Chicago, Illinois-- Woman Made Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of two new group exhibitions, "Tradition and Transformation: Art by Jewish Women" and "A Minyan without Men." Beth Shadur is exhibiting new work in her solo show, "Poetic Vision" and the Artisan Gallery continues to show fine craft works in "All Manner of Glass," a group exhibition curated by Mary Stoppert and Carmen M. Perez.

Please join us at the artist reception on Sunday, May 25 from 4 to 7 p.m. at 685 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago. Works will be on display until June 19, 2008.

Regular Gallery hours are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 12 to 7.p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 4.p.m.

This exhibition was juried by Beth Shadur who is simultaneously exhibiting works in her solo show, "Poetic Vision." Beth Shadur has exhibited widely in solo and group exhibitions in the United States and abroad. She has created over 125 large public murals in both the United States and Great Britain. She is an Artist-in-Education for the Illinois Arts Council in Chicago, IL and has taught and served as a visiting artist at many colleges and universities.

Artists include: Marina Aizen, Shirah Rachel Apple, Louise Bloom, Roberta Buckles, Alex Ze'evi Christian, Asherah Cinnamon, Dena Eber, Karen Frostig, Iris Goldstein, Fay Grajower, Tamar Hirschl, Pearl Hirshfield, Judith Kruger, Viviana Lombrozo, Juliana Morris, Cheryl Pagurek, Judith Peck, Nancy Plotkin, Tara Polansky, Nathania Rubin, Charlotte Segal, Doni Silver Simons, Julianne Sombat, Heather Stoltz, and Barbara Stewart Thomas

Opening reception: Sunday, May 25 from 6 until 9 p.m. Works are up through June 19, 2008.

Images: (top right) "Utopian Armor" - medium format fiber-based print, 16 x 16 inches by Alex Ze'evi Christian

(left) "Teshuvah: Turn and Mend" - photo narrative, 24 x 36 inches by Asherah Cinnamon

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"Each artist in this exhibit comes with her own feelings and experiences about Judaism and being a Jewish woman," Foreman says. "For some, these experiences and feelings are reflected in their art. Others choose a secular view for their work. It seemed to me that this exhibit reflects modern day Jews; some are observant, others are not, they live in countries all over the world, participate in many different cultures, have diverse interests, but still identify themselves as Jews."

Exhibiting artists include Clara Foreman, Julie Foreman, Andrea Ginsburg, Dorothy Grunes, Leslie Hirshfield, Nicole Hollander, Ellen Holtzblatt, Ruth Aizuss Midgal, Judith Roth and Darrelyn Zbaraz

A special opening reception is set for Sunday, June 1 from 2 until 5 p.m. Participating artist and famous creator of comic strip "Sylvia" Nicole Hollander will read excerpts from her most recent book, "Tales of Graceful Aging from the Planet Denial" starting at 3 p.m. All events at WMG are free and open to the public.

Image: "Not all Walls are Glass" - oil on canvas, 30 x 36 inches by Leslie Hirshfield

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"The curating of these exhibitions further encouraged my own interest in pursuing a larger series of pieces created in response to poetry. These new works deal with issues of fragility and vulnerability, utilizing visual metaphor, combining symbolic images and words to convey meaning.

"My works are narrative in nature, telling stories, and creating memories and connections through symbols and sometimes jarring combinations of images. The work combines plant forms, the symbolic interpretation of landscape, architectural references, objects both real and imaginary, and cultural symbols traditionally associated with women through history, with text and language, to weave a narrative that is oblique, often personal, and sometimes political or issue-oriented."

Opening reception: Sunday, May 25 from 4 until 7 p.m. Works are up through June 19, 2008.

Image: "Devotion" - mixed media, 44 x 30 inches by Beth Shadur

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Participating artists include Dora Natella, Nancy Otto, Donna Powers, Marilyn Root and Michelle Rial. Heat and glass are the elements that bring these artists together since each has a unique style and amazing technical ability.

Image: "Six Olive Mat" - fused glass by Nancy Otto

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About Woman Made Gallery

Woman Made Gallery is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit organization founded in 1992. Its goal is to support women in the arts by providing opportunities, awareness, and advocacy. It specifically accomplishes this through monthly thematic exhibitions which raise public awareness and recognition of women's cultural contributions.

Woman Made Gallery is supported in part by grants from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; a CityArts Program II grant from the City of Chicago, Department of Cultural Affairs; the Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development, a donor advised fund of the Chicago Community Foundation; the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; the Hugh M. Hefner Foundation; the Efroymson Fund, a CICF Fund; a major anonymous donor; and the generosity of its members and contributors.