Nancy Davidson, Curator of the Maine Jewish Museum with Joey Avantaggio, operations manager of the Dayton Group, Manager of 75 Washington Avenue Today.  They Are Practicing Social Distancing and Wearing Face Coverings, in Front of a Painting in the “What We Look At” Exhibit.

A Colorful Display of Flowers Greets the Visitor from Repurposed Items such as Dishes.   Inquire Within for Prices That Vary According to Size.

“Gathering” by Clara Cohan is the Featured Sculpture in the Show.

A Popular Painting by Alex Sax is the Bodice of a Tutu Worn by a Ballerina and Part of the “What We Look At” Exhibit.  It is Part of a Joint Exhibit With Her Artist Mother Joan Sutherland.

Today was opening day at the temporary gallery for the Maine Jewish Museum at the former J. J. Nissen Building, 67 Washington Avenue, on Munjoy Hill in Portland.  “This is the opening day for the pop-up space that we will be using for the next six months during the restoration of the Maine Jewish Museum,” said Nancy Davidson, curator in residence, for the eleven year old Museum.  “Every month we will have two different exhibitions.”

The temporary venue was necessitated because of a fire in late May at the Museum at 267 Congress Street.  There was extensive water damage throughout most of the building that occurred because of water damage from the Museum sprinkler system and water poured on the fire by the Portland Fire Department. The exceptions to the severe damage were two bathrooms and a kitchen.  Consequently, the building is uninhabitable for the next six months according to Steven Brinn, president of the Board of Directors for the Museum.  Restoration of the building is expected to begin within the next couple of weeks.

There are two exhibitions and one sculpture in the opening show in the former office space at 67 Washington Avenue which was to have been the exhibit for Mother’s Day at the Congress Street location.

One of the exhibits is  multi-media with works of art by an accomplished mother – daughter team:  Joan Sutherland and her daughter Alex Sax. (See below right photo). The second exhibit by Meghan Nathanson is composed of figurative pieces that are collages made from cast off calendars.

Artist Clara Cohan says of her sculpture: “…these figures are representative of diverse cultures, ethnic groups, animal-spirits, young and old…all coming together.”   The sculpture was begun before the pandemic started and before the killing of George Floyd.

Greeting visitors to the Museum is a display of flowers repurposed by artist Karen Silverman.  She is also the daughter of curator, Nancy Davidson, who grew up on the Eastern Promenade on Munjoy Hill.  (See above right photo of flower display).

The exhibit is expected to be up until mid-August 2020, although the final day is yet to be determined.

Hours:  Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday – 11:00 am p 5:00 pm; Saturday, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm.  Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.  Private appointments are available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Please call Nancy at 207 – 239-4774 for details.  Admission is free.

Please see two posts herein on the fire dated May 21, 2020 and June 13, 2020.