Exhibit Of Donated Art Work Comes to Bunis Family Art Gallery

Jewish Family Service of Buffalo and the Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo are collaborating to present an art exhibit of donated art from members of the community.

"This is a very special exhibit in that it comes from members of the community, proceeds from sales will be donated back to two agencies that serve the community and any art not sold will be donated to new members of the community," says Richard Zakalik, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Center, home to the Bunis Family Art Gallery, where the exhibit will take place, March 1 - April 30, 2018.

Art in the exhibit includes work by Israeli artist A. Elgi, Buffalo artist Irving Mink, German artist Herbert Schneider and more including original paintings, prints, needlework, drawings and photographs.

"The JCC often get calls from people who are looking for places to donate artwork, typically because a family member is downsizing and while the family doesn't want to keep the art, they don't want to throw it away and are looking for a place where the art can be enjoyed and appreciated," says Jordana Halpern, who curates the gallery as Cultural Arts director at the JCC. "We wanted to create an exhibit that would benefit the community, including new members of the community who have relocated with the help of Jewish Family Service, which has been helping families and individuals make the challenging transition from Sudan, Iraq, Nepal, Somalia, Burma, Bhutan and other strife-torn areas of the world."

"We're excited to be working with the JCC on this program," says Marlene Schillinger, President and CEO of Jewish Family Service. "Our agency provides a broad range of services including resettlement, health services, counselling and advocacy for people who need support during times of challenge and personal change. This program will serve to connect new residents in WNY to families with long histories here. It's an opportunity to forge connections and extend warm welcomes through sharing of art. Without being formal about it, we'll be giving people a chance to share their history, adopt some history and hopefully share and promote Buffalo's city of good neighbors."

At the end of the exhibit, new WNY residents will participate in a closing gallery reception, Monday, April 30, where they can learn about the artwork and the family that donated it, and choose a piece to take to their home.

Gallery admission is free and the gallery is open during JCC business hours, 7 days a week. For more information, visit jccbuffalo.org or contact Jordana Halpern at 716-204-2255 or jhalpern@jccbuffalo.org.

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