Each spring, the Mizel Gallery fills with something special: artwork created right here in the JCC’s studios by local artists who gather weekly to explore their craft together. The Interactive Artists Group Annual Art Show is both a celebration of their work and an invitation for the wider community to experience the creativity happening inside the JCC.

Featuring artists from the JCC’s Interactive Artists Group (IAG), an advanced skills class led by instructor Boris Shoshensky, the exhibition spotlights a range of styles and mediums that reflect each artist’s unique voice. Boris encourages artists to see their work as part of a larger artistic conversation. “My method of teaching is based on sharing principles of visual literacy and drawing from art history movements of the past and present,” he shares. “I enjoy working with very talented artists.”

Seeing the pieces together reveals both individual creativity and the shared environment that helps those ideas grow.

Artist Essie Perlmutter’s work, Interpretations II, blends painterly expression with textural experimentation, giving the piece a tactile presence that invites the viewer to look closer. She describes IAG as a lively space that has become a home away from home. “We make art in an inspirational, vibrant environment,” she says. “It’s an amazing opportunity to work with like-minded, passionate individuals. Their talents and wise critiques help me grow and thrive as an artist.”

That spirit of collaboration shapes the work visitors will see in the exhibition.

“We’re all so different and yet have so much in common,” says artist Nina Molk. “Each person’s art is so personal and unlike anyone else’s in the room. Because of our similarities—and especially our differences—we learn and grow from interacting with one another.”

For artist Michelle Stern, the class has been a powerful source of inspiration. “I’ve grown so much in my art since joining the group,” she says. “People in the class are so talented that just watching what they do and how they approach their art is inspiring.” Her fellow artist, Mindy Wolpa, agrees, “I grew up at the JCC. Being able to express and work with my passion here has been such a joy and inspiration for me!”

Kathy Berenstein’s painting is a striking work that blends portraiture with decorative pattern in a way that feels both modern and folkloric. For her, the class also provides something deeply meaningful: community. “In these challenging times, having the support of a vibrant, engaged community is invaluable, allowing both artistic expression and personal connection to flourish.”

Beyond the artwork itself, the show offers a chance to experience the creative community that has formed within the JCC’s Fine Arts program.

As artist Penny Nisson notes, “IAG’s annual art show brings people from many different communities to the JCC and that alone is a win-win for all.”