"Superman Samson" – supporting "Shave for the Brave"

I created the “Superman Samson” papercut in tribute to “Superman Sam” Sommer.

Sam succumbed to acute myelogenous leukemia earlier this year, and his parents and friends have organized a fundraiser through St. Baldrick's to support cancer research. Originally designed around 36 rabbis who would shave their heads to raise money for the cause, the number of shavees is now more than double that number, with countless volunteers and supporters.

The papercut I created to support the cause is a mix of sadness and joy, of challenge and triumph – fitting for Samson's story, and Sam's as well. It's made with cut-up Superman comics, including the "World Without a Superman" trade paperback, and includes a speech bubble which reads, “Those are lessons I'll never forget” — it's a reference to the lessons we take from Sam's life, from this event, and from our determination to fight the good fight.

How can you get involved? Give. And for those who give $360 or more in new donations at this special "Art for a Cause" page, you'll receive a limited edition signed and numbered giclée print of "Superman Samson." It measures 14" x 11" (same size as the original), and will only be available for a limited time.

Sunday, March 30: gallery open house for "Super Heroes, Holy Land"

Super Heroes, Holy Land: "Altar Flame" and "Altar Smoke"

These are two of the pieces in my current show, "Super Heroes, Holy Land!" now showing at UCLA Hillel's Dortort Gallery in Los Angeles – on the left is "Altar Flame" and on the right, "Altar Smoke." The originals each measure 24" x 36", though 20" x 30" prints are available in my online store.

Details on each are below – if you want to see them in person, check out the show: open through April 21 (extended!) at UCLA Hillel's Dortort Gallery in Los Angeles, at 574 Hilgard Avenue; call 310-208-3081 for hours or click here for details.

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Altar Flame
24" x 36"
Mixed media
2013

The eternal flame on the altar was a symbol of God’s continuing presence with the Jewish people, and people from across the land would journey to Jerusalem during the three festivals — as these sacrifices could only be fulfilled in this one spot. The presence of this flame and the sacrifices that were made on the altar were a very physical process that we have since replaced with the work of our minds and the recitation of words, hence the inclusion of parts of the Life Science Library volume titled, The Mind.

Includes:

• 300 #2 (Jun 1998)
• 5 Days to Die #2 and #5 (Sep 2010)
• Automatic Kafka #2 (Oct 2002) and #3 (Nov 2002)
• Avengers vs. X-Men #1 (Jun 2012)
• The Infinite Horizon #6 (Nov 2011)
• Paradise X #8 (Feb 2003)
• Ten Grand #3 (Jul 2013)
• Wonder Woman #44 (Jul 1990)
• X-Infernus #1 (Feb 2009)
• X-Men #199 (Nov 1985) 
• Life Science Library: The Mind. Ed. by John Rowan Wilson. Time-Life Books, Virginia (1980).

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Altar Smoke
24" x 36"
Mixed media
2013

The smoke rising from the altar at the Temple’s Holy of Holies was the physical remnant of communicating with God in ancient times – it was evidence that we had engaged with the Eternal. The smoke would bring sweet smells up to the very anthropomorphized God that could only be addressed in this way, in this particular spot. The smoke represents the direct line of communication with God; Jerusalem is still considered the place with that direct connection to God.

Includes:

• Astonishing X-Men #26 (Oct 2008)
• Automatic Kafka #1 (Sep 2002) and #4 (Dec 2002)
• Batman: The Black Glove (2008)
• The Infinite Horizon #4 (Apr 2009) and #6 (Nov 2011)
• Judenhass (2008)
• Marvels: Eye of the Camera #1 (Feb 2009)
• The Mighty Thor #399 (Jan 1989)
• The New Mutants #27 (May 1985)
• ROM #31 (Jun 1982)
• Superman #77 (Mar 1993) and #18 (May 2013)
• X-Men Legacy #246 (May 2011) 
• The World of Ancient Israel. David Meilsheim. Tudor Publishing Company, New York (1973).

The Journey of the Sun

This is the first new papercut I've completed on my new studio table: "The Journey of the Sun." It borrows heavily from Egyptian iconography, showing  the Sun god Ra (also known as Khepri, and often represented by a scarab beetle) rolling the sun across the sky, transforming bodies and souls.

It includes cut-up comics featuring Blue Beetle (of course), as well as some pieces out of an old dictionary and an old encyclopedia volume.

I made "The Journey of the Sun" for this weekend's annual fundraising gala at Albert Einstein Academy, a local charter school. As I understand you can't bid on it online; only gala attendees can bid. But if you're a serious bidder, contact me via email... maybe we can make something happen.