Special Artists Stun the Crowd

This past Sunday, the Friendship Circle of Brooklyn hosted their sixth annual “Art of Friendship” Gallery, featuring a stunning collection of artwork created by members of the organization.

After many months of working on these creations, hundreds of people from the community and beyond came to view the beautiful gallery. The exhibition displayed three collections covering the theme of “The Art of Giving”: String Art Collection, Panes of Paint Collection, and Magical Mosaics Collection. Friendship Circle also unveiled their unique, limited edition Mitzvah Note Set, featuring some of the artwork created by their members.

Guests were treated to custom Friendship Circle swag as they entered, and delighted in an afternoon of mingling while enjoying the delicious spread of food, fine wines and entertainment. The children were enthralled and got busy with face painting, arts and crafts, and balloon art.

Rabbi Berel Majesky, director of Friendship Circle, addressed the crowd, paying tribute to the memory of Pavel H. Lempert, the late husband of Dianne Lempert of Bear Givers. He spoke about how Hashem has gifted every human being with an inherent uniqueness and purpose. Every person has the ability and tools needed to fill their potential and to give to the world. Rabbi Majesky explained how the Art of Friendship is so much more than just a gallery. It represents a community in which people of all abilities belong, where every one of our children know that they are valued and are an intrinsic part of the Jewish nation. Dovid Gottlieb, a proud Friendship Circle member, stood up to thank Bear Givers and the directors, staff, and volunteers at Friendship Circle of Brooklyn and expressed how much this community means to him.

Heartfelt thanks go to the visionaries behind this unique EmpowerArt program: Joe Sprung and Dianne Lempert of the Bear Givers Foundation, true believers in putting children with special needs in the driver’s seat of giving. Thank you to all those who came to show their support for the Friendship Circle and its members – the talented artists. Each of the art pieces were created under the guidance of local artists, whose genuine care and love brought out the talents in these special children: R’ Michoel Muchnik, Rosie Benabou, and Chana Laber. Special thanks to Rochel Karp and Lulu Feldman for putting their heart and soul into organizing this beautiful event.

The event may have passed but the echoes of the beauty of that afternoon continue to reverberate as friends and supporters visit FC Brooklyn’s website, viewing and purchasing the few remaining pieces that made up the Art of Giving collection. Would you consider becoming a buyer too? See the artwork and Mitzvah Note sets for sale online: Artwork can be viewed on Facebook, the Mitzvah Note Collection can be purchased at fcbrooklyn.com/shop or email [email protected].

Photos by B.A. van Sise