The Gallery: Paintings
MALLOW, Sara Schraeter
A note from the artist: Mallow is based on the weed indigenous to Israel. During the Israeli war for independence, there was a blockade on supplies. Jews, being the resilient and resourceful people that they are, used mallow, a plant very rich in vitamins and minerals, as a staple in their every day cooking. I painted this as a symbol of who we are and continue to be.
About the artist: Sara Schraeter is a New York based artist, an Israeli American and New York native. She received her BFA and MSeD at Queens College where she studied fine arts and teaching fine arts with a concentration on working with children with disabilities.
“ALWAYS FOREVER”, Erin Friedman
A note from the artist: I start by pouring paint onto raw canvas, letting the colors flow naturally. From there, I build layers with thick acrylic paint, using a palette knife to create bold, textured marks. Wax pastels add softness and contrast, making each piece a personal, intuitive process.
About the artist: Erin Friedman is an abstract artist based just outside of Washington, DC, in Bethesda, Maryland. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a BFA in painting and a concentration in design. Over time, she refined her process and found her niche in abstract painting. Erin’s paintings are inspired by everyday moments and emotions, which she embraces as part of her creative process. Her work is intuitive, free from formal structure, and open to interpretation — inviting viewers to find their own meaning. Her art has been exhibited in private collections and galleries, both nationwide and abroad, and she has created numerous commissions for collectors and designers.
GOLDEN EAGLE, Sue Gurland
A note from the artist: This painting is called Golden Eagle. Golden eagles live in Israel and are an endangered species. They are fierce warriors and protect their young. This painting was inspired by the outbreak of war after Oct. 7, 2023.
About the artist: I began painting in retirement and found my love of animals and nature to be my topic. I try to convey the spirit of the animal and the interconnection of all life. I have several paintings with Jewish themes on my website, suelynnart.com
THROUGH DARKNESS THERE IS A RENEWAL OF HOPE, Penny Schneider
A note from the artist: Acrylic on stretched canvas 12"x16".
About the artist: Hi! I am Penny Schneider, author illustrator and art educator from Long Island, New York. I am the author illustrator of the children's graphic novel ARTY. I have also been a high school art teacher for the past 31 years.
UNTITLED, Sharon Weinstein
A note from the artist: This mixed media painting depicts Shabbat candlesticks brought to America by my great grandmother when she and her children fled antisemitism in Europe over 100 years ago. Passed down through generations, these candlesticks have lit countless Shabbat evenings. They truly are a symbol of “THE RENEWAL OF SPIRIT, THE RENEWAL OF HOPE.”
About the artist: Sharon Weinstein is a special education teacher with a lifelong love of art. She studied art, psychology, and art education at Queens College before specializing in Art Therapy and Creativity Development at Pratt Institute.
HERSH GOLDBERG POLIN; SHIRI, KFIR AND ARIEL BIBAS (Z’L), Danila Botha
A note from the artist: Like everyone, I’ve felt overwhelmed with emotion and deeply bruised since October 7th and the subsequent war that has taken so many beautiful lives, countless innocent civilians who should be with us today.
And yet believe that even in the face of the worst possible trauma, we’ve witnessed incredible strength and resilience.
We’ve heard stories of Hersh Goldberg Polin, who saved and encouraged others to do everything to survive with the quote “he who has the why, has the how” and who had art in his bedroom that said Jerusalem is Everyone’s in Hebrew, Arabic and English.
We’ve seen so many beautiful truly heartbreaking photos and videos of the Bibas family, heard the boys run and play and laugh, and reach milestones, saw how gentle and absolutely devoted their mother Shiri was, prayed for their release and were devasted when we heard that their lives ended in the worst way imaginable.
How could we not admire them?
I used gouache and acrylic, and I used a lot of bright colour. I use gold leaf and gold gouache like the Japanese concept of Kintsugi, which is their art of golden repair. I thought of Jewish history, of highlighting struggle as a sign of strength, look what we've managed to overcome, physically, psychologically, emotionally.
All of our hostages are heroes. In different ways, they all embody the very essence of our beliefs. In this series I invite you to celebrate them with me, their lives, their characters, their self possession, and their kindness and open heartedness in the worst imaginable circumstances.
(Note, these are just two paintings in a larger series which also features Emily Damari, Romi Gone, Liri Albag, and Agam Berger.)
About the artist: Danila Botha is an author and artist based in Toronto. She loves to work with gouache and acrylic, and loves vibrant colour, texture and portraiture. She is the author of the critically acclaimed short story collections, GOT NO SECRETS, FOR ALL THE MEN (AND SOME OF THE WOMEN I’VE KNOWN) and THINGS THAT CAUSE INAPPROPRIATE HAPPINESS which was published in 2024. She is also the author of novels TOO MUCH ON THE INSIDE and A PLACE FOR PEOPLE LIKE US, which will be published this fall. She is currently working on a new short story collection, and just completed writing and illustrating her first graphic novel, Call me Vidal: The Diary and Sketchbooks of Vidal Bensoussan.
