golden hands
my journey to becoming an artist
From the time I was two years old, I have been making art. My family said I had “golden hands” and could draw and make things with my hands.
In Junior High School I had a teacher who encouraged me to do more with my art. I took many extracurricular classes in Detroit where I grew up. I took classes at the Arts and Crafts Society of Detroit which is near the Art Museum and Art Institute.
In high school I took after school classes at Cranbrook which is a very fine graduate program in private high school graduate program for the Arts.
I received my bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Michigan focusing on printmaking and lithography.
a move to the west coast
Opening a lithography studio in portland
My journey to becoming an artist took a turn after relocating to Portland. I, along with my husband Fred opened Harwin Studios in 1970.
I began working with fabric, sometimes combined with technology.
Over the years I have been featured in nearly two dozen major shows and customers around the world have commissioned my work.
Watch my interview on my artistic history by clicking the link to YouTube!
my journey to sacred art
the foundations of how threads of connection began
I went into creating sacred works when I my path in Fine Art Incorporated some imagery that was from my Heritage from my Jewish background.
I found that my own background within Judaism was not developed enough to be confident about the letters or the imagery that I was using so I began to study more deeply to make certain that the images I was creating would be based on the tradition and that the lettering would be correct and the words would be spelled correctly in Hebrew.
This meant I had to study but in addition to that, because we were raising our children with Jewish traditions and customs, I knew that when we our first child was a girl she would have a bat mitzvah.
I needed to create new imagery for her because the custom was so new. So I created a hat that I knew would be used in synagogue. I also created a Torah cover for my parents 50th wedding anniversary as a way to honor them.
That was really the first ceremonial piece that would be in a public setting. I thought that was really fun and led me to do more!
major exhibitions
Here are some highlights from Sara Harwin’s major exhibitions
| 2019 |
“Illuminated Letters”, Portland Winter Lights Festival window installation, OJMCHE, Portland, OR |
| 2018 |
Peace and Justice: Three Lettering Traditions, joint show w/ Inga Dubay, Kanaan Kanaan, |
| 2014 |
“Illuminated Letters: Threads of Connection”, Installation, Oregon Jewish Museum , Portland, OR |
| 2006 |
“Threads of Connection”, joint show with Fred Harwin, Bonnie Kahn’s Gallery |
| 2001 |
Works of Faith, National juried show, First Presbyterian Church, Portland, OR |
| 1995 | Liturgical Guild of Ohio, Biennial Exhibition, Capital University, OH |
| 1993 |
“Contemporary Jewish Art by Jewish Artists”, Oregon Jewish Museum, Portland, OR |
| 1991 |
Liturgical Guild of Ohio, Biennial Exhibition, Capital University, OH |
| 1990 | Two person show (with Fred Harwin), Artquake, Portland, OR |
| 1991 | Liturgical Guild of Ohio, Biennial Exhibition, Capital University, OH |
| 1989 | M Coe Gallery, Portland, OR |
| 1988 | Sun River Art Invitational, Sun River, OR |
| 1987 | Sun River Art Invitational, Sun River, OR Liturgical Guild of Ohio, Biennial Exhibition, Capital University, OH |
| 1986 |
Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art, Architecture, National Competition/Awards Exhibit, Magnes Museum, Berkeley, CA |
| 1985 | One-woman show, Elizabeth S Fine Museum, Temple Beth Israel, San Francisco, CA |
| 1983 | National Council/Art in Jewish Life, Juried show, American Jewish Congress, New York, NY |
| 1982 | Invitational Group Show, Boston College, Boston, MA |
| 1976 | “Rainbow Dancers”, One woman show, Gallery West, Portland, OR |
| 1975 | Four woman show, Judah L Magnes Museum, Berkeley, CA |
| 1974 |
“Oregon Artists Under 35”, Invitational Show, Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR |
Conference Exhibitor
Here are some highlights from Sara Harwin’s conference exhibits
| 2003 | Union of American Hebrew Congregations |
| 2002 | Five Pillars of Conservative Judaism, Conference 2002, Washington, DC |
| 1999, 2001 |
Union of American Hebrew Congregations |
| 1994-1995 | Rosen Group, Buyers Market, Philadelphia, PA |
| 1993 |
Five Pillars of Conservative Judaism, Conference |
| 1986-1987 |
Art Expo NY, New York, NY |
| 1985 |
Art Expo NY, New York, NY |
Commissions
Highlights from Commissions of Sara Harwin’s work.
| Torah Mantles, Yom Chol/Yom Tov | Congregation Anshei Israel | Tucson, AZ |
| Parochet, Amud, Yom Chol/Yom Tov | Congregation Shaarie Torah | Portland, OR |
| Ark Doors (Parochet) | Congregation Ahavat Achim | Portland, OR |
| Chuppah (Wedding Canopy) | Congregation Neveh Shalom | Portland, OR |
| Torah Mantles (set of 6) | Congregation Neveh Shalom | Portland, OR |
| Elijah’s Chair | Congregation Neveh Shalom | Portland, OR |
| Torah Mantle | Congregation Anshe Emet | Chicago, IL |
| Wedding Parochet | Temple Israel | Portsmouth, NH |
| Torah Mantles | Temple Beth El | Chappaqua, NY |
| Torah Mantles | Chayai Shalom Temple | North Easton, MA |
| High Holiday Torah Mantles | Chayai Shalom Temple | North Easton, MA |
honors
Here are some highlights from honors Sara Harwin has received for her work.
|
2001 |
Image selected for Hallmark Cards Kansas City | |
| 1995 |
Honorable Mention, Liturgical Guild of Ohio, Biennial Exhibition |
|
| 1993 |
National Calendar Competition (1/16 selected), United Synagogues of America |
|
| 1987 |
National Calendar Competition (1/16 selected), United Synagogues of America |
|
| 1985 |
Image selected for UNICEF cards |
Buy Sara’s book: Illuminated Letters: Threads of Connection on Amazon