“From Mount Baker to Brazil, a Journey of Love”
Oil paintings by Paul Blum
Showing through August 2026
”From Mount Baker to Brazil, a Journey of Love,” by Paul Blum, will be the fifth exhibition in the Programming Committee’s Visual Art Series showcasing the work of CBI visual artists. Paul’s paintings will be on display in the foyer and social hall from March 2026 through August 2026.
The March 20, 2026 6:15 pm Shabbat service will include remarks from Paul about his art and the exhibition, after which we will celebrate the opening of the show at the Oneg. On Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 2 p.m., Paul will present an Artist Talk, followed by a reception in the social hall.
Long-time congregant Paul Blum’s brightly colored images reflect his joyful spirit, and draw from experiences in both the Pacific Northwest and in Brazil. Paul and his wife, Alison Zak, moved to the Skagit Valley in 1971, where next to their home is his rustic barn studio.
With son Avram and family in Brazil, and son Isaac (CBI Board member) and family in Bellingham, Paul’s show depicts his love of family, friends and nature in both locales. Paul reflects, ”after a stressful career in nursing, which required control, exactitude, planning, and serious attention to detail, painting has allowed me to relax, experiment freely, play without restraint, and step outside of ordinary time. I always wanted to do oil painting, so I picked it up when I retired, 17 years ago.”
Growing up in Chicago, Paul was exposed to art and history at the Art Institute of Chicago, which led to a life-long love of both. With no formal art training, Paul considers his art to be naïve and primitive expressions of his love for the environment in which he lives, and of the urges that make humans create. This self-described “beginner’s mind” and the playful curiosity that comes with it, results in works that are fresh and engaging. Paul’s process is intuitive, and while he may sketch ideas, ultimately, the brushstrokes and his own gut feelings render the results. He describes this process, “sort of like praying in synagogue, like a Zen thing, a meditative thing. Part is intellectual, but part is a lack of control. You’re giving up some control … It’s like it’s a magical thing … because I wasn’t that much in control of it.”
One of Paul’s first paintings was inspired by an experience with friends, in a cabin near Marblemount along the Diobsud Creek. “The sunlight shattered by the thick canopy of the fir and cedar, the night of wonderful music we all made, and the moonlight all had a lasting effect on me, enjoying nature, each other’s company, and making music together.” This experience was the catalyst for developing the bold, outlined style for which he’s recognized, in which colors glow, described by some as reminiscent of stained-glass windows.
Paul’s work has been exhibited in Mount Vernon and the River Gallery; in LaConner at the Museum of Northwest Art’s Annual Auction; and in Edison at Smith and Vallee, Gallery Cygnus, and the Edison Eye Building & Studio.
While art displayed during the exhibition series is not for sale through CBI, if you are interested in purchasing artwork, you may contact Paul at zakblum@frontier.com or (360) 391-2004.
In this series of classes, we’ll explore five often under-studied books of the Hebrew Bible, known as the Five Scrolls, or the Five Megillot—Esther, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, and Ecclesiastes. In Jewish tradition, each of these books is associated with a specific holiday, and we’ll study them at the appropriate time of year.
Join us for an evening full of laughter, tradition, and spirited fun: