A Year of Good Fortune for an SOS Recipeient….

Jeanine Klein’s year of good fortune began in mid-2006 when a friend suggested she show paintings at the Gallery of the Unitarian Fellowship in Bellport, Long Island.  Jeanine had begun studying East Asian brush painting (sumi-e ink and watercolor on handmade paper) in 2002, which was her first attempt at visual art. She applied to show at the gallery and since   framing was a major expense she applied  for and  received an SOS grant (New York State Foundation on the Arts Strategic Opportunity Stipend) through the Long Island East End Arts Council.  The solo exhibit, held in October 2006, was greeted with positive responses, which spurred her on to enter a show at a Bellport Gallery the following month.  She was delighted to receive an award at that show from Judge Malcolm Morley.
These events bolstered her wish to work ever more seriously and consistently at painting.

More good fortune lay ahead.  In March of 2007, the owner of Gallery 4222 in Port Jefferson, New York, saw her paintings at her framer’s shop and contacted her, offering her a solo show at the gallery for the month of July.  That show produced favorable feedback  as well as encouraging sales.
Meanwhile, Jeanine was invited to exhibit paintings in May at a gallery at Stony Brook University, in a collaboration with an Ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement)

Jeanine Klein's Bird Chorus

expert and the artist-in residence at the Ceramics Studio at the University.  She again applied for and received her second SOS grant.
This momentum continued when she had two paintings accepted into the 44^th Annual National Exhibition of the Sumi-e Society of America, held this year in New York.  The judge was Professor Song, an internationally recognized Korean painter and teacher of East Asian brush painting.  After jurying the entry slides sent to Korea, he came to New York to judge the winning prizes.  Jeanine won Best in Show in this national exhibit!
”I am greatly indebted to the EEAC and NYFA for the SOS grants” Jeanine said, “which helped so much in providing the impetus for continuing my new-found life as an artist.  What a thrill it is to be in this place at this time of life!”