The Big Fish(Paper Midrash)

Here's a Jonah-themed piece I created, and am still trying to figure out what to do with. Pardon the lack of good grammar there. While Jonah was sojourning in the big fish (or whale, if that's the way you interpret it) the fish gives him a big tour, showing him all sorts of water-related things -- represented by the patterns and comic textures you see here. This "Big Fish" is going to be in my show somehow.

"What show?" you may ask.

The show will be at the Merage Jewish Community Center of Orange County from January 24 through February 27, 2010: "Paper Midrash: New Work by Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik." The opening reception will be from 2 to 5 p.m. on January 24.

The Flood(Paper Midrash)

This is actually a piece from about a month ago -- another in my series of comic textures. This time, using them to convey the deluge from above as Noah pilots his ark along the raging seas. My favorite touch is the "sploosh" you can just see peeking out from behind the ark.

The show will be at the Merage Jewish Community Center of Orange County from January 24 through February 27, 2010: "Paper Midrash: New Work by Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik." The opening reception will be from 2 to 5 p.m. on January 24.

Burning Bush(Paper Midrash)

Last week I finished up this "Burning Bush." I've used comics textures sparingly here, and tried to build some real heat in the center of the bush. The flame burns, but does not consume.

Now I just need to get these photographed better -- it's harder to convey the impact of the papers and colors on film (at least, for me).

Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil - final(Paper Midrash)

Here's the final version of the tree -- all done except for framing, and then it'll be ready for the show.

The show will be at the Merage Jewish Community Center of Orange County from January 24 through February 27, 2010: "Paper Midrash: New Work by Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik." The opening reception will be from 2 to 5 p.m. on January 24.

Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil(Paper Midrash)

This is a blurry (sorry) detail shot of the "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil" I just cut for my upcoming show. In it you can see how I'm using bits of comics for background texture, as I'm doing in a lot of pieces for the show. The idea is using the mythology of comic books as a foil for the stories of the Jewish people.

The show will be at the Merage Jewish Community Center of Orange County: "Paper Midrash: New Work by Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik." The opening reception will be from 2 to 5 p.m. on January 24, 2010.

Tree in Progress(Paper Midrash)

This is an in-progress look at a tree I'm working on. If I finish it, you'll see this and more at my upcoming show at the Merage Jewish Community Center of Orange County: "Paper Midrash: New Work by Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik." The opening reception will be from 2 to 5 p.m. on January 24, 2010.

"Parting of the Red Sea"(Paper Midrash)

This is "Parting of the Red Sea," from my latest series of papercuts, bringing together the mythos of comic books with the stories of the Torah and Midrash.

See this and more at my upcoming show at the Merage Jewish Community Center of Orange County: "Paper Midrash: New Work by Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik." The opening reception will be from 2 to 5 p.m. on January 24, 2010.

Gunther Uecker at MOCA

This is a detail from a piece by Gunther Uecker called "Grosse Wolke" (Big Cloud), made of paint and nails on canvas and particle board. I wanted to touch it, but I didn't.

Paper MidrashSave the date: January 24, 2010

Noah's Ark and the Collapse of Linearity

At the urging of David Lynch, I'm sharing a recent piece that's probably going to wind up in my upcoming show in January 2010 at the Merage Jewish Community Center of Orange County. It's a double cut focused on Noah's Ark, which collapses the narrative and eliminates the linear flow of time through which lens we humans usually view history -- so in viewing this piece we experience the flood and the rainbow covenant simultaneously.

As usual, the work is copyright 2009 by Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik.

New Hanukkah greeting cards now available!

I received a package today from Sunrise Greetings, a card company in Bloomington, Indiana. I do some card design for them every so often, and today's box had samples of three Hanukkah cards I designed and illustrated for them.





The first features Hebrew lettering ("nes gadol haya sham"), embossing, and silver ink; the second is a fight card for the battle between applesauce and sour cream; and the third is a humorous reflection from Mrs. Judah Maccabee (click the pix above to see them larger).

If you want to order some for yourself call Sunrise Greetings at 800 457 4045 and ask for the new Hanukkah cards by Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik (item #s PHHGC.97840.1, PHHGC.97846.1, and PHHGC.97847.1)!

All three cards are copyright 2009 by Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik for Sunrise Greetings.

At work on one-man show

Not going to be posting much in the next few months -- I have a one-man show coming up in January 2010 at the Merage Jewish Community Center of Orange County that I'm prepping for. I'll get some photos and details up as the date approaches.

Housewarming papercut:In wisdom, a house is built.

Just completed this piece for friends of ours, leaving town and setting up home in a new place -- the verse is from proverbs: "B'chokhma, yivneh bayit" (In wisdom, a house is built). Around the verse I have their names, with some simple linear blue fields.

Parting of the Red Sea Papercut:"Mi Chamocha"

I cut this piece as a donation for the 2009 Temple Ahavat Shalom (TAS) luncheon and silent auction, its annual fundraiser (not the ECEC one -- this is the synagogue fundraiser).

I got this great idea for totally simplifying the parting of the Red Sea, into this very basic shape -- almost unseen if you're not sure which is the positive and which the negative space. I used two colored papers under the cut to ground it a bit so you can see the sky above the ground the Israelites walked on, under the parted waters around them.

The verse is Shemot (Exodus) 15:11: "Who is like You, Adonai, among the gods that are worshipped? Who is like You -- majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor, doing wonders?"

Noah's Ark Papercut:"The Waters Increased"

I cut this piece as a donation for the 2009 Temple Ahavat Shalom (TAS) Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) luncheon and silent auction, its annual fundraiser.

I tried to do something true to my artistic vision (did I type that? really?) but also that would potentially bring in some cash for the synagogue. So I've got my patterns in there, of course, but it's very obvious in its subject matter.

The verse is Bereshit (Genesis) 7:17: "The waters increased and lifted the ark, and so it rose over the ground."

Father's Day Cards

I just received a package today from Sunrise Greetings, a card company in Bloomington, Indiana. I do some card design for them every so often, and today's box had samples of a Father's Day card I illustrated for them. It's watercolor on watercolor stock, collaged together to form a shirt and tie (which I hope is obvious). If you want to order some for yourself call Sunrise Greetings at 800 457 4045 and ask for the new Father's Day cards by Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik (item # RFDGC.94484.1)!

Starkman Anniversary

In February 2008 I completed a ketubah for David Starkman and Samara Polansky. It reflects their desire for a contemporary feel and a non-standard shape. I based the elements and color scheme on the Torah portion from the week they were to be married, which detailed the building of the traveling Ark of the Covenant. I spelled out their Hebrew names, found quotes from the Torah that related to their biblical counterparts (David and Sarah), and voila:


This year David called me to do a related piece for their first anniversary -- which is, traditionally, celebrated with paper. This one is smaller, but you can see how the letters-on-patterns is carried through, as are the warm reds and burgundies of the ketubah; however, here the Hebrew word is "ahava" -- "love." And of course, some grape vines around the piece for joy and celebration.

Cantor Wally CD available now!

I did the design for Cantor Wally Schachet-Briskin's latest CD, "Awesome Journey," and it looks pretty sweet! If you're in the mood for some fun Jewish music with a lot of camp-style ruach and plenty of Yiddishkeit, check it out here.

No camels were harmed in the making of this CD.

The Cooper-Poster Ketubah

I couldn't be prouder of the ketubah I just completed for David Poster and Rebecca Cooper; it's the one I've been sharing details from here on the blog, and now I'm letting you see the whole thing (click on the pic to see it larger).

The overall look of the ketubah is based on a deco aesthetic, to reflect the feel of the Palais Royale, where they will celebrate their wedding; this can be seen in the decorative borders, the patterned style of the imagery, and the English calligraphy style.

The Torah portion from the week they were married is Parashat Bo, which describes the preparations our ancestors undertook in Egypt prior to the Exodus, which we now celebrate as Passover. Specifically, the mezuzah is discussed, and that is represented as an abstracted door frame around the ketubah, built out of traditional wedding verses from the book of Jeremiah: “It is still heard in the land of Judea, and in the street of Jerusalem: the sound of celebration and joy, the voice of the bride and groom.” This shape also represents the hupah under which they were married.

The main imagery is based on the seven species, described in the Torah, in the book of Deuteronomy: “A land of wheat, and barley, and vines; of fig trees and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and date honey.” This is a traditional Jewish motif, selected to illustrate David and Rebecca’s love of cooking together. The colors are warm and organic, reflecting the natural world.

Pomegranates and wheat!

Two more details from my recent "seven species" ketubah, completed in January -- pomegranate and wheat! The seven species are grapes, olives, wheat, barley, [date] honey, pomegranates, and figs -- all mentioned in D'varim (Deuteronomy) 8:8.

My new Passover cards are here!

I just received a package today from Sunrise Greetings, a card company in Bloomington, Indiana. I do some card design for them every so often, and today's box had samples of my latest Passover design, based on the first line of the "four questions" and four cups of wine. I created the illustration and lettering in Adobe Illustrator, and I'm really pleased with the result. If you want to order some for yourself call Sunrise Greetings at 800 457 4045 and ask for the new Passover cards by Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik (item # REAGC.94289)!

Grapes!

Another detail from my recent "seven species" ketubah -- some grapes on the vine.

B'ruchim ha-ba'im.

I've decided to start documenting my artwork with this blog -- just a small record of bits of pieces as I go about creating papercuts, paintings, and other art. Today: a detail from a ketubah I just completed that features a "seven species" motif; this is a palm tree, representing date honey.


All work on this site is copyright by Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik; see more at my website.