Visual Art
Creativity in Every Frame
Visual arts at the Minnesota JCC invite you to explore Jewish culture, creativity, and identity through powerful exhibitions and hands-on experiences. With two vibrant galleries showcasing work by local and global artists, and weekly Open Art Studio sessions for creators of all levels, our program fosters inspiration, connection, and artistic growth. Step into our spaces and let your imagination take shape.
Current Gallery Exhibit
Socktober: An Installation of Kindness
This October, the Twin Cities Jewish Film Festival is stepping beyond the screen and into the galleries with Socktober, a community-wide celebration of kindness, connection, and giving back. Part of a larger Socktober initiative dedicated to collecting and distributing new socks to people in need, our gallery installation brings this simple act of generosity into the heart of the festival. We invite you to donate a new pair of socks and become part of a growing installation that will transform the gallery into a colorful, evolving expression of community care.
As the collection grows, so will the impact. Each pair of socks represents a gesture of care and a reminder that we can all do something to support one another. At the end of the festival, all donated socks will be distributed to community members in need, helping keep our neighbors warm this winter.
Put Your Best Foot Forward: Every story has a journey. Every journey starts with a step.
Donations will be accepted at Capp Center and Sabes Center leading up to and throughout the festival.
October 1 – 31, 2026
More Than the Eye Can See
Two Artists, a Father and Daughter, in Conversation Across Time
This exhibit explores the unexpected, nonlinear conversation between Ellen Schillace and her father, who died when she was seventeen. Much of his life and work remained hidden or scattered across archives and private homes, and it would take decades for her to uncover the connections between their artistic practices.
Through her black-and-white imagery, Ellen developed her own artistic voice, exploring uncertainty, contradiction, and the complexities of the human experience. Years later, discovering her father’s artist statement—his belief that art should “paint more than the eye can see”—revealed a profound connection between their work. Only in retrospect did she recognize that their conversation had begun long before she knew it was happening.
November 5 – December 30
RECEPTION
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12 • 4 – 7 PM
CAPP CENTER ST. PAUL
Past Gallery Exhibits
Please click the button below to explore an archive of past gallery exhibits at the Minnesota JCC.
Open Art Studio
Learn painting & Drawing in this supportive, fun class for those with no prior art experience and those looking to refine their techniques. Participants may bring their own subject matter or use a provided still life. Instructor Lou Kotlarz will provide guidance and advice upon request. Please bring your own supplies. Reservations not required.
