RAGE / RESOLUTION, From Family Violence to Healing in the Works of Israeli and American Women will be presented at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion's art gallery at One West 4th Street, Manhattan, from September 17, 1997 through January 30, 1998. Reflecting the growing awareness of this critical issue within the Jewish community, the exhibition's goals are "to promote opportunities for meaningful community education, advocacy, and healing, and to affirm the sanctity of human life," stated Jean Bloch Rosensaft, Exhibitions Director.

RAGE / RESOLUTION, From Family Violence to Healing in the Works of The legacy of family violence is evoked through a myriad of images: birds which cannot take flight, broken toys, peering faces, scorched skin, childhood nursery rhymes, and women's garb. The search for healing is found in images of immersion and ritual.

RAGE / RESOLUTION, From Family Violence to Healing in the Works of "By lifting the curtain of denial that has obscured this issue within our community, we offer solidarity to those in distress and isolation, and suggest access to a core of spirituality that may offer healing and succor," stated Laura Kruger, Chair of the College-Institute's Exhibition Advisory Committee.

RAGE / RESOLUTION, From Family Violence to Healing in the Works of Artist Ayana Friedman, who curated the Israeli works in the exhibition, noted, "We have tried to avoid direct expressions of violence, because we believe that this legitimizes it, perpetuating it as a fact of life. Evident in many of the works is the longing of the figures to leave the difficult situation in which they find themselves."

The exhibition features works by nine distinguished American women artists, including Nancy Spero, Audrey Flack, Hope Sandrow, Mierle Laderman Ukeles, Ida Applebroog, Helene Aylon, Beth B, Carol Hamoy, Robbin Ami Silverberg, and Nan Goldin. These Jewish artists have addressed family violence and healing in their works and are committed to amplifying this issue through art and political action. Their works include paintings, photography, installations, prints and illustrated books.

The exhibition will bring to the United States works by seven prominent Israeli women artists and one American woman artist whose paintings, sculpture, mixed media works and installations explore the subject of Jewish family violence within Israeli society. The artists include Drora Dekel, Naomi Tannhauser, Dorrit Yacoby, Mira Cohen, Anat Massad, Yehudit Matzkel, Ayana Friedman, Arona Reiner and Nancy Baker. Their works were first presented in an exhibition entitled "A Choice of Alternatives" shown at the Kol Ha-Isha artspace in Jerusalem.

Reflecting on art as a "direct spiritual path," artist Hope Sandrow expressed the hope that viewers of this exhibition would become aware of "the possibility of beginning anew, reawakening the desire for unity of spirit and soul to be restored."

Exhibitions Director Jean Bloch Rosensaft stated, "Through the integration of works by Israeli and American artists, the exhibition will serve as a forum for artistic dialogue between Israeli and American women. Such a dialogue is at the heart of the sponsoring organizations' and institutions' commitment to building stronger ties between the State of Israel and international Jewry."

RAGE / RESOLUTION is co-sponsored by the College-Institute and U.S./Israel Women to Women, in cooperation with the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, Jewish Women International, Leadership Conference of National Jewish Women's Organizations, Ma'yan, Nassau Coalition Against Violence, UAHC Greater New York Council of Reform Synagogues, UJA-Federation Task Force on Family Violence, UJA-Federation Task Force on the Jewish Woman, and Women of Reform Judaism. This project represents the coalition of women's leadership groups spanning all streams of Judaism.

Reinforcing the life-affirming mission of the exhibition, an installation of the "clothesline project" featuring t-shirts decorated by survivors of family violence will be included in the exhibition's resource center. Created during the group therapy process, the inscriptions and imagery in these works express the human capacity for survival and healing.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a catalog produced for the Israeli works in the exhibition, as well as by an exhibition brochure documenting the Israeli/American conception of this exhibition and featuring artists statements.

Related educational and cultural programs are planned, with the guidance of a distinguished advisory committee of experts from Jewish organizations and communal agencies:

• Resource Center: Materials for those seeking information and/or help, continuous screenings of "To Save a Life: Domestic Violence in Jewish Families," and display of "clothesline project" by survivors of family violence.

• Lecture, Wednesday, September 24 at 6 pm: Revelations: Violence Against Women in the Art of American and Israeli Women, Ayana Friedman, Curator, Kol Ha-Isha's Antea Gallery, Jerusalem, and Danielle Knafo, Bar Ilan

• Healing Service with Debbie Friedman, Tues., November 4 at 7:30 pm.

• Artists' Panel, Sunday, November 9 at 3 pm: E.M. Broner moderates a discussion with artists Audrey Flack, Helene Aylon, Carol Hamoy, Hope Sandrow, and Robbin Ami Silverberg. Sponsored by UJA-Federation's Task Force on Family Violence.

• Conference and Healing Service: Monday, November 17, 9 am - 4:30 pm: Women's Deliverance from Violence: Art, Healing and Hope: Sponsored by Jewish Women International and the Leadership Conference of National Jewish Women's Organizations, featuring discussions by experts in the fields of law and psychology, arts workshops, and a culminating healing service.

• Study Session: , Monday, December 1, 6:30 pm: Shalom Bayit: Text Study in Jewish Family Values: An exploration of classic rabbinic texts focusing on the importance of peace in the Jewish home, and connecting contemporary issues of domestic abuse and the wisdom of Jewish texts. Taught by Rabbi Leon Morris, Director of HUC-JIR's Kollel (a study community for young adults from all denominations of Judaism, offering experiential learning through traditional study modes)

• Hanukkah Family Workshop, Sunday, December 14 at 11 am: A family art workshop program focusing on family communication for parents and children, developed by specialists in Jewish education and art therapy.

• Avodah Dance Ensemble, Sunday, January 11 at 2 pm: Performance of new works choreographed by Joanne Tucker and inspired by biblical themes evoking family violence and healing.

• Group Tours: Groups are invited to make appointments for docent- and artist- guided tours of the exhibition. Please call 212-824-2205.

Gallery Hours: Mondays - Thursdays, 9 am - 6 pm; Fridays, 9 am - 3 pm; Sundays, November 9, December 7, 14, January 11, noon - 4 pm. Admission Free. For information, call: 212-824-2205.

This exhibition has been made possible, in part, by the generous support of the Mildred and George Weissman Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Communal Fund, Dorothy Rodgers Endowment Fund of UJA-Federation, S.H. and Helen R. Scheuer Foundation, Abraham & Lillian Rosenberg Foundation, Martin Weinstein and Teresa Liszka, Virginia Snitow, and the HUC-JIR Exhibitions Advisory Committee.