Growing Up Jewish – Art & Storytelling

This is a selected event due to the great talent of the artist, and the amazing story of a Jewish revival following the horrific events of World War 2

Growing Up Jewish – Art & Storytelling is an exhibition of contemporary paintings and personal narratives, by artist Jacqueline Kott-Wolle, exploring the key people, experiences, and community that shaped her distinctly North American brand of Jewish identity.  Kott-Wolle, who came of age in the late 20th century, draws upon decades of family photos for inspiration.  The exhibit includes playful images of Jewish holiday and ritual observances; moments at Hebrew school and summer camp; vacations as well as milestone celebrations marked by the artist’s family through the years.   Paired with the artist’s own narration, Kott-Wolle asks ‘what does it mean to be Jewish for past, present and future generations in North America?’Kott-Wolle’s Jewish identity was informed by the experiences of her parents and grandparents who arrived in Canada in 1949 after the Holocaust. As a member of the ‘Second Generation’ the artist also reflects on how her forebears faced the enormous task of starting over upon surviving one of modern history’s darkest chapters.  The exhibit includes paintings of this colorful cast of characters as they rebuild their lives and flourish in North America’s vibrant Jewish communities.