 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Avy studied at the Hebrew Institute of Pittsburgh and later Gratz Hebrew college in Philadelphia in addition to graduating from the University of Tulsa in Visual Communications. Upon completing his Army service in 1970, Avy developed a dual career in visual communications for both the federal service and the American Jewish community. While art director of the national Institute of Mental Health and Walter Reed Medical Center, he continuously developed special designs for numerous synagogues, Jewish day schools, and organizations as well as serving as Public Relations Consultant to the Embassy of Israel. Presently He is the Visual Communications Advisor to the U.S. Congress, while he lectures and exhibits in the American Jewish Community.
What began as important visual communications projects such as logos corporate identity purposes, Jewish Book Month Posters and large exhibits about Israel, slowly evolved into Judaic fine arts that can be seen in his Judaic gallery exhibits and synagogues commissions for stained glass windows and ark doors.
One of his earliest illustrations, The Prayer, was not only an award winning piece of art in a restricted county club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but was banned in 1978 by the USSR as “art non-grata.” It was used to contact the Soviet “Refusenicks,” which gave them a strong sense of hope in fighting for their liberation. In 1976, Avy was asked to create his Jewish Bicentennial Design, which depicted the origins of freedom from the Liberty Bell. That special design was presented in the White House Rose Garden and sits in the Smithsonian’s Bicentennial Collection as well as now appearing in the permanent collection of the new National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia across the street from Independence Hall.
Avy was past president of the former Jewish Folk Arts Society, then the largest Jewish cultural arts society in the U.S., as well as an active, senior member of the ArtSites guild. He was recently asked to be on the national Federation’s Speakers Bureau where he presents programs on Best practices in Hasbara- American Jewish / Israeli P.R. and Communications as well as Cultural Diversity and one’s Jewish Identity- Is there a fit? Website- www.asherydesign.info
