Portrait of a Moment: How a Boulder Artist Captured the Essence of Respite

In the quiet corners of Sweet Cow in Central Boulder, a chance encounter on June 15, 2025, sparked a profound artistic connection between Bruce Shaffer, a veteran voice in our Jewish Community and Alyssa Giglio, a talented young painter.  

Bruce had recently returned from Israel on June 9, 2025, a week after the June 1 attack on the Run4TheirLives group. Two of his family members were among the many victims. Since November 2023, Bruce photographed for the Hostages Family Forum, approaching the task as a documentarian rather than for social media. He continued this work until Hanukkah 2025, when only the body of the last hostage was still missing.

From time to time in Boulder, Bruce was beset with high anxiety. He routinely wore headphones to stay in contact with people and events in Israel, and a hostages T-shirt to keep them from being forgotten.

The artist Alyssa Giglio observed Bruce before he ever noticed her. Encouraged by her friend, Rob Kaplan—who likely recognized the significance of Bruce’s shirt—Alyssa approached Bruce about a portrait. While Bruce initially thought the interest was merely about his T-shirt, Alyssa’s intent was far deeper: she wanted to capture his presence and essence.

The resulting portrait marked a significant milestone for Alyssa, as it was her first color painting. Though she typically works in black and white, she felt this specific scene needed to be in color to fully embody the world she was exploring. The setting captured Bruce during his near-daily respite break when in Boulder—indulging in ice cream cones at Sweet Cow—a stark contrast to the emotionally intense realm he was working in.

The painting deeply resonated with both the artist and the subject. Beyond the canvas, the portrait stands as a powerful intersection of art and lived experience, capturing a moment of stillness amidst a season of profound turmoil. On Sunday, artist and subject reunited for the first time since they met to talk with friends and family about their chance encounter and its meaningful outcome. Alyssa is inspired to continue her foray into color. Bruce is heading back to Jerusalem next Sunday. “To be a Jew after October 7,” he insists, “is to claim your role in the long, rich and wondrous story of the Jewish people. It’s more than being a spectator. Your role in the story is a blessing and how you pay it forward.” It’s the ongoing story of a tribe whose origin we’ll recall at our Pesach seders this week.

Chag Sameach.

Alyssa Giglio’s website 
Sample of Shaffer’s photos