation Beth Adam is a unique community integrating Jewish tradition and humanistic principles. It is a spiritual home, a meaningful voice, and a humanistic resource for people worldwide, seeking a contemporary Jewish identity and experience.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Is Judaism a religion? Is it a nationality? Is it the customs and traditions we keep? Can you be more or less Jewish than another Jew? What are the boundaries of Judaism?

Conversation starts with curiosity and questioning. At Beth Adam we often explore, and have had many conversations about what it means to be Jewish and how Judaism is meaningful to us.

This piece invites the viewer to delve into Judaism and the boundaries they use to define it. Do our friends, family, and community members share the same boundaries? Are there degrees of Judaism? Does practicing any particular customs or traditions make us more or less Jewish? What assumptions or judgments do we place on ourselves and others? Are they accurate? How do we know? What purpose do they serve?

Are you Jewish if...?

CONGREGATION ETZ CHAIM

Congregation Etz Chaim is an egalitarian Conservative synagogue, continuing a tradition of progressive Judaism which goes back more than a century. Rooted in a rich heritage of traditional Jewish values, Congregation Etz Chaim is committed to enhancing the religious, spiritual, educational and cultural life of not only its members but the larger Jewish community.

ABOUT THE PANEL

And God said: “Let there be light, and there was light.”

This year’s theme “The Art of Conversation” is depicted through the first chapter of the book of Bereshit – Genesis. The first conversation ever to exist was God bringing this world into existence through speech.

The Torah tells us that God vocalized each day as he crafted the world. So too at Congregation Etz Chaim we use speech to create our congregational world. We endeavor to use speech to speak words of love, encouragement, and comfort. These words build our community and support us during times of struggle and lift us up during times of joy.

“May the words of my mouth and meditations of my heart be acceptable to you. Adonai, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

CONGREGATION ZICHRON ELIEZER

Home to over 120 families, Congregation

Zichron Eliezer (CZE) is a vibrant and warm shul that provides its members with an environment that enables spiritual growth and builds bonds of friendship through Torah and mitzvot.

“A WHOLESOME TONGUE IS A TREE OF LIFE, BUT A PERVERSE TONGUE BREAKS THE SPIRIT - Proverbs 15:4 .”

CROSSROADS

Crossroads is for anyone who wants to seek God – from those exploring whether or not God even exists, to committed Christfollowers. We present biblical truths and show how they apply to our everyday lives. And we have a lot of fun while doing it.

ABOUT THE PANEL

We love the idea of similar-hearted people intentionally spreading the word of kindness, peace, love, gentleness, goodness and respect for humanity via their conversations. We may be different birds of a feather, each unique and quirky, but our desire for a better world unites us...

EASEL READY ART STUDIOS

Easel Ready Art Studio specializes in live artistic party entertainment, including hand-drawn caricatures and paint nights at birthday parties, proms, corporate events, family reunions, and more. Easel Ready also offers commissioned work in graphic design projects (flyers, logos, digital caricatures) and realistic professional portraits.

ABOUT THE PANEL

LOVE. LIFT. LEAD. LIVE. It takes a community effort to positively lift a name. The Art of Conversation sparked a series of pathways I could have taken to make this piece. As an artist, I see vibrant colors while enjoying a conversation with another being. Brightness in our words uplifts a person’s mind to better hopes. The figures are church members that use the art of conversation to talk a man of G-d into starting his own company.

GOLF MANOR SYNAGOGUE

Golf Manor Synagogue, a Modern Orthodox shul, is the oldest surviving Orthodox synagogue in Cincinnati. The shul proudly upholds the core beliefs of Orthodox Judaism alongside the best of the modern Jewish world, including support for the State of Israel and its citizens; fearless engagement with the world; and a constant striving for intellectual honesty.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Inspired by the 1963 work of René Magritte titled, “The Art of Conversation,” we hoped to depict the spiritual ascent that the holiday of Sukkot offers us. Each year, we dwell in booths to remind us of how temporary our physical surroundings are, and that G-d’s protection is spiritual as well. The painting shows an open sefer on a table in a sukkah, which is being discussed by a man and a child. This learning allows them to leave the physical plane and soar on a spiritual plane.

The border of the painting was inspired by Rabbi Alt’s weekly newsletter – “V’Dbarta Bam.” Our Shul is focused on guiding our children in the Torah Principles that allow us to deal with daily physical issues and inspire us spiritually.

HADASSAH

At Hadassah we share a belief that we can heal the world together. Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, has defined health care in Israel. It’s about compassion. It’s about healing. It’s about life. It’s about always looking to the future through groundbreaking research that will both improve patient care and accelerate the discovery process. We treat over a million patients a year in Israel, regardless of race, religion or nationality.

ABOUT THE PANEL

The Western Wall or Kotel, is the most religious site in the world for the Jewish people where Jews from around the world come to gather and pray. Our panel focuses on the Kotel because of our singular conversations with G-d. These are our most private and cherished thoughts. They are never read nor shared with anyone else, never destroyed, but are buried in The Mount of Olives cemetery because they are sacred.

Artist Stephanie Crouse became a life member of Hadassah at the age of 11. In high school, Stephanie participated in helping victims of Katrina rebuild their homes in New Orleans through Young Judaea. This program offers thousands of American youth summer camp activities, Israel programs, year-round activities and volunteer experiences.

HADASSAH

HALOM HOUSE

Halom House provides services for adults with developmental disabilities, helping them to be happy, independent, productive adults. Halom House provides a group home, supportive living and respite services.

ABOUT THE PANEL

The residents of Halom House worked together to create the panel. Because several residents are non-verbal, we tried to think of how “The Art of Conversation” applied to them. All of our residents have very strong and unique personalities, and ways of expressing themselves. Those who are verbal gave a statement, sharing some of the things that are important to them. Those who are non-verbal are represented with a description of some of the things they do to express themselves.

Residents chose the color they wanted for their heart and sound bubble, and did a beautiful job decorating the panel and bringing it to life with colorful patterns of stickers.

HEBREW UNION COLLEGE - JEWISH INSTITUTE OF RELIGION

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is the center of innovation for Jewish life and learning – preparing rabbis, cantors, leaders in Jewish education, Jewish nonprofit professionals, pastoral counselors, and scholars to apply their knowledge, commitment, vision, and expertise to strengthen and transform the Jewish community and larger world.

ABOUT THE PANEL

On the Cincinnati campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the Art of Conversation, both in Hebrew and in English, is vital for our students of the Rabbinical School and Pines School of Graduate Studies, as well as for our faculty, administration and staff. Words in the conversation bubbles reflect what HUC-JIR means to each of us with a main theme of community, the coming together of everyone on the Cincinnati campus.

HILLEL AT MIAMI UNIVERSITY

Hillel at Miami University, the center of Jewish life on campus, seeks to engage, connect, and empower Jewish students, encouraging exploration of their Jewish identity, creating a vibrant Jewish community, and inspiring the next generation of Jewish leaders.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Our staff shared information about Under One Roof with our first-year students at our preorientation program and Welcome Week events. The students decided that conversation is critical to passing on information from one generation to the next and that there are many forms of communication. All ideas are displayed in the final artwork – l’dor v’dor.

“THE WORLD WAS CREATED IN 24 LETTERS, AND 10 SAYINGS

- Kaballah .”

THE JACOB RADER MARCUS CENTER OF THE AMERICAN JEWISH ARCHIVES

The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives (AJA) prides itself on safeguarding the history of the Jewish experience in America from its beginnings over 350 years ago to today. As a national repository of millions of primary source documents, photographs, and other material, the AJA not only preserves the past, but it strives to bring the past to light in order to better understand the present. For us, the past and present are in constant dialogue or conversation.

ABOUT THE PANEL

2019 marks the centennial anniversary of the 19th amendment granting women the constitutional right to vote. Ernestine Rose (1810-1892), a Polish Jewish immigrant to America, was—in her day—one of the most outspoken champions of woman’s suffrage, abolition, and education. A radical free thinker, she served as a mentor to well-known suffragists, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. Her efforts and her words still speak to us today—to encourage the rise of radical reformers in our own time.

Our panel seeks to educate, to spark curiosity and interest, and to start a conversation with viewers. Ernestine Rose was highly influential in the Woman’s Suffrage movement, yet is not often given her full due. The portrait of Rose is based on a photograph in the AJA’s collection. We took creative license and had her posing with one hand on her hip to give a more active movement to her pose while her left hand is holding a sheaf of papers imagined to contain one of her many impassioned speeches. The quotes are from two separate speeches she delivered in 1852 and 1853, which convey the humanitarian and universalist message to which Rose dedicated her life’s work.

JEEP: CINCINNATI JEWISH RECOVERY

JEEP’s mission is to help local individuals with challenges or disabilities access Jewish education and connections to empower them to better overcome their life challenges. Cincinnati Jewish Recovery helps people in recovery from addictions use Jewish spiritual tools to strengthen and deepen their recovery, and provides recovery-oriented Jewish holiday celebrations and community.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Cincinnati Jewish Recovery (CJR) knows that successful recovery is built on honest, heartfelt communication and support. Six CJR members got together to brainstorm, after deciding to base the panel on the verse from the Talmud that expresses this idea, “Words that come from the heart enter the heart.” As they worked, different ideas spontaneously arose, and the artists developed several different expressions on parts of the panel about love, acceptance and recovery.

JEWISH CEMETERIES OF GREATER CINCINNATI

JCGC administers and preserves over two dozen Jewish cemeteries in and around Greater Cincinnati – more than 27,000 burials since 1821, including over 2500 U.S. Veterans. We also foster community engagement with these important links to our past, through outreach, education, and genealogy.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Cemeteries are rich in communication and art, both verbal and visual, literal and abstract. The panel focuses on the many messages conveyed in memorials. From information about the people being memorialized, to messages from the living to those they have lost, as well as the occasional parting words from the long departed. Over time, visitors leave their own gestures of love and respect for whomever they’re visiting and the people they left behind. These messages transcend time and generation. If we work to preserve them, they will continue to enrich the lives of many generations to come.

All of the photographs are of memorials from local Jewish cemeteries. They were taken by JCGC Executive Director David Harris; Office Manager Alter Raubvogel; and volunteers

Karen & Jess Zanger.

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE

- CARE MANAGEMENT AND COUNSELING

Jewish Family Service of Cincinnati strengthens lives and our community by providing professional social services to individuals and families in times of need.

ABOUT THE PANEL

The Care Management and Counseling Program provides in-home counseling to seniors, one of whom wrote the featured poem. Despite Sukkot being a happy holiday, she spoke of loneliness and feeling disconnected and overlooked. This is often the challenge we face in our program, seniors having limited ability and/or resources to be able to connect to the larger Jewish community. She gave permission for her name to be used in its entirety and will hopefully feel seen and connected by this endeavor.

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICEVITAL SUPPORT CENTER

Jewish Family Service of Cincinnati strengthens lives and our community by providing professional social services to families and individuals in times of need.

ABOUT THE PANEL

The Vital Support Center brings clients facing many different challenges together under one roof. “The Art of Conversation” theme brought to mind all of our clients sitting around a table, sharing a meal and conversation – something we do often. Our panel represents the many different people we serve here at Jewish Family Service and how they all come together under one roof, at one table. Bringing together people of many different backgrounds who experience different challenges creates a space where people can be their authentic selves. For many clients, the Vital Support Center provides a familial support for people who do not have many other sources of support in their lives.

JEWISH FEDERATION OF CINCINNATI - WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY

We strive to educate, empower and engage women in our community, fostering a culture of social action, nurturing leadership and inspiring a commitment to philanthropy. Inspired and guided by our tradition of tzedakah (justice/charity), chesed (acts of loving kindness) and tikkun olam (repairing the world), Women’s Philanthropy of Jewish Federation Cincinnati is dedicated to the continuity, connectivity and thriving future of our local Cincinnati community, Israel and the Jewish people. Our women are bound by a shared belief that all Jews are responsible for each other and for the world.

ABOUT THE PANEL

This panel highlights our support of the Adopt-a-Class mentoring program, which partners with schools in which over 65% of students rely on the free lunch program. Once a month, a team of 10 Jewish women create educational activities that provide opportunities to write and perform STEM activities, and bring snacks to Mrs. Pryor’s first grade class at Woodford Paideia Academy. We start each year asking, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s a crucial conversation that studies show can make a big impact on a child’s future. Our panel records their responses and will hang in their classroom.

We were inspired by the quote about brave conversations by Meg Wheatley, an American writer and management consultant who proposes that “real social change comes from the ageless process of people thinking together in conversation.” She is known for working with widely diverse communities, and has published nine award-winning books. Several people who saw the panel being carried into the JCC remarked that she had changed their life, or written “the best book I read in college!” Meg’s grandmother was Irma Lindheim, the first Jewish woman in the Army Corps during World War I.

JEWISH FEDERATION OF CINCINNATI - YOUNG ADULT DIVISION

YAD serves as a connector for all things young and Jewish in Cincinnati. We help native Cincinnatians and newcomers find meaning and build relationships in all facets of life, from professional and religious to cultural and communal. We host events of all shapes and sizes to appeal to young adults (21-45) in different stages of life and those who are looking for different kinds of programs. We also meet people one-on-one to help them get more connected and involved in the community.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Young adults came together at Camp Livingston to build community and share a weekend at camp away from the busy-ness of the city. The tie dye look of the panel connects to the tie dye that young adults created, sharing techniques, colors, and ideas for how to make a unique design. Using stencils, stickers, paint, and a variety of other supplies, young adults added phrases to the panel. In conversations together, they shared expressions that are important to them, connect them to Judaism, or are words they live by.

THE JEWISH HOSPITAL - MERCY HEALTH

The Jewish Hospital — Mercy Health is a community hospital faithful to its Jewish heritage and grounded in the Jewish and Catholic traditions of service to the community. Our purpose is to reveal God’s love for all, especially the poor and vulnerable, through the delivery of compassionate health care services and the education of health care professionals.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Conversation is vital to a patient’s journey in every aspect. These conversations are represented in pictures of the different people that a patient can touch while at our facility, in addition to the critical component conversation plays between care providers.

THE JTEAM

The JTeam creates opportunities for Cincinnati’s Young Jewish Professionals of all stripes and types (we’re lookin’ at you, neo-conserveformthodox) to meet, collaborate and bond over the most universally shared Jewish values: contributing to our Jewish community, lively and candid discussions about Big Ideas, and copious amounts of amazing food and l’chaims. Bring your voice, your heart, your hands and your appetite. A project of the Cincinnati Community Kollel.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Our collaborative mural highlighting the Torah was inspired by the knowledge that, as individuals with different styles, ideas, colors, flavors, messages, if we come together with a desire for understanding and teamwork, we can be greater than the sum of our parts. Each piece was created by an individual, representing one person – together, they create a cohesive masterpiece. (Kind of. Our coloring skills are rusty. Too busy changing the world.)

Sukkot, as well, is a process of taking individual bits of wood, canvas, bamboo, cardboard, masking tape, plastic zip ties, safety pins (we’ve seen it all!) and crafting a structure. It may be shaky, but it stands. It may be primitive, but it shelters and holds. It may be simple, but it is warm and inclusive. It may be artless, but it is honest and sincere. It brings us together and holds us all inside. Individuals, with a rainbow of hearts, minds, opinions and beliefs, together, in the same simple sukkah. Under One Roof.

This is us. Our art. Our conversation. The conversation of our art, the art of our conversation. Join our masterpiece of unity, join our conversation as we seek more cohesion and understanding. Then, go out and create your own.

Transcending fragmentation: it’s what Jews are all about.

JVS CAREER SERVICES

Our mission is to be the leader in delivering meaningful employment opportunities for all in Cincinnati. JVS Career Services offers businesses access to a large number of qualified potential employees, from entry level to executive. JVS meets with employers to identify their needs, then prescreens and recommends qualified individuals. Executive and leadership coaching services are designed to enhance employee performance. Career Transition services provide departing employees with support as they transition to their next role or career path.

KENNEDY HEIGHTS ARTS CENTER

Kennedy Heights Arts Center enhances the life of the surrounding community through arts and cultural experiences that embrace diversity, foster creativity and build community. Through a wide range of arts and cultural programs, the Arts Center strives to promote community interaction across generations and all cultural and economic groups, spark community dialogue, provide a venue where artists are nurtured and connect with each other and the community, create opportunities for joyful discovery and collaboration, and make the arts affordable and accessible to everyone. We’re proud that 100% of our programs are accessible to everyone regardless of ability to pay.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Inspired by the theme “The Art of Conversation” and the diversity of Kennedy Heights Arts Center, the central theme to our panel is that it takes the unique voices of many different people to have meaningful and inspiring dialogue. Everyone’s voice is important and we value the variety of people that make up our community.

KLAU LIBRARY, CINCINNATI, HEBREW UNION COLLEGE-JEWISH INSTITUTE OF RELIGION

About: The Klau Library functions as a campus library and as the main research library within the HUC-JIR Library system, and is open to any resident of the greater Cincinnati area. The Cincinnati Library acquires, preserves, and provides access to materials in print, manuscript and other formats, supporting the teaching functions of the Rabbinic and Graduate programs and meeting the research needs of its various users. As the main research library in the system, the Cincinnati Klau Library provides both its depth of resources and various library services to the other HUC-JIR libraries.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Part of the Klau’s extensive collection of unique and special items is our rare book and manuscript collection consisting of over 15,000 items. We wanted our panel to highlight something beautiful and directly related to the holiday of Sukkot, and something that viewers were not likely to see otherwise. We found a kabbalistic poem about sukkot, which was composed in Italy in the 1700s and which we felt captured the theme of “conversation.” The verse we chose for the panel explains how the Sukkah is the place for studying Torah and conversing with friends. We projected the verse onto the panel to replicate the original manuscript as closely as possible.

Once we started putting the concept of the manuscript and decorative flourishes together, the library staff began to assist with the project - from lettering and painting, to applying the final sealant or offering advice on placement and colors. The result is a lovely ensemble of elements from three different rare manuscript items in our collection, a wonderful sampling of the Klau’s treasures, and a reflection of the joint efforts it takes to support a world-renowned library.

LEGACY POINTE CHURCH

Legacy Pointe Church is a community of faith where people are empowered with the Word of God, challenged to live their legacy now, and developed to lead families and communities with the faith and fervor of God. We are dedicated to following the example of Jesus by serving those in need with love and respect, generously giving our resources and talents to help change lives and teaching others how to invite Christ into their own lives.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Youth from Legacy Pointe’s HD Life student ministry took complete creative control in designing our canvas. They started by discussing our guiding scripture “We will not hide these truths from this generation, we will tell each generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord.” (Psalm 78:4.) Then they discussed how we as church share these truths through our 4 pillars: Love, Life, Lead, and Live. In the center of it all is the cross. Lastly, they discussed what the cross represents: Christ Jesus. Jesus lived a sinless life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross.

MAYERSON JCC AFTER CREW

After Crew works to create a safe community for children each day and keep children active and engaged by offering a variety of ageappropriate activities in a supportive and safe after-school environment.

ABOUT THE PANEL

All 40 After Crew kids and staff members worked together to brainstorm ideas for the panel. We put as many handprints as possible on the panel, then turned them into animals. Then, each child came up with the sound that the animal uses, following with the theme of communication.

MAYERSON JCC BLUE JAYS

The Mayerson JCC Blue Jays connect the youth and adults in our community through sports.

ABOUT THE PANEL

The central idea behind the panel is to illustrate the essence of coaching through the art of conversation. The relationship between a coach and player can last a lifetime, and the core of the relationship is based on conversations between the player and coach, hopefully over many seasons. Ultimately it is not wins and losses that matter most, but the relationships and trust that are built and developed over time.

MAYERSON JCC CHILDREN & FAMILY

The Children & Family Department at the Mayerson JCC enriches children’s lives through experiential classes, Judaic-driven PJ Library programs, professional drop-in child care, and much more. Our mission is to provide excellent service and experiences that will connect people to others and to our community.

ABOUT THE PANEL

The Children & Family Department wanted to create a panel that encompassed our work as it relates to the art of conversation.

“It’s Cool to Be Kind” is a perfect example of the values we teach children every day; demonstrating that using kind words is what we should all aim to do.

MAYERSON JCC COMMUNITY

The Mayerson JCC provides the Jewish and secular communities of Greater Cincinnati with resources, facilities, and programs which enhance their physical, intellectual, and social lives. With an expansive fitness center, respected early childhood and senior centers, memorable arts and cultural events, and classes for every age, the JCC connects, enriches, and inspires over 27,000 visitors per month. The JCC welcomes everyone, regardless of race, religion, or ability.

ABOUT THE PANEL

This panel was created from individual contributions made by community members. All were invited and welcome to join in “The Art of Conversation.” New this year, individuals participated in the Under One Roof Sukkah Art Exhibit by contributing to the community panel. Thank you for lending your hands and voices to the community art exhibit.

MAYERSON JCC CREATE YOUR JEWISH LEGACY

Create Your Jewish Legacy helps to sustain local Jewish organizations through legacy gifts committed by dedicated members of the community, enabling organizations to count on those funds long into the future. By creating a Jewish legacy, community members ensure that what they value about Jewish life sustains and enriches future generations here in Cincinnati.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Create Your Jewish Legacy (CYJL) is about planting seeds for the next generation. In the bark of the trees on the panel you can read the words “I see you” and “I hear you,” as seeing and listening may be the most important skills for a conversation, really paying attention to the person, people, and generations surrounding us. The Mayerson JCC CYJL donors are people just like you who want to see their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren enjoy all the benefits of a strong and vibrant Jewish community.

MAYERSON JCC FITNESS AND FRIENDS

Fitness and Friends is an inclusive class that offers low-impact exercise, socializing, and creative crafts. The program is for children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities, who are able to participate independently or with the help of their own personal care assistant.

ABOUT THE PANEL

The sole purpose of Fitness and Friends is to provide an inclusive space for all people, regardless of ability. Our panel demonstrates that it is important that people with disabilities are included in conversations, that we should accept and celebrate our differences no matter our ability. We worked as a class to create our panel and are all very proud of its inclusivity.

MAYERSON JCC SENIOR CENTER

The Mayerson JCC Senior Center is a multiservice program of the JCC designed to help maintain independence and improve the quality of life for seniors in the community.

ABOUT THE PANEL

At the Mayerson JCC Senior Center, our members practice the art of conversation by participating in our many 60 & Better activities, programs and celebrations. Our Senior Center staff and members created this panel by gathering photos, words, and phrases from our members who engaged in the art of conversation over the last year.

Most OutGROWing: An Art Movement

MOST OUTGROWING: AN ART MOVEMENT

Most OutGROWing LLC helps people grow beyond expectations and develop their purpose through the arts. We inspire, create, and grow through art. From art education to commissioned art, and from paint parties to murals, we aim to help you earn the superlative we can all have: “Most OutGROWing.”

ABOUT THE PANEL

We thought about the theme “The Art of Conversation,” and how our organization helps people connect interpersonally via art. Those longing to connect beyond social media or through the aid of a device have enjoyed themselves in our classrooms and paint parties. As a former communication major, artist Adoria L. Maxberry encourages her students to live in the moment, enjoy conversation and use the vehicle of art to create lasting memories with friends and family. May this piece inspire you to put down your phone and do something creative with the ones you love.

NANCY AND DAVID WOLF HOLOCAUST AND HUMANITY CENTER

The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center (HHC) exists to ensure the lessons of the Holocaust inspire action today. HHC educates about the Holocaust, remembers its victims, and acts on its lessons. Through innovative programs and partnerships, HHC challenges injustice, inhumanity, and prejudice, and fosters understanding, inclusion, and engaged citizenship.

ABOUT THE PANEL

HHC’s museum, and educational and public programs are a venue for community members to engage in meaningful conversations. This panel was inspired by HHC’s work and the words of local Holocaust survivors and upstanders who engage in conversations to make a difference in the world.

The panel visually represents two individuals of different generations having a conversation with the potential to make an impact. The quotes in speech bubbles were excerpted from the quotes of two local Holocaust survivors, Zahava Rendler and Werner Coppel. Zahava Rendler stated, “You must never be silent because silence is, in itself, consent” and Werner Coppel said, “Stand up to hate and prejudice even when it does not affect you.” We hope that these quotes and the message “Speak Out for Humanity” will inspire viewers to consider the legacy of those who have spoken out for humanity in the past and consider how their own words and conversations can affect change today.

The panel’s design reinforces these themes, using bright colors and a rainbow border to provide inspiration to make a difference, while also highlighting the diversity of humanity.

NORTHERN HILLS SYNAGOGUE

NORTHERN HILLS SYNAGOGUE

Northern Hills Synagogue follows the forms, practices and usages of Conservative Judaism. We value our congregation as a social and educational community as well as a spiritual center. Volunteerism provides the foundation for our synagogue and is reflected in our core values.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Artist Judy Workman and a committee comprised of Harriet Freedman, Barbie Tamanino, Edie Neusner, Sarah Barnard, Paula Nevins, Rabbi Samantha Schapera and Phyliss Shubs worked together to conceptualize and create the panel. Parts of the panel were not yet secured at our subsequent meetings, enabling us to engage in the art of conversation to not just say what we thought might improve the panel, but to actually SEE the changes before we made them.

ROCKWERN ACADEMY

Rockwern Academy is an inclusive Jewish Day School accepting toddlers through eighth-graders. Rockwern builds character, curiosity, and critical thinking skills while fostering social responsibility and lifelong love of learning.

ABOUT THE PANEL

The panel incorporates words written by Rockwern Academy students, representing what ideas they believe are important to starting a respectful conversation, achieving mutual respect, and succeeding in the future.

SKIRBALL MUSEUM

We preserve and interpret a rich collection of fine art and artifacts that tell the vibrant story of the Cincinnati Jewish community and global Jewish history, religion, and culture through thoughtful permanent and temporary exhibitions and engaging public programs for visitors of all faiths.

ABOUT THE PANEL

As we considered the theme of “The Art of Conversation,” it was clear to all of us who engage with the artwork at the Skirball every day that conversation is what it’s all about! Every work of art has a story to tell and with just a question or two, a lively conversation can take place. We invite viewers to take this opportunity to look and listen to the art and to each other!

SKIRBALL MUSEUM

TEMPLE SHOLOM

Spiritual meaning and purpose are the center and focus of everything we do. At Temple Sholom we welcome all people: seekers, interfaith families, and those in search of a spiritual home. We believe it is our role as a faith community to embolden individuals and families to embrace Jewish practice and learning in their lives so that they may in turn go out and make this world a better place.

ABOUT THE PANEL

The theme “The Art of Conversation” inspired us to envision scenes from the Hebrew Bible and our everyday lives where people would be having a conversation of Jewish relevance. These were fun to imagine and were originally much longer. They were edited from performance length to the brief exchanges used in the panel. For all but one, humor came naturally even if the event had been quite serious. The pictures are primarily fine art images and the artists have been noted wherever possible.

Upon completion, we seem to have created the pages of a book, hopefully one that is enjoyable and thought provoking.

VISIONARIES + VOICES

The mission of Visionaries + Voices as an inclusive arts organization is to provide creative, professional, and educational opportunities.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Visionaries + Voices uses art for both career and expression, with a central focus on inclusion for people with all abilities. Much of our communication, therefore, is through the act of making art. At an artist meeting, one of our artists explained some of the themes in Sukkot and the significant themes for her, which were plant growth, harvest, and the global celebration. Other artists described the art of conversation as a focus on art, and some wanted to include flowers and butterflies. The resulting panel depicts two people communicating by painting an image of the earth; signifying that art is a unifying use of global communication. Their conversation bubbles show nature and growth through this act. After being sketched by an artist-intern in the studio, many of the artists came together to paint the piece as a sort of collaboration-conversation in action.

Presenting Sponsor:

This program is funded in part by the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati and The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati.

8485 Ridge Road | Cincinnati, OH 45236

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