SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) – A retrospective exhibit celebrating the life’s work of artist Natalie Klein opens Sunday at the Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley.
Klein spent more than 50 years as an artist, teacher and fixture of the South Bend art scene, including 30 years as a teacher in South Bend schools.
Marcia and Monroe, representatives of the Jewish Federation, said Klein served as head of the organization’s art committee for many years. They said Klein is still living and recently moved out of town.
Marcia and Monroe said the exhibit brings together Klein’s remaining art collection, spanning from an early still life piece from the late 1960s to the final, possibly unfinished piece left on her easel.
“This is an early piece of hers. I think it’s from the 1960s, late 1960s. It is a still life. We wanted to show from the beginning all the way to the end,” Marcia said, referring to Klein’s last piece. “That’s her last piece on her easel. I don’t know if it’s finished or not, but we liked it, so I took it.”
Marcia and Monroe said Klein’s work showed significant range and energy throughout her career.
“Her paintings have enormous energy and color. She had the ability to look at a sunset and paint an abstract view of it that is beautiful and colorful,” they said.
They said Klein’s style evolved from more representational work rooted in a mid-20th-century Chicago style toward abstraction.
“She went from doing something from that genre of the Chicago 1950s and 60s, where everything was actually still life or known. And then she went into the abstract, which in most of her work has so much energy. You can actually see a winter scene or a summer scene,” they said.
They said Klein did not plan her paintings in advance.
“She didn’t ever know what she was going to paint. She just began her painting, and it was a blast of color,” they said.
Jewish Federation has served the community for about 100 years
Marcia and Monroe said the Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley has served the community for about 100 years as a gathering place for Jewish community members in South Bend and the surrounding area, hosting art shows featuring Jewish artists two to three times a year.
“The Jewish Federation has been part of the community for probably 100 years. It is the gathering place of all the Jewish sects of South Bend and the surrounding area. It provides wonderful programming constantly for whatever is hot for the moment,” they said.
Exhibit details
The exhibit opens Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Jewish Federation, located on Shalom Way, off McKinley Avenue.
Klein’s daughter is expected to speak about her mother’s work during the event. Steve Gerber, a local ophthalmologist, will perform live piano music on a grand piano Klein donated to the Federation.
Marcia and Monroe said Klein’s paintings will be available for purchase at the event.
“The paintings are for sale. If you want to get something that she has and you want to have her in your collection, this is a great opportunity. It is also someone that so many people know from this community because she taught so many people, so a lot of people that will be coming are probably some of her students,” they said.
Marcia and Monroe said Klein also led and belonged to several arts organizations throughout her career.
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