Connecting to the Jewish Community Through Art
by Laura Dorf Queller
The arts are alive across Greater MetroWest! Laura Queller’s personal introduction to art through a painting class at the JCC of Central NJ led her to gain insight into the value of art throughout the Jewish community.
When I accepted a position as a vice president of Women’s Philanthropy last year, I had one stipulation: I wouldn’t give up my Thursday morning art class. For a few years, I have been taking Drawing and Painting for Adults at the JCC of Central NJ in Scotch Plains. I was already in my fifties when I first enrolled in the class as a complete beginner, but I quickly discovered an untapped passion for painting that I craved to explore. Thursday mornings had become my sacred time to pursue art, and I wished to keep that time separate and distinct from my Jewish volunteer work. But was that really possible?
I slowly began to realize that my long-time involvement in the Jewish community and my newfound love of painting were not so disparate. After all, I had chosen to take an art class at my Jewish Community Center rather than at an art studio, and that made a difference. The teacher, Debbie Livingston, provided excellent instruction and the course fee was a great value. But what made the class most welcoming and enjoyable was that it was held in the familiar surroundings of the JCC, where my family had belonged for more than 25 years. My classmate Susan Ebner said, “The JCC, rather than an art studio, made it less threatening for beginners to try art.” Our class, comprised of adults of all ages and abilities, quickly bonded in a way that may not have been possible elsewhere. I only half-jokingly referred to the class as my weekly therapy session, not just because immersing myself in art was therapeutic, but also because our class had formed such strong connections and support for one another while exploring art together.
The “Studio for Art and Soul at the J” was created several years ago at the JCC of Central NJ to help ensure that the facility remained a full-service agency for the community, appealing to a wide range of ages and interests. The JCC’s slogan at the time was: “Community is at our Center.” Debbie Livingston believes that art is an important outlet for everyone, regardless of ability. “You need to carve out some ‘me time’ to explore your inner feelings, creativity, and expression,” she said. Randi Zucker, Director of Arts, Education & Jewish Programs at the JCC of Central NJ, explained that the arts are important for enrichment and community building. Classes that span several weeks, such as jewelry-making or mosaics, as well as one-time events, such as concerts, provide low-barrier entry points for members and non-members alike to engage with the center and with each other. Across Greater MetroWest, the Federation-supported JCCs in Scotch Plains and West Orange, as well as the YM-YWHA of Union County, provide a myriad of opportunities for arts enrichment.
Ironically, the more I attempted to separate my enthusiasm for painting from my passion for Jewish volunteerism, the more both interests merged. I began noticing what Women’s Philanthropy and Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest were doing to enrich people’s lives through art. In November, Women’s Philanthropy held the first of its Lion of Judah Impact Series, intimate gatherings that demonstrate to women how their Lion-level gifts make a significant impact within the community. The event was held at the Evalyn Dunn Gallery in Westfield. While browsing works by professional artists, we listened to a presentation by Marilynn Schneider, director of the WAE Center (Wellness, Arts & Enrichment), a Federation-supported arts learning center in West Orange for adults with developmental disabilities. Marilynn brought beautiful examples of art from WAE Center participants; several pieces deserved to be displayed in galleries too. I was impressed to learn that many WAE Center members exhibit their artwork in selective, juried shows, without any reference to their disabilities. And as a new art enthusiast myself, I appreciated the WAE Center’s mission of helping its members “find the spark within.”
In February, I went on Women’s Philanthropy’s mini mission to visit the WAE Center, and the experience exceeded my expectations. I visited a cooking class, music session, and art studio that morning, and witnessed in action the WAE Center’s philosophy of recognizing that people are whole and, with unconditional acceptance and respect, they can maximize independence and achieve personal fulfillment through the arts. WAE Center participants choose their own schedules (the calendar that morning listed 12 options, from photography to poetry), and facilitators offer tools for participants to learn organically and express themselves as individuals. A WAE Center member proudly showed me his professional-level paintings that were for sale, and we discussed the inspirations for his designs and his use of vivid colors in a conversation no different from ones I’ve had in my art class at the JCC.
At the conclusion of the mini mission, co-chairs Chana Solomon and Amy Paternite asked for feedback from our group of about 20 women. Amy described her experience of playing bongos with a WAE Center participant who was non-verbal. “Music is a universal language,” Amy said. Other women commented that the mini mission benefited visitors and WAE Center members alike, and that the WAE Center participants appreciated our company and enjoyed showing off their accomplishments. Still others noticed that WAE Center participants not only took pride in their own work but were proud of the work of their fellow members. Marilynn Schneider described the community that has developed at the WAE Center; members take care of one another and form friendships from within a diverse group of people. As participants experience personal and social growth at the WAE Center, their relationships and community participation outside of the center grow as well. I couldn’t help but be reminded again of my JCC art class, where, within a supportive environment, my classmates and I could flourish creatively as individuals and form tight bonds with one another.
Participants in Women’s Philanthropy’s Hineni group also discovered recently how personal connections could be forged through art. Hineni (Hebrew for “Here I am”) is comprised of women who want to take their involvement with Women’s Philanthropy to the next level, and who meet for outreach and volunteer activities in addition to fundraising efforts. In January, about 20 members of Hineni visited another Federation beneficiary agency, Daughters of Israel, a nursing facility in West Orange. Several Hineni women participated in an art project with residents by helping them to create mailboxes for their rooms. Hineni co-chair Deborah Jacob described “a real feel-good moment” when a 95-year-old veteran with whom she was paired started opening up to her during the project. The man initially wasn’t interested in the craft or in chatting, so Deborah began making the mailbox for him in silence. However, he soon started sharing his life stories with her. “It was just wonderful, and a really nice way to connect,” said Deborah. “Art can really speak to the heart in a way that other modes of expression cannot.”
I no longer wish to separate art from Jewish volunteerism. My beliefs have come full circle. I am now working to coordinate a time for the people in my JCC art class to visit the WAE Center, and everyone is excited to make this happen. You, too, can visit or even volunteer at the WAE Center and at Daughters of Israel. And if you’ve never taken an art class yourself, it’s never too late to start!