By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer

In a talk at Temple Israel nearly 30 years ago, celebrated local artist Ray Must made a point that was important to him: “I am a Jew who is an artist, not a ‘Jewish artist.’ My work is directed to wider audiences and the Jewish themes I find just naturally emerge or are not always on a conscious level.”

The works of the late Must and other Jews who are artists or creators of Jewish art — and artisans who fit in either category — will be the focus of two ongoing online exhibits, and a one-afternoon display, collectively billed as Look at Us: Jewish Artists & Artisans in Dayton.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton has already opened the first online Look at Us exhibit on its website, jewishdayton.org, with works of Jewish artists from the Dayton Art Institute’s collection, including Sol LeWitt, Roy Lichtenstein, and Alexander Liberman.

Beginning Aug. 7, the second Look at Us online exhibit at jewishdayton.org will go live, with works by local artists and artisans including Must and:

• Cathy Gardner, illumination and calligraphy
• Elyssa Wortzman and the late Brian Appel, fine arts
• Gayle Moscowitz and Caryl Segalewitz, glass art
• Mike Jaffe, Stephen Goldberg, Bruce Soifer, and the late Sam Lauber, photography
• Marlene Pinsky, quilting
• Burt Saidel, Scott Segalewitz, and the late Steve Markman, woodworking

The culmination of Look at Us will be its committee’s display of works by local Jewish artists and artisans to be held at the Dayton Art Institute from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 21.

Hannah Kasper Levinson — whose art will be on the Look at Us Committee’s display that day and online — will lead a presentation about her work, with a reception to follow.

Participants may also take self-guided tours of the museum.

Jewish Federation CEO Cathy Gardner said the idea for Look at Us came out of a Federation Innovation Grant proposal, submitted by Ruth Schumacher, chair of Temple Beth Or’s adult education committee; and Wendy Gray, chair of Temple Israel’s adult education committee.

“Beth Abraham Synagogue and Beth Jacob Congregation signed on and are participating as well,” Gardner said, “and I am pleased to work with our layleaders from the four congregations, as well as Stacy Emoff, JCC Cultural Arts and Adult Programming director, on this exciting project.”

Each year, the Jewish Federation accepts proposals for innovation grants, with preference given to collaborative projects that bring multiple Jewish organizations and members of the Jewish community together.

“Our aim is to nurture one-of-a-kind, collaborative Jewish experiences across the Miami Valley,” Gardner said. “We are fortunate to have so many wonderful local artists participating in this project.”

Look at Us: Jewish Artists & Artisans in Dayton, presented by the JCC, Beth Abraham Synagogue, Beth Jacob Congregation, Temple Beth Or, and Temple Israel, comprises three components:

• Online exhibit of works by Jewish artists from the Dayton Art Institute’s collection. On view now at jewishdayton.org.

• Online exhibit of local Jewish artists and artisans beginning Aug. 7 at jewishdayton.org.

• Look at Us Committee’s display of works by local Jewish artists and artisans, held at the Dayton Art Institute, with a presentation by local Jewish artist Hannah Kasper Levinson, optional self-guided tour, and reception to follow, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 5:30 p.m., 456 Belmonte Park N. Free. Register online by Friday, Aug. 16 at jewishdayton.org/events or with Stacy Emoff, semoff@jfgd.net.

To read the complete August 2024 Dayton Jewish Observer, click here.