About ArtSites

ArtSites, the Guild for Judaic art, grew out of a Jewish artists' cooperative founded by Shirly Waxman of Potomac, Maryland in 1984. It is located in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. ArtSites original purpose, to promote Jewish artistic creativity and increase community awareness of the diversity and richness of Jewish art, remains the same, but another major focus of the guild has become to educate its members and the community in various aspects of Jewish art and art management.

ArtSites members create variety of original hand-crafted items in the fields of basketry, book-making, calligraphy, doll-making and soft sculpture, fiber, glass - stained and fused, graphics, jewelry, painting, photography, pottery, prints, quilting, sculpture, and wearable art. Many of the artists specialize in Jewish ceremonial art and ritual objects, offering a variety of styles of ketubot (marriage contracts), tallitot (prayer shawls), chuppot (wedding canopies), Torah covers, challah and matzo covers, kiddush cups, candlesticks, mezzuzzot, hanukkiot (menorahs), seder plates and special occasion memory books.

Collaboration is a distinctive feature of ArtSites. Member artists pool their talents and resources not only to work jointly on projects, but also to create exciting exhibits and shows. Integrated displays show off each artist's work to the fullest advantage and often provide new suggestions for use.

ArtSites has been featured in B'nai Brith International's Jewish Monthly, Kosher Gourmet magazine, The Washington Post, Washington Jewish Week, the Baltimore Jewish Times and Gazette newspapers. Group shows in the Metropolitan area have included the B'nai Brith Klutznick Museum, the Jewish Community Centers of Baltimore, Rockville, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia, and several synagogues. Members have participated in shows throughout the United States and abroad. Many are nationally known artists in their own right.