The works of the late Jacob A. Ornstein will be exhibited at the Rosenzweig Gallery through Thursday, Aug. 21. The exhibit includes paintings, watercolors, and drawings. An opening reception will be held Sunday, June 29, from 2 to 4 p.m.. The reception is open to the public. The gallery is located at 1933 W. Cornwallis Road, Durham.

Jacob A. Ornstein made up his mind to be an artist when, as a 7-year-old, he won a medal for a crayon sketch. Following his initial training in the public schools of New York City, he worked as a draftsman for an architectural firm, as he attended night classes at New York University. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from New York University while studying art at the Parsons School of Design, the Art Students League, and Cooper Union. A year spent in Paris in the late 1920s, studying at the Paris branch of Parsons and working as a cartoonist for Paris' various magazines, was particularly important for his development as a painter.

In the early days of his career, Ornstein exhibited widely -- both in New York and in many shows around the country -- but the difficulty of earning a living as a fulltime artist in the Depression led to a decision to enter teaching. He began as a high school art teacher in 1936, became the chairman of the art department of Andrew Jackson High School in 1946, and a principal in 1954.

Ornstein was associated with the New York City Schools until his retirement in 1971, but his work as a practicing artist continued, especially on weekends and during summer vacations. Upon retirement and a move to Florida, he returned to full time painting and exhibiting in both solo and group shows. Throughout his career, Ornstein worked in many media -- from pencil and pen-and-ink drawings, to watercolors, to oils and acrylics -- but the sense of line that characterized his early cartoons in Paris was always in evidence. The watercolors are both representational and semi-abstract, whereas the oils and acrylics are more abstract and geometric in form. Ornstein's subjects included landscapes, seascapes, still life, portraits, and nudes.

Focusing on Judaic art from North Carolina and the region, the Rosenzweig Gallery features a permanent collection of Jewish ritual objects and presents rotating exhibits on Jewish themes including Judaica, religious books and prints, and contemporary art.

The Gallery showcases exceptional Jewish art featuring both rising young talent and accomplished artists working in paint, sculpture, photography, fiber and ceramics. Exhibits from the Gallery are available for display in communities throughout the state.

The Jewish Heritage Foundation of North Carolina (JHFNC), established in 1996, as the state's sole Jewish historical organization, seeks to promote understanding of the Jewish people by educating both Jews and the general public about the history, culture, and religion of the Jewish people and by encouraging appreciation of the beauty of Jewish ritual and practice.

JHFNC collects and preserves artifacts and records the history of Jewish settlement in North Carolina, as well as conducting programs that examine and portray the Jewish experience in North Carolina. The JHFNC also seeks to strengthen Jewish communal bonds among North Carolina's diverse Jewish and non-Jewish communities by maintaining networks that connect collections and educational resources across the state and by creating bridges between the older established communities and the many newly arriving residents.

For information, visit www.jhfnc.org.