The vision for OJMCHE’s new exhibition I AM THIS: Art by Oregon Jewish Artists was guided in part by an essay by mid-century American art critic Harold Rosenberg. You can read the essay Is There a Jewish Art here.
“In framing our second exhibition in our new home we thought it was important to look at issues of Jewish identity and self through a lens that also recognizes place,” said Director Judy Margles. “In working with curator Bruce Guenther we found a grounding in the writings of the mid-century American art critic Harold Rosenberg—specifically a piece titled Is There a Jewish Art? The essay was first formed as a talk Rosenberg gave at the opening of the Jewish Museum in New York in 1966. With the opening of our own Oregon Jewish Museum just this past June, we found this exploration of self, identity, and place just as relevant today. It is our great pleasure to mark this particular point in time through exploration of work that ranges from paintings by Mark Rothko to contemporary work by the next generation of Oregon Jewish artists.”