This year, Art at the JCC features AAC and Jewish community member, Naomi Bollag.
With such a voluminous body of work it would seem that Naomi has been painting in her current style for decades, but in fact it was after the twin disasters of the Thomas Fire and Montecito Mudslides that she transformed the deep grief she felt into her current style of painting.
When asked about how she works, Naomi shared that the art “does itself”— that she chooses the colors and size of canvas first and then time disappears, and she finds flow. As she works, she likes to think of where her paintings will hang and how the colors will complement the home. She is especially drawn to gold and beige. Her work hangs in several Sansum Clinic locations as well as at China Pavilion restaurant in downtown Santa Barbara. Deeply philanthropic, Naomi has donated several works to silent auctions which raised funds for both Laguna Blanca School and Middle School.
When asked about painting in our COVID-19 era, Naomi said that initially she was “paralyzed” with fear and uncertainty about the virus, but after two weeks she returned with a force and has been creating fervently since then.
Her next show will be at the newly remodeled Jewish Federation, where all works on view will be available for purchase.
Naomi added, “During difficult times of anxiety and stress, I can always turn to my canvases. They have been and are still there for me. Painting is a place where I can escape from stress and feel free to express my feelings without recourse. It feels safe to me and I want those who view my art to feel the same, sort of like an artistic Rorschach method.”
You can learn more about Naomi and her work on her website www.naomibollag.com.
All works below are for sale and proceeds support Jewish Federation programs.
For more information or to purchase one of Naomi's pieces, contact Mike Witt at mwitt@sbjf.org or (805) 957-1115.
Gallery Hours:
Monday-Friday from 9:00 am-1:00 pm
Please call in advance of your visit, as the gallery is often used for classes and events, (805) 957-1115.
Exhibit is open to the public. Free admission.
Artist and collector Eli Luria (z"l) launched Art at the JCC in 1999 to provide high-caliber, strongly-themed exhibits for the Santa Barbara community. The exhibit openings often feature gallery talks and panels with artists, curators and collectors that draw lively crowds.
Art at the JCC is a program of the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara. Through its exhibition and outreach programs, Art at the JCC honors and shares the universality of Jewish values, history and culture through various forms of artistic expression. The purpose of Art at the JCC is to provide Central Coast and other artists from all disciplines the opportunity to bring their work to the Santa Barbara community. Because art is a universal language, our programs will cross all boundaries of religion, race, gender and age, and strive to maintain communication. Its mission is to promote identification and connectedness to the Jewish community and the community at large.