Jewish museum offers art
By Paul Haist
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Jody Klevit wants everyone to save the date May 6 for the Oregon Jewish Museum's annual fine-art auction, silent auction and banquet set this year for the elegant and historic Governor Hotel downtown.
Now in its sixth year, this year's OJM gala celebrates the museum's 18th year. In recognition of that Jewish milestone, gala planners are calling this year's event "It's Chai Time for Art."
Klevit is one of 18 members of the OJM's gala committee-without-a-chair who have been at work on the upcoming event practically since the final gavel came down at last year's auction, which netted $163,000 for the museum.
In keeping with this year's Chai theme, the committee decided to limit the oral art auction to 18 items. Most of what will go on the block, about 12 items, said Klevit, is fine art. There also will be a small number of other premium offerings including fine Jewelry from Tiffany and Zell, a week at a beach house on the Oregon Coast, and a $1,000 shopping spree on 23rd Avenue, the last courtesy of Richard Singer.
Artwork in the live auction will include work by Arne Westerman, Carolyn cole, Shirley Gittelsohn, and Henk Pander, among others.
Westerman has contributed a stunning new canvas of a woman in red seated on her bed. The 18 x 24-inch painting is called "Tiffany III." Julia Heinzmann of Framed Art Studios in Portland provided the framing for this painting.
Klevit, who visited the Jewish Review wearing a smart faux shearling jacket she bought at last year's silent auction, said this year's silent auction would have much to offer.
Besides many fine wines, like the virtual cellar up for bid last year, there will be some stand-out offerings on the tables this year.
Beverely and Bill Galen, for example, have donated an afternoon art tour of their Portland penthouse for a party of up to 15 persons.
Portland distiller Steve McCarthy of Clear Creek Distillery has donated a group tasting and tour of his facility, famous for its fruit brandies and other Northwest pure fruit spirits.
One lucky bidder will take home a photographic portrait of Marc Chagall created by the late Arnold Newman.
Klevit said the silent auction offerings are far too numerous to list. She credited her committee for bringing it all together. She singled out Peryl Gottesman for bringing in more items than anyone else.
"There's nothing she won't do or ask," said Klevit, who added that Gottesman's energy seemed boundless.
The event will get under way at 5 p.m. when guests can begin to view and bid on silent-auction itmes on the third floor of the Governor.
The dinner is set for 6:45 p.m. in the old hotel's lovely fourth-floor banquet hall, where the oral auction will begin after dessert and coffee. Auctioneer Chris Sheik, who wielded the gavel at last year's auction, will make an encore appearance this year.
Besides the auction, the dinner and the shmooze time, there will be the usual raffle. This year the raffle is for a round trip for two to San Francisco, including two nights at a five-star hotel courtesy of Azumano Travel, a gift certificate to the trendy Annabelle's Bar and Bistro, and admission to the renowned de Young Museum, one of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
Raffle tickets are $25 each or five for $100.
The OJM relies on its annual gala for its operating budget. Klevit said the organization takes pride in its low overhead that enables it to maximize its profit.
That low overhead derives in large part form an army of volunteers at the museum. For example, volunteers have worked 750 hours on museum projects, not including the gala, since the start of the current fiscal year last July 1. Estimates are that gala volunteers have put in upwards of 200 hours so far this year.
Also, several sponsors help to underwrite the annual fund-raising extravaganza, thus enabling more proceeds to go directly to museum programs. This year, 51 sponsors donated $42,540.
In-kind supporters also have been helpful, according to Klevit. She singled out Carolyn Shane Snyder who provides administrative and data-processing services for the auction and whom Klevit said has "worked for us over and above her contract."
Klevit, who has served as this year's OJM gala spokeswoman, is the co-author, with Ginny Allen, of "Oregon Painters: The First Hundred Years (1859-1959)." She is at work on a second volume and has volunteered as a docent at the Portland Art Museum since 1967.
Tickets to the gala are $75 or $118 for patron tickets.
Call 503-226-3600 to make reservations, or send a check to the Oregon Jewish Museum, 310 N.W. Davis St., Portland, OR 97209.