Yona Verwer

I am Yona Verwer, a Dutch-born New York based artist and curator.

Yona Verwer creates works that explore identity, terrorism, tikkun olam, kabbala, and the notion of God.

She has a Masters Degree in Fine Arts from the Royal Academy of Arts in the Netherlands, and has shown and curated in numerous galleries and museums in New York and in Europe.

 Current Exhibitions:

* "Blessed are the Artists - Spirituality & Religion in Contemporary Art", Caldwell College, NJ, Oct 11- Nov 17

* "It’s a Thin Line: The Eruv and Jewish Community in New York and Beyond", at the Y.U. Museum, NYC - October 28 - June 30

* Till 2014 GATHERING SPARKS Exhibit, Mizel Museum, Denver

Yona Verwer's art has been featured in solo shows in the Netherlands and New York, in venues such as the Andy Warhol Factory, the Bronx Museum, the Maryland Museum of African-American Art, and the Philadelphia Museum of Jewish Art. Published in the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Daily News, Sh'ma Journal, Zeek, and the Forward.

Artists statement about her eruv art installation:

"My current art installation at the Y.U. Museum explores the impact that the lack of an eruv on the Lower East Side has on families with young children and the infirm. It draws attention to the fact that, for many, not having an eruv significantly detracts from the attractiveness of living in the neighborhood. 

Having spent many a Shabbat on the Lower East Side, I am aware that the physical boundary of the eruv has become a spiritual boundary, as well. It excludes women from fully participating in Jewish life and creates a male-dominated synagogue community.

This installation shows details of Lower East Side synagogue interiors, which cannot regularly be seen by many in the community, because there is no eruv.

The images are a metaphor for waht the women miss out on: a connection to community and spirituality".

CURATION:

"Context" at the Columbia / Banard Kraft Center, NYC

Oct 11 - Nov 29.

"Fragmented Epics" by Joel Silverstein. Kraft Center, NYC.

Dec 12- Jan 26, 2013.

"Into the Void" by Cynthia Beth Rubin. Kraft Center, NYC.

February 16 - march 8, 2013 

Director at Jewish Art Salon

April 2008 - Present

The Jewish Art Salon is an open and an innovative community of artists, and art professionals. We have informal meetings once a month to discuss our work, life, Jewish themes inherent in our art and the multiplicity of impetus and inspiration for our work. We organize high-quality, original exhibitions, panel discussions and other events with leading international artists and scholars. Current exhibits are in New York and Detroit.

Co-organizer "Silent Witnesses" at Holocaust Memorial Center Zekelman Family Campus

September 2011 - April 2012

2012 Artists project and exhibition on how synagogues, as community institutions, stand as witness to the social upheavals of our time. Cultural Heritage Artists Project by Cynthia Beth Rubin. With julian Voloj.

Co-curator "Terror: Artists Respond". at Industry City

December 2010 - September 2011

Curatorial Advisor "The Dura Europos Project" at Philadelphia Museum of Jewish Art

March 2010 - February 2011

Curatorial Advisor "Generation D: Identities" at Flomenhaft Gallery, NYC

October 2010 - December 2010

Curatorial Advisor "Seduced by the Sacred". at Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford, CT

March 2010 - November 2010

Artist at

January 1990 - Present

Artist 01/1 - Present New York In City Charms I work with painted amulets that I designed as protection devices for noted American landmarks. I created these amulets to depict, address and counter the continuing post-9/11 sense of insecurity & vulnerability. I continue this theme in "Temple Talismans"; these apotropaic images aim to protect synagogues against attacks and to bring good luck.

Royal Academy of Art

Masters Fine Art

Contemporary Art, Painting, Murals, New Media Art, Jewish Contemporary Art, Tikkun Olam, Feminist Jewish Art.