Waltuch Gallery
The Waltuch Art Gallery infuses Jewish art and/or works by Jewish artists into our shared cultural experiences. The exhibits are designed to ignite imagination and encourage people to connect the visual arts with philosophical and spiritual concepts through a creative Jewish lens.
The Waltuch Gallery exhibits rotate monthly, and feature the work of painters, photographers, digital artists and other creative designers.
Exhibits are free and open to the community, and all work is typically for sale. A portion of the proceeds support programming efforts at the JCC. The JCC also hosts an artist talkback dessert reception for each show.
Outdoor gallery exhibits are displayed throughout the Kaplen JCC Campus and indoor gallery exhibits are on the second floor of the main JCC building.
Exhibited Work
Repainting Israel: Chomi’s Perspective
Paintings by Chomi Groman
Chomi created the pieces showcased in this exhibition over the past three years, in her studio located on her rooftop in Mazkeret Batya. Her artistic journey and the evolution of her work reflect a deep connection to her roots while embracing new perspectives.
Born and raised within a closed ultra-orthodox community in Jerusalem, Chomi found her artistic calling as a young girl in school. Then and now, art is where she finds a home and a language to express herself. At a young age, she married Yoel and ever since then they have been paving their own way gradually distancing themselves from the way of life they had been raised. They left Israel for three years in the United States to start constructing their life anew, repainting it as they wish.
After studying art in Tel Aviv, Chomi felt like an immigrant in her own country. Slowly, she discovered how holidays are celebrated in Israel outside of Me Shearim and how children are raised there. The new view of her homeland is evident in her paintings. She captures moments which may seem simple at first glance, but attention to details allows beauty to shine through. Her paintings are characterized by vibrant colors which reflect the artist’s zest for life. The integration of the colored glass motif suggests a fresh way through which reality can be perceived.
Chomi is filled with nostalgia for the traditional Jewish customs; for the narrow alleys of the Mea Shearim neighborhood; for moments like Melave Malka, the meal after which all the bright Shabbat tablecloths are folded, a sign that the Shabbat has come to an end; for the family warmth reflected through bedsheets with an orange diamond pattern hanging on drying racks outside just as she remembers them from her grandmother’s house. Amidst all of this, her paintings build a fascinating bridge between two worlds – Jewish and Israeli, old and new, built and natural.
She deals with the traditional through modern realism, she uses the rules of composition and demonstrates very high technical skill, and then she destroys the order she created. Her brushstrokes are simultaneously precise and free, her strength is the special blend of restraint and curiosity.
This exhibition represents a significant milestone in Chomi’s pursuit of her dreams—showcasing her work throughout the world.
SHOWING NOW UNTIL MID-OCTOBER