56 | SEPTEMBER 8 • 2022 ARTS&LIFE ART T hree mornings a week, at Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park, some 15 painting students take studio classes taught by artist Harriet Gelfond. The class, previously taught at the Jewish Community Centers in Detroit and Oak Park, moved to the synagogue when the Oak Park center closed in 2015. Students’ recent work is being shown through Sept. 15 during a popup exhibit at the Janice Charach Gallery in the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield. The display, Enduring Through Art, features samples of projects developed by each student attending the Farber Art Class. The works range from realistic to abstracted images. Students who have participated over the years have shown their work in earlier exhibits at the Charach Gallery. “I’ve been teaching this class since 1968, and I just want the community to see how an art class can produce this won- derful, imaginative work, ” said Gelfond, whose own art train- ing came from Cass Technical High School and Oakland Community College. “My brother-in-law, Charles Gelfond, who is an artist, taught the class for a year, and he is in that class still. If stu- dents see that it’s a safe place, a friendly place where they can get help if they want to and some kind of encouragement, I think that’s what keeps them coming. “It’s a wonderful thing to see the progress of each student and their ability to keep mov- ing and learning. One thing I appreciate is that it’s not that easy for someone who wants to paint to get up the courage to do it, so I give them credit for wanting to openly do their work. ” James Britt, who generally paints portraits, has been with the class almost since the very beginning. His work has been shown at a gallery in Saugatuck and at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center. “I go to this class two or three days a week, ” said Britt, a retired restauranteur who lives in Redford Township and miss- es classes during the part of the year that he spends in Florida. “I had an aunt who put a paint- brush in my hand and gave me some paints when I was 12. That started it, and it developed over the years. ” Britt offered six recent paint- ings for the exhibit and believes painting brings magic into his days. “Using paint to bring things to life on canvas is a magical experience, ” said Britt, who has taken some art instruction at the College for Creative Studies and Muskegon Community College. “Sometimes, it’s breath- taking, and I spend a couple of Farber Art Class students exhibit at the Janice Charach Gallery. Enduring Through Art SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER CLOCKWISE: Students have been coming to the Farber Art Class. Artwork by Anne Olender. Artwork by Beth Dzodin-Fuchs. Details Enduring Through Art can be seen through Sept. 15 at the Janice Charach Gallery in the West Bloomfield Jewish Community Center. Hours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays and by appointment. (248) 432- 5579. gallery@jccdet.org.