It's a Life Explores Death: Artists and Playwrights Share their Deepest Emotions

Death is mysterious and unexplainable. Yet, throughout time, artists have strived to unravel and explain it in ways that bring comfort to the living. Five artists will share their explorations of life and death through different mediums in It's a Life, a new Gallery exhibit, opening March 9 at 6:30 p.m., at The Braid, Jewish Women's Theatre's (JWT) Performance & Art Space in Santa Monica.

The new show features photographer Nancy Kaye, textile artist Smadar Knobler, mixed media artist Marleene Rubenstein, painter Doni Silver Simons and photographer Sarah Reynolds. This new art exhibit will complement the JWT performance on the same theme that opens that night.

The It's a Life art exhibit opened on March 9 with a reception and art talk, prior to the opening night of JWT's new salon show of the same name.

Additional arts talks featuring exhibitors will be held at the Braid at 6:30 on Monday, March 18 and Tuesday, March 19 preceding performances of It's a Life.

"Artists and playwrights share a need to express their deepest emotions through their individual craft," explains gallery director Marilee Tolwin. "The artists in our new show use a variety of visual elements to evoke intense emotional feelings. They portray life's uncertainty, but help viewers arrive at a place they often have difficulty reaching on their own."

The new salon show, co-directed by Susan Morgenstern and Shelly Goldstein, will present stories about the many facets of death and how memories, fears, and new understandings can transform grief into thoughts and actions that are positive and healing. It's a Life opens March 9 at 8 p.m. at The Braid in Santa Monica and travels throughout the state until March 28, in homes, artful venues, synagogues, and JCCs.

"We all instinctively understand that life has an infinite number of shadings and emotions. I think audiences will be surprised at how many different shadings can be found in the subject of our final destination, beyond this world," said Goldstein. "Audiences at this show will find surprise, they'll laugh and they might shed a tear or two. This show is about humanity, spirituality and love, which we learn, never dies."

There is no charge for the gallery show or art talk, but tickets are required for the performance. They are $45; $50 at the door and may be purchased at http://www.jewishwomenstheatre.org.

The Braid is located at 2912 Colorado Avenue #102, Santa Monica 90404.