September 4 – December 20, 2024
Artist Reception: Sunday September 29 • 3–5 pm • Free and open to all
Location: American Jewish Museum, https://jccpgh.org/jewish-life-arts-events/american-jewish-museum/ (JCC – Squirrel Hill)
‘The Art of Friendship features a collection of 21 paintings by Pittsburgh-based artists Judy Robinson and Kara Snyder. While each artist’s work is unique and distinct in style, the exhibition explores ways their paintings harmonize, drawing upon the synergies between their artistic expressions.
Their enduring friendship and commitment to collaboration and their exchange of ideas capture the essence of the havruta tradition—a traditional Jewish method of collaborative learning rooted in the Aramaic word for “friend.” This tradition emphasizes growth and exploration through the process of engaging, debating, and wrestling over ideas together, much like Robinson and Snyder’s creative journey.
The interpretation of the proverb reflects this dynamic: “Just as in the case of iron, when one implement sharpens another, so too do two scholars sharpen each other.” (Proverbs 27:17)
Relating the notion of study through havruta to creative practice, the paintings in the exhibition by Robinson and Snyder are thoughtfully paired, highlighting the parallels in their compositions through line, hue, and intensity, while each piece remains wholly distinct to the individual artist’s sensibilities and creative processes.
Robinson’s Michelle’s Tea Set and Snyder’s Guides: A Charles Bonnet Hallucination stand out as a compelling example of their complementary artistic havruta. Both paintings feature rich, expressionistic, and almost surreal color palettes, with both artists gravitating toward a semi-abstract style that retains figurative elements.
While Michelle’s Tea Set reflects Robinson’s interest in still lifes and capturing the essence of everyday objects, Snyder’s Guides: A Charles Bonnet Hallucination visually represents a hallucination she experienced due to her visual impairment—a condition known as Charles Bonnet syndrome, which is common among visually impaired people. Snyder’s work is an exploration of understanding and processing her unique perception of these hallucinations. Adding another layer to their dialogue, Robinson, who is also an accomplished poet, wrote a poem about Snyder that accompanies Guides: A Charles Bonnet Hallucination, delving poetically into the hallucinations that Snyder experiences.
The exhibition’s only figurative portraits, Robinson’s Maya and Snyder’s Painting with Patrick ‘Model Study’, nod to their shared mentor, Patrick Daugherty, a former art teacher at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. Daugherty played a crucial role in shaping their artistic skills and, more importantly, their belief in themselves as artists. His guidance left a clear mark on their compositions, evident in the parallels between their works. Following his retirement, Robinson and Snyder revealed they floundered until they created their own shared painting routines, illustrating not only the profound impact of Daugherty’s mentorship but also their determination to support and inspire each other. This speaks to the enduring legacy of a great mentor and the powerful connections forged through art.
Perhaps the painting Everyday most deeply captures the essence of Robinson and Snyder’s friendship. A still life by Robinson, the painting features elements—such as billowing clouds, green pears, and wine glasses—that come in pairs and are physically connected, symbolizing their bond. The abstract art piece in the background is a representation of Snyder’s work, seamlessly blending their artistic sensibilities within a single composition.
The title, Everyday, further emphasizes the daily, enduring nature of their connection. Deepening my relationship with both artists and highlighting their collaborations and creative commitments has been a true joy and a reminder of the strength of relationships that come from creative connections. An enriching part of organizing this exhibition was sharing the havruta experience with Jen Panza, an independent curator—and friend—who has been instrumental in helping to bring this exhibition to life.’ —Melissa Hiller, American Jewish Museum Director