Katrina’s Jewish Voices

This photo, of painting inside Congregation Beth Israel in New Orleans, was taken by Joan Cohen, who participated in the Jewish Volunteer Connection Hurricane Relief Mission to New Orleans from December 25, 2005-January 1, 2006. Jewish Volunteer Connection is a program of The ASSOCIATED: Jewish Federation of Baltimore.

I painted this painting after working in the shelters in Baton Rouge after Hurricane Katrina. It was unbelievable -- people coming in with open sores and wounds, crying, clutching whoever was around (or any other volunteers). One woman cried in my arms, saying, 'You're an angel." And yet my role was very limited in the aftermath of the storm --and my own life wasn't upended by the storm. But I personally couldn't not go there. I could do comfort, because I had done so much AIDS work. All I...

[Artwork] Presidential Silhouettes: Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Fried Chicken) Wood, 26" x 40" Skylar Fein, 2006. This piece of art was made from wood debris from Katrina.

[Artwork] Presidential Silhouettes: George W. Bush (Pancake House) Wood, 26" x 40" Skylar Fein, 2006. This piece of art was created from wood debris from Katrina.

Presidential Silhouettes: Abraham Lincoln (Po-Boys) Wood, 26" x 40" Skylar Fein, 2006. This piece of art was made from debris left by Katrina.