JENNIFER LEVINE
Jennifer Levine has focused her creative practice on community engagement and is most known for her mural arts programs for children. In her artwork Jennifer fuses modernist styles of painting with her background as a puppeteer, and as a graduate of the San Francisco School of Circus Arts.
Her colorful and expressive compositions teem with people, shapes and forms ready to burst off the canvas or wall. Incorporating words and phrases, as well as motifs as metaphor are an integral part of her visual language. The circus is a recurring theme to signify vitality, love and laughter. She paints community in all its forms — in the shops and restaurants, schools and churches, and the individuals who gather in these places. Often representing intergenerational families of all ethnicities, her figures telegraph relationship with gestures such as hugs, eye contact, hand-holding, and dancing.
What People Are Saying
“I just want to tell you how amazing everything was from A-Z.
The kids loved working with you from all ages, the teachers, adults, and the funder of the project are all so enthusiastic about your work - and the finished product is nothing short of stunning. We are so grateful for you!
With appreciation for all that you have done for us”
Rabbi Josh Franklin, The Jewish Community of the Hamptons
“The mural is simply SPECTACULAR!! I couldn’t wait to see it of course and it far exceeded all my expectations! Kol HaKavod to you and all the painters.
I love it - how can one not?! - and it’s already given so much pleasure to those who view it up close”
Rabbi Robert S. Leib, Old York Temple/Beth Am, Abington, PA
“Working with Jenn to imagine, design, and create a mural for our new teen lounge was fantastic from beginning to end! She engaged learners of all ages - from tweens to teens and adults - in a values-exploration process that helped us discover our community’s most deeply-held values, and then Jenn expertly guided us to translate this vision from paper to paint! Jenn’s artistic talents were a perfect match for the space, and she is truly gifted at encouraging and enabling all participants to join together in creating a masterpiece!"
Cantor Eric Schulmiller, Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North Shore
“Jennifer knows how to represent prayer artistically in a way that gives the individual and community a feeling of connection and meaning. The process became just as important as the product and a source of pride for students and families. Painting directly on a wall made a bigger impact than we thought for all participants. Our presentation of the mural was to the community at our Friday night service was joyous and a highlight of the year and we can’t wait for more people to come and see it.”
Leemor Ellman, Director of Education, Beit Hatikvah
“This was a great project for our community - It was wonderful to see how you balanced the students' own personal expression with the vision for the piece as a whole. When the students saw the completed project, they could each identify the piece they had worked on and what they contributed!
The free, folk-art style of the piece is really lovely and helps to create a welcoming atmosphere for both the students and the adults in the community.”
Rabbi Kelilah Miller, Congregation Ohev Shalom
“Jennifer was so amazing to work with! She helped create a wonderfully collaborative environment in which more than 100 students were afforded the opportunity to express their own unique interpretation of Ma’ariv Aravim and Yotzer Or. Both text study and painting sessions were beautifully run, and the concept of students helping to “renew Creation” through their own unique creative process helped build confidence and bolster self-esteem for all participants.
This program solidified for our students the idea that there is most certainly more than one way to experience prayer…”
Barbara Haber, Director of Education, Temple Avodat Shalom, River Edge NJ
“The mural looks incredible! The kids seemed to enjoy the mural and truly, I think that the proof was in far more engaged camper body in our larger art/communal projects throughout the summer. This mural project showed our campers how committed we are to Kehilla so thank you so much for being a large part of that movement”
Shira Director-Nowack, Camp Director, Camp Havaya
“Our community experienced a great enlivening energy through the creative exploration of prayer led by the wonderful Jennifer Levine. Regardless of individuals past experiences with visual art everyone felt a sense of deepening into our sacred texts through the lens of spontaneous creativity and we are grateful to have been able to explore this at such a pivotal time transitioning from Elul into Tishrei”
Cantor Meredith Greenberg, Temple Ner Tamid, Bloomfield, NJ