VISUAL ARTS
IN MINT CONDITION*
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The portrayal of Jewish women (usually by men) in mass media has been marred by the overuse of familiar negative stereotypes – the Ghetto Girl, the overbearing Jewish mother, and the materialist “Jewish-American Princess”. The appearance of Jewish characters in comic stories during the Golden Age was rare and the appearance of Jewish women even rarer. When such appearances occurred, they tended to be minor roles or stereotypes. This was even the case when women were the artists, as the writers and editors they worked for were men.
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With the advent of second wave feminism in the 1960s and the rise of the underground commix movement, we begin to see stories of Jewish women told by the women themselves. Among the types of narratives found in comics and graphic novels by Jewish artists are: the Birthright Israel experience, December dilemma, fashion ethics, women sages, pregnancy, single motherhood, miscarriages, and the ordination of women rabbis.
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*This is a portion of a larger exhibition created by the Beth Tzedec Museum and is presented in honour of International Womens' Month.
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Feb 28 – March 27, 2025
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
The Gallery at the J is seeking artists and partner organizations to participate in our 2025 season! We are attracted to artwork that tells a story. We want our viewers to experience a journey - yours and theirs.
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Artists and organizations are asked to examine universal values through a Jewish lens. Each month has been assigned a theme/subject which represent a selection of our core principles. Please carefully review the criteria before submitting. (We acknowledge the additional themes associated with months of the year such as Asian Heritage Month and Black History Month. If there are themes and subjects you are not seeing that you feel we should include, please write to deannad@mnjcc.org for future consideration)
Please click these links for additional information:​​
THE GALLERY AT THE J
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Mifgashim: Where Jewish Canadians and Israelis Meet.
This May, the Miles Nadal JCC invites you to a unique exploration of diverse identities within the Jewish community. “Mifgashim” is a photography project and exhibit that focusses on Canadian and Israeli Jews living in Toronto. Twelve families who identify as holding both of these two distinct identities will be the subject of this art project. "Mifgashim" translates to "encounters" or "meetings”. We're excited to facilitate a "meeting" between the public and the families lying at this unique intersection, where two cultures encounter one another in one family.
For more information, click here.
Project coordinators:
Linor Gerchak (Hebrew/English)
Lauren Schreiber Sasaki – LaurenS@mnjcc.org (English)
Annual Beverley Fingerhut Memorial Lecture: Ya'ara Eshet - Thursday, Apr 3, 1-2:30 pm (afternoon tea from 2:30-3:30 pm for in-person attendees)
Discover the creativity, imagination and feminine power of artist and illustrator Ya'ara Eshet. Her provocative works – featured several times at the Miles Nadal JCC Gallery – are inspired by her secular kibbutz upbringing near the Sea of Galilee, and a rich Judaic history including folklore, mysticism, Kabbalah, Israeli poetry and Yiddish verses. Generously sponsored by the Fingerhut/Metcalfe family. Join us in-person at the Miles Nadal JCC (including afternoon tea), on Zoom simulcast, or register to receive the recording!