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The Arts

Artistry Comes to Life at the Pozez JCC

Through the decades, the J’s Bodzin Art Gallery exhibitions have attracted talented artists working in a wide variety of media including painting, photography, jewelry, ceramics, glass, fiber, crafts, and mixed media. The gallery supports and encourages the development of local Jewish artists, artists with disabilities, artists working in themes reflecting Jewish values, and Israeli art. The Bodzin Art Gallery presents 7-10 annual exhibitions. The J’s dedication to exhibiting fine art for almost 30 years has garnered a reputation that is well-respected amongst artists, art enthusiasts, buyers, and sellers.

Explore the Arts

The J’s cultural programs demonstrate, illuminate, and celebrate the breadth and depth of Judaism's culture, identity, creativity, diversity, and resiliency through the arts. The J is home to the Bodzin Art Gallery, exhibiting group and solo exhibitions. The J also powers the ReelAbilities Film Festival: Northern Virginia, screened in venues throughout the region. Other programming includes theater, music, and literary arts, showcasing renowned local, regional, and national artists.

In the Bodzin Art Gallery

Collective Reason by Bill Firestone

March 11 - May 12, 2025

Bill Firestone's interests start in nature and move to busy street scenes and a few abstracts. A combination of color, form and accidental brush strokes make up this group of paintings. The work in this exhibition is the culmination of the last two years of painting.

Bill has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. For 25 years he worked as a freelance illustrator for magazines and corporate clients before becoming a full-time painter. Bill is influenced by the "push pull" philosophy of Hans Hofmann, having been taught by two of his pupils. Bill's paintings have been described as vibrant, elastic and energetic. His painterly style lends itself to his fondness for rural scenes but also to the beautiful rainy day street scenes of the big city bustle. A recent trend using image transfer and collage adds to the deep compositional quality of his work. A loose, free quality utilizing good drawing skills, also emphasis on composition and color contrast characterize this work.

Coming soon to the Bodzin Art Gallery

Funny, You Don’t Look Jewish Artoons by Jim Wise

May 13 - July 1, 2025 

Jim Wise’s gag artoons, brought to life with illustrations by Larry Wiedman and Ola Betiku, share humor from a Jewish perspective, a subject which Jim believes is as intimately linked to the Jewish experience as lox and bagels. What are gag artoons? Think of your basic cartoons only humongous in size, and, as Jim has been told, funny. Artoons are eclectic in theme, intended to be impactful and engaging.

Jim holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. When he was in practice as a licensed clinical psychologist, he used humor as a favorite go to tool, finding laughter a great way to bridge more difficult and emotionally laden topics with his patients.

Jim hopes this exhibit may provides a joyful and meaningful experience for viewers. He observes that in these often stressful, rancorous, and divisive times, an art project like this might, in some small way, allow a brief respite to laugh together in our common humanity. The Gambrills, Maryland octogenarian is laser focused on bringing humor and laughter to public spaces through the arts with his gag artoons.
Bodzin Art Gallery
Pozez JCC of Northern Virginia
8900 Little River Turnpike
Fairfax, VA 22031		   Hours:
Monday-Thursday, 6:30am-9:30pm
Friday, 6:30am-6pm
Saturday, 8am-6pm
Sunday, 8am-9:30pm

All visitors to the J must present a membership badge or photo ID to enter the building.

MEMOIR WRITING GROUP

Writing is Good for the Soul

Creativity is encouraged and fostered at the J. The Memoir Writing Group meets monthly to draft and share their stories. For those who want to share with the community, the writings are posted here.

Stories and opinions of individuals are not necessarily shared by the Pozez Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia.

For more information, contact Shari.Berman@theJ.org.
Read Poems & Stories by Participants

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