We Burn 2019
(oil on panel, 24″x24″)

In 2018 I began painting and drawing again after a hiatus of more than two decades. I knew from earliest childhood that I was an artist, and until I was 30 or so, I made my living painting and doing illustration and graphic design. The reasons I stopped were more political than personal. You can read all about them in What Was I Thinking?“an essay I published in January 2019. See my recent portraits here.

I attended The Jewish Artists and Writers Retreat in Santa Fe, NM in December, 2017. I was excited to attend, and must say that my experience far exceeded any expectations I had for a content rich, personally meaningful experience. Our group of 9 did amazing personal work together, and through Arlene’s leadership became committed to continuing this work collectively as well as individually. Arlene led us masterfully through envisioning sessions that were intended to help each of us “see” what we truly want in our creative lives, and how our creativity intersects with and is inflected by our personal relationships to being Jewish. As a result of the group process and techniques she used to facilitate this personal work, we became bonded with each other in lasting ways. Journaling and participating in group art projects throughout the 3-1/2 days of the retreat was a great way to insure that we each came away with a record of our thoughts, feelings, and the techniques Arlene used to guide us toward our personal and collective hopes, dreams, and creative vision.

Terri Cohn, Fine Art Consultant & Appraiser, Writer, Curator, Art Historian

The Jewish Artists Retreat is an immersive, invigorating, uplifting multi-day experience open to any artist—visual, performing, literary, multimedia, or your own definition—who identifies as Jewish, regardless of personal spiritual practice or level of Jewish knowledge. The approach is pleasure and purpose aligned: fun, stimulating, mind-opening, and meaningful at once. Each retreat features discussion and dialogue; lively, interactive group study; hands-on art-making; opportunities to connect and collaborate; and deep exploration of participants’ concerns and aspirations. The retreat is an opportunity to discard constricting ideas about art, Judaism, or oneself, to emerge with greater clarity about aims, intentions, and identity. For more information–>.