Arlene Frimark
Arlene graduated from Moore College of Art (and Design) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design. After working for a children’s dress manufacturer, a move to Indiana provided an opportunity to enroll at Purdue University where she earned 2 graduate degrees in Special Education while interning as an Educational Diagnostician for the University.
The family moved to Spokane, Washington where she became a learning center teacher. In 1979, she drove east across Canada to return to Philadelphia with her older daughter Kim who was 10 years old, and Misty the cat. In Philly, she found a teaching job and, at Shaare Shamayim she found husband Paul!
After moving to Bucks County, Bara was added to the family and they all became part of the Ohev Shalom of Bucks County family in 1987. Arlene taught for 12 more years. She became certified to teach art and volunteered as a Docent for the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown. She pursued her own art career. Her paintings were accepted for juried exhibitions and she received several awards.
At the same time, she became more involved at Ohev Shalom designing certificates, Rosh Hashanah cards, bookplates, and T-shirts for various occasions. Arlene has been designing and painting (with help from friends) scenery for Ohev Shalom Players productions since its inception in 1998 beginning with “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”.
Arlene began attending Shabbat morning services and became an active member of the Women’s Torah Study group, which inspired her to write and illustrate the book, “Images of Prayer: An Art Siddur for Shabbat Morning.”
When the Torah covers had to be replaced after many years of service, Arlene designed 7 new covers. She and her “crew” sewed them together with blood, sweat, and yes…tears! The team gutted the Ark for a clean, new look and painted the Ark wall. New projects will include a Torah table cover and two new Torah covers for the High Holy Days. She was part of the Shomrim committee as marketing chair.
Outside of Ohev, Arlene has painted murals for businesses including three for Red Berry Yogurt stores. She also makes “Heirloom Huppahs” from family members’ old wedding dresses.
Arlene is also very excited to announce the acceptance of one of her paintings for the 2018-19 Women’s League of Conservative Judaism Calendar/Diary.
Arlene recently left Michener after having been a Docent and Art Teacher for over 20 years. What to do with all of this “free time”….begin letting the rest of the world know about how she can help with your next project or wedding.