American Guild of Judaic Art
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The American Guild of Judaic Art (AGJA) is a national non-profit membership organization based in Seattle, Washington (previously
Owings Mills, Maryland Owings Mills is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Baltimore. Per the 2020 census, the population was 35,674. Owings Mills is home to the northern terminus o ...
). It is dedicated to the promotion of Jewish art and culture in society. Its membership includes Jewish
artist An artist is a person engaged in an activity related to creating art, practicing the arts, or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse refers to a practitioner in the visual arts only. However, th ...
s, galleries, museum curators,
collectors Collector(s) may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Collector (character), a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe * ''Collector'' (2011 film), a 2011 Indian Malayalam film * ''Collector'' (2016 film), a 2016 Russian film * ''Collec ...
, and academias in the field of Jewish studies and art history. The organization sponsors and promotes an annual calendar of events entitled "Jewish Arts Week"PR Newswire website, ''American Guild of Judaic Art Sponsors Jewish Arts Month to Explore Traditions and Beliefs of Jewish Community'', article dated January 29, 2015
/ref> in which it encourages synagogues, community centers, and schools throughout North America to host activities and exhibitions relating to Jewish art. In 2023, The AGJA was headed by its president, the artist Robin Atlas.


History

Founded in 1991, it was under the leadership of past president Mark Levin AIA, that the Guild joined the internet virtual age in 1999 with creating its website featuring Guild members and their work, The Guild provides information and networking opportunities for its membership through member-only online resources as well as a members only Google online discussion group. The Guild’s calendar of Jewish Arts Week, other member events and activities, membership information, an AGJA member directory as well as an Artist’s Gallery is available for the public on the Guild’s website.


Jewish Arts Month

In 2011, ''Jewish Arts Week'' became "Jewish Arts Month" in which it encourages
synagogue A synagogue, ', 'house of assembly', or ', "house of prayer"; Yiddish: ''shul'', Ladino: or ' (from synagogue); or ', "community". sometimes referred to as shul, and interchangeably used with the word temple, is a Jewish house of worshi ...
s, community centers, libraries, and schools throughout North America to host activities and exhibitions relating to and showcasing Jewish art. This special month corresponds with the Torah (Old Testament) reading of Parshat Vayakhel from
Exodus Exodus or the Exodus may refer to: Religion * Book of Exodus, second book of the Hebrew Torah and the Christian Bible * The Exodus, the biblical story of the migration of the ancient Israelites from Egypt into Canaan Historical events * Ex ...
: 35:1-38:20 where the first Jewish artisan,
Bezalel In Exodus 31:1-6 and chapters 36 to 39, Bezalel, Bezaleel, or Betzalel ( he, בְּצַלְאֵל, ''Bəṣalʼēl''), was the chief artisan of the Tabernacle and was in charge of building the Ark of the Covenant, assisted by Oholiab. The secti ...
, is introduced with descriptions of his designs to build the Mishkan (Tabernacle); as the Jewish calendar is a lunar based one, Jewish Arts Month’s dates change from year to year.


Exhibitions

AGJA initiatives include expanding exhibition opportunities, community outreach programs, and collaborative educational connections to bring art, inspired by Jewish text, tradition, ritual, and personal experience to those who appreciate or want to learn more about the world of Jewish art. HIDDUR, a quarterly Email newsletter and expanding interactive social media were established in 2010. In 2012, The AGJA launched their inaugural members online exhibition. The 2013-2014 online exhibition includeds works, available for purchase, by 29 of the guild's members. Work include
ketubbah A ketubah (; he, כְּתוּבָּה) is a Jewish marriage contract. It is considered an integral part of a traditional Jewish marriage, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom, in relation to the bride. In modern practice, ...
s, chuppahs, paintings, works on paper, jewelry and sculpture. The exhibition was curated by Karen Walanka from the Moriah Congregation in Deerfield, IL.


Mentoring program

In 2013, the American Guild of Judaic Art launched their online mentoring program for students in grades 7-12. AGJA artists volunteer to mentor student artists in a unique on-line venue. The mentor program is a direct approach to reaching young people who express a sincere interest in learning how to create Jewish art. Guild artists experience the rare opportunity to mentor, guide and inspire a young person in the complex world of Judaic art, all done on-line. As a Judaic arts organization, the Guild will use its numerous resources to facilitate the development and growth of the mentoring program.


Other activities

In the past, the Guild has organized trips to Israel to look at religious and artistic sites.Makor Journeys, ''Jewish Art and Israel @2019, Israel Study Tour''
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References

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External links


American Guild of Judaic Art
American artist groups and collectives Jewish art Jews and Judaism in Baltimore County, Maryland Arts organizations based in Maryland Owings Mills, Maryland Arts organizations established in 1991 1991 establishments in Maryland