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JCC Opening Reception and Benefit Exhibit
June 30, 2019 @ 2:00 am - August 20, 2019 @ 5:00 am PDT
Art at the JCC Presents: ArtSEE: 5th Annual Abstract Art Collective (AAC)
Benefit Exhibit for SEE International (Surgical Eye Expeditions Int’l)
+ Margaret Singer Documentary Movie: Seeking Light Screening
Honoring Margaret Singer
Jewish Federation’s Bronfman Family Jewish Community Center,
524 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara CA
OPENING RECEPTION: Sunday, June 30, 2:00-4:00 p.m. 2:20 Welcome and announcements, 2:30 Margaret movie screening and Q&A w/producers to follow.
The reception and exhibition is free and open to the public and will include live jazz trio music, appetizers and drinks.
SHOW DATES: June 30 – August 20
The Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara’s Art at the JCC presents the Abstract Art Collective 5th Annual ArtSEE fundraiser, an Abstract Art Collective (AAC) juried exhibit and additional art sale to benefit SEE International at the Bronfman Family Jewish Community Center. SEE International is a nonprofit, humanitarian organization whose volunteer eye surgeons generously work to restore sight to disadvantaged blind individuals worldwide.
ArtSEE features a large 100-piece GRID WALL display of original 10” x 10” abstract artworks, created and donated by AAC members and offered for sale at $100 each on a first-come-first-choose basis. 100% of the proceeds from GRID WALL sales will be donated to SEE International. The impact of each $100 purchase will cover two eye operations to those in need.
Also on display is a juried exhibition of larger abstract works by AAC members. Twenty-five percent of sales from the juried pieces will be donated to benefit the JCC.
The juror for the exhibit is Chris Rupp, M.F.A. Instructor of Art and Collections Manager of Westmont Museum of Art. Chris Rupp began working with the museum in 2009, completing a comprehensive inventory of Westmont’s art holdings and overseeing the publication of the Museum’s first handbook on the permanent collection. As the Museum’s registrar, Rupp is the lead art handler for the College, oversees the development and execution of Museum policies, serves as chief exhibition installer, museum photographer, and so much more. An accomplished artist and collector in his own right, Rupp has organized numerous exhibitions for the Museum, notably a series of ceramics exhibitions, and 5X5 – an ongoing fundraising project for the museum every five years. Rupp is a graduate of the art program at Westmont and completed his M.F.A. at Azusa Pacific University. He also teaches ceramics courses for the Westmont Art Department.
The ArtSEE exhibit includes a wide range of abstract media – painting, assemblage/collage, printmaking, photography and digital art. Abstract art encompasses as many processes as there are artists. One artist may work in an intuitive arc – not knowing how a piece will begin or end. Another may have a defined concept and their artwork is not finished until that concept is expressed to their satisfaction.
The juried exhibit and 10 x 10 GRID WALL art sale will be ongoing during the exhibition.
For regular viewing hours, the Jewish Community Center is open Monday–Thursday 9-5 pm, and Friday 9-3:30 pm. Forbest visiting hours, call 805-957-1115.
During the opening reception, the life of the 98 year old (as of June 11), late Margaret Singer is celebrated and honored in the documentary short film, Margaret Singer: Seeking Light. This award winning 20 minute movie was premiered at the Santa Barbara Jewish Film Festival and we look forward to sharing with our greater Santa Barbara and arts community (at no cost; donations welcome). We honor, Margaret Singer, the local Santa Barbara artist and poetry icon, who is a lifelong member of the AAC. Movie synopsis: Born and raised in Frankfurt, Germany, at the age of 17, tragedy and turbulence flung Margaret Singer far from her roots. With courage and purpose she bent darkness into light utilizing her gifts as an artist and poet and her innate sense of truth and joy. Following her own compass, Margaret broke every mold of expectation for a woman, an immigrant and a refugee. She has created a body of work that that will inspire generations.
About SEE International
SEE International envisions a world where no one is needlessly blind. SEE is a nonprofit, humanitarian organization that provides medical, surgical, and educational services by volunteer ophthalmic surgeons to restore sight and give the gifts of hope, opportunity and independence to disadvantaged blind individuals worldwide. Since 1974, SEE has examined over 3.65 million men, women, and children, and performed more than 440,000 sight-restoring surgeries. www.seeintl.org
About the Abstract Art Collective
The Abstract Art Collective is a group of Santa Barbara-area community members who organized in 2011 to exhibit their abstract artwork in an all-abstract environment. The 100+ member group supports a broad range of media and adheres to a definition of abstract art that includes conceptual work where some forms may be recognizable. For information on joining the Abstract Art Collective or to receive announcements regarding exhibitions, please visit the web site: www.abstractartcollective.com
About Art at the JCC
Art at the JCC is a program of the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara. The purpose of Art at the JCC is to provide Central Coast and other artists from all disciplines the opportunity to bring their work to the Santa Barbara community. Because art is a universal language, its programs will cross all boundaries of religion, race, gender and age, and strive to maintain communication. Its mission is to promote identification and connectedness to the Jewish community and the community at large. https://jewishsantabarbara.org/art-at-the-jcc
Artwork by Margaret Singer (Promo Image)
For more info and high resolution images please contact:
mwitt@sbjf.org 805-957-1115