"Luachot HaBrit" papercut donated to support local synagogue luncheon

I've donated an original papercut titled "Luachot HaBrit" in support of the Temple Ahavat Shalom Early Childhood Education Center Luncheon. That means you can bid on it and walk away with some of my art! And yes, it's already framed. What an opportunity!

The piece is a representation of the Tablets of the Law -- the Ten Commandments, that is -- and it comprises the first ten letters of the Hebrew alphabet (the "aleph bet") set against a warm background of art papers. And the frame? A warm, natural wood.

Find out how you can get a shot at this papercut (and a new iPad... and lots more!) -- and how you can attend this fun event on Sunday, April 22: on Facebook, or on the Temple Ahavat Shalom website.

Teaser image from a completed commission: It ain't me, babe

Finished up a papercut commission yesterday, and though I won't be posting pix until after I've delivered it, I can't resist sharing a little something out here in the meantime. A not-very-subtle clue about the piece, really — but that's the sort of treat you get out here on my blog.

Water on the table

At work on a commission that involves a big fish, but still in the drawing stage; here's a teaser photo from my cutting table.

Working hard (as opposed to blogging)

I've been working pretty hard lately -- four commissions at present, and preparing for a show this September in San Rafael, California. And also getting ready for my oldest daughter to become a bat mitzvah ... so yeah, pretty busy. I'll be posting some photos soon -- and sharing info on the show as well. In the meantime, I hope you're stocking up on gefilte fish and horseradish... Pesach is almost here! Here's a photo of a Passover-themed commission I completed last year as a portrait of baseball legend Hank Greenberg, "The Hammerin' Hebrew." (You can read more about it here; you can find out about ordering an archival giclee print by emailing me at isaac[at]nicejewishartist[dot]com.)

Seven to Seventy

Completed a new piece tentatively titled "Seven to Seventy" (click the pix to see it larger). It's a revelation piece, with a lot of midrash in it. Look for seven bolts of lightning, Captain Marvel, pieces from a chumash index, watercolor, and more. Here are some close-up shots (click make them larger):

I expect this will be in my September show in Northern California -- details will be posted here once I get them settled.

El na r'fa na la

I've been working on a "healing" piece lately for a possible book cover project -- here's what I've come up with. It's a combination of papercutting, watercolor, and digital collage.

This work is based on the eponymous episode in Bamidbar (Numbers) 12:13 in which Miriam falls ill and her brother Moses prays to God saying, "Heal her now, O God, I beseech Thee" (which is what the title of this work means in English).

I've represented Moses's hands reaching up and out towards the heavens, represented by seven blocks of watercolor; these blocks stand for the seven pillars of cloud which protected the Israelites on their journey through the desert. Behind the cut-out hands is a portion from an old Torah commentary that had been headed for ritual burial in the genizah.

Once Around the Block: In My Studio

A little DIY video showing what I do in my studio all night. I queried Damon Gough about using his song in the background -- it's Badly Drawn Boy's "Once Around the Block," and you should support him by buying a copy if you like it.

"Burning Bush: Flame On" now showing in Memphis

I've mentioned that the show I have going on now in Memphis includes more pieces that just the "Paper Tefillah" series; here's one of the other papercuts on exhibition there right now. It's part of my "paper midrash" work, and this one is called "Burning Bush: Flame On."

Inspired by the first chapter of the book of Shemot (aka Exodus) in the Torah, it's another attempt to convey the sense of wonder and awe that Moses felt upon encountering the Burning Bush in the desert and hearing God's voice speak to him from its midst. This is a story I keep returning to in my work; as I try to understand the role and presence of the Divine in our lives, this is one of those moments that continues to intrigue me.

The background is made up of cut-up comics (including quite a few variations on the Human Torch, from the Fantastic Four), but also a bit of a Chumash that was destined for the genizah. You can see a hint of green in the upper reaches, as we are told that although the bush was on fire, it was not consumed. And of course, just to the right above center the eponymous words, "Flame on!"

It's available for sale, by the way -- the original and archival prints; let me know if you're interested by dropping me an email.

King David + Elvis = "The King"

This is the last piece I made for my Memphis show; it's not a part of the "Paper Tefillah" series, but rather a portrait of King David.

Based on the King of Spades playing card (traditionally, each of the four kings is based on a real king), I've replaced the sword with a guitar, added sideburns and full lips, and voila: it's Elvis Presley.

Backed by cut-up pictures from the 1995 LIFE magazine special "Celebrating Elvis," observant lookers will see album covers, parts of outfits, images of Graceland, leather pants, Vegas jumpsuits for the jewels in the crown, crowd shots from his Independence Day 1956 Memphis concert in the spades, and much more.

In the faces of the king I've placed part of Psalm 33 (in English and Hebrew), written by King David; these bits were taken from an old prayerbook that was headed for ritual burial in the genizah. It includes the lines:

Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
Praise the Lord with the lyre;
make music unto him with the harp of ten strings.
Sing to him a new song;
play skilfully with sounds, and shout for joy.

 You can see it in person at Temple Israel in Memphis, now through February 8. If you're interested in purchasing an archival giclee print, drop me a line.

"Paper Tefillah" workshops

As I've mentioned here, part of my time at Temple Israel in Memphis was spent in workshops with students from their religious school and a local religious day school. I talked with the classes about the series as well as about tefillah and midrash and art in general, and then we all created art together. I also met with groups of teachers, talking about the "Paper Tefillah" series could be used as part of their curricula.

We worked in the museum, right next to the wall upon which the series was hung; here are some photos.

"Paper Tefillah" Opening Reception

My thanks to everyone who came out to the opening reception at Temple Israel -- it went very well! I lectured in the sanctuary for about 45 minutes on Judaism, art, creation, and prayer, and then welcomed a big crowd of people into the museum to see the work. Thanks to everyone who supported me during the process: to Barb for initiating the process, to Lee and Amy for making it happen, to the Memphis community for coming out to share this with me, and to my wife Shawna who is, as always, my muse and my true love.

And f you can't make it to the show in person, please check out the Paper Tefillah catalog (in PDF format).

"Paper Tefillah" catalog now online

For those of you who can't make it to Memphis to see "Paper Tefillah" in person I'm posting this PDF catalog, which shows all sixteen papercuts in the series and includes full descriptions — as well as lists of the comics used in each piece.

I'll be making prints when I return from the show; details to come.

Paper Tefillah catalog (in PDF format)

"Paper Tefillah" featured in the Forward's "Arty Semite" blog

I'm so pleased to see that my "Paper Tefillah" show (opening tonight at Temple Israel in Memphis) is featured in the Arty Semite blog on the Forward website today. You can follow this link to read the article... and to see a slideshow of all sixteen papercuts.

"Paper Tefillah" write-up in the Memphis Flyer

With "Excelsior!" as a headline, I knew Chris Davis had done me right. Please check out the nice review of my upcoming "Paper Tefillah" show in this week's Memphis Flyer.

"Paper Tefillah" on "Jewish Art Now"

It's just a little post about the show, but it's a start! Click the link to see the post, or visit Jewish Art Now to see "a fresh perspective on the convergence of contemporary art and Judaism."

"Paper Tefillah" Opening Reception at Temple Israel on January 10

The image above is from Temple Israel's website; click here to see the mention in the Temple Israel Memphis Voice. I look forward to welcoming you at the opening reception on January 10, 2012. I'll be lecturing at 7:00 pm; refreshments will be served afterward.

Paper Tefillah series: "Barchu"

I shared this papercut with the Saturday morning minyan at Temple Ahavat Shalom this past Shabbat, and I'm pleased to share it with you here as well. (You can click the image to see it larger.)

This is my "Barchu," a papercut based on the Jewish call to worship. It's the first of the formal prayers of a contemporary Jewish service, the moment when we stop praying as as individuals and come together as a community. Our cross-talk, the silent reading of psalms, all of the business from outside vanish as the service leader calls out the first line, and the community responds with the second. This call-and-response is represented in the larger speech bubbles made up cut-up pieces of the prayer itself, showing how our private moments become part of a larger communal connection.

Here are two close-up details from the piece:

If you want to see it in person, you'll have to come to the opening at Temple Israel in Memphis on January 10.

Paper Tefillah series: "Ahavat Olam"

Here's a very little photo of the "Ahavat Olam" papercut that will be featured in my "paper tefillah" show this January in Memphis.

What?

You haven't heard about the show yet?

We've got our opening reception on Tuesday, January 10, 2012, at Temple Israel in Memphis. And it's going to be awesome, if I do say so myself. And I do. Sixteen papercuts representing the major prayers in contemporary American Jewish worship services.

Anyhow, in the "Ahavat Olam" prayer (which is part of the evening service) we thank God for the gift of Torah. I've represented this gift as the Etz Chaim (Tree of Life), in which the leaves are Hebrew letters and the background is made up entirely of cut-up Superman comics and pieces from prayerbooks and a chumash that had been destined for ritual burial in the genizah.

I don't have a larger image to share right now... I'll get one posted here eventually, but you should also consider coming to the show; all of the "paper tefillah" papercuts are 18" x 24" and look incredible in person.

Memphis 2012: Paper Tefillah

Memphis 2012: Paper Tefillah

Teaser from the cutting table: "One master of all the earth"

The speech bubble reads, "Soon there will be one God -- one master of all the earth!" Can you guess which prayer it represents?

Paper Tefillah series: "Yotzeir"

Here's a photo of the completed "Yotzeir" papercut -- part of the "paper tefillah" series I've created for a show this January in Memphis. It's structured around the ten sefirot (סְפִירוֹת) -- according to Kabbalah, the ten attributes of God through which the universe is sustained. These sefirot are often described in metaphor as vessels of light. Here's an excerpt of the text of this morning prayer:

Be praised, Adonai our God, for the excellence of your handiwork, and for the lights You created: may they glorify You.

Back with comics (as is the rest of the series), you can see some Firestorm, some of Frank Miller's Ronin, Peter Gillis' all-digital graphic novel Shatter, some Kirby krackle, and plenty more -- but you'll have to wait for the show catalog to see the entire listing.

A Thanksgiving Treat: Batman with Eve

From Elseworlds 80 Page Giant #1, of course.

Paper Tefillah series: "Ahavah Rabah" papercut

I've completed my "Ahavah Rabah" papercut -- part of the "paper tefillah" series I'll be showing this January in Memphis, Tennessee. (Details about the show are forthcoming.)

The "Ahavah Rabah" prayer focuses on the love God shows for us by giving us the gift of Torah and the mitzvot (commandments). The pomegranate represents the mitzvot -- it's said that it contains 613 seeds, the number of mitzvot in the Torah. The prayer mentions the four corners of the earth, which is a cue for worshippers to gather together the tzitzit (which have knots also representing the 613 mitzvot) at the four corners of their tallit and hold them together, so the four corners of this piece are backed with salvaged pieces from genizah-destined prayerbooks that reference the prayer, the mitzvot, and tzitzit.

The pomegranate is backed with comics that reflect the rich juicy color of the fruit, and there are quite a few goodies hidden in this one. It's best seen in person, but until the show you can enjoy these close-up shots. And as always, you can click the pix to see them larger.

 

613 circles

My "paper tefillah" work is coming along nicely -- here's a shot from my cutting table of a piece I've been working on this weekend. There are about 613 circles in all...

Designing a new website

Pardon the dust, faithful  readers -- I'm in the midst of a site redesign that will (I hope) unite this blog and my primary site (NiceJewishArtist.com). I promise to continue to provide photos of my work in progress as well as of completed pieces... and soon, a whole lot more!

UPDATE

OK, this page is coming together and my redirect is in place... and so it begins.

Art Submission Rules

Recently perused the guidelines for submitting artwork to a certain private institution -- realized that the guidelines (though fair, given the venue) eliminate most work that I would consider art, so ... I'm not going to submit. Here's an excerpt from the guidelines:

• Content cannot be sexually explicit, harassing, or suggestive, or contain nudity
• Content cannot promote alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, firearms/weapons, any activities that may appear unsafe or dangerous, or any particular political or religious agenda or message
• Content cannot be obscene or offensive
• Content cannot contain trademarks, logos or packaging owned by others without permission
• Content cannot contain copyrighted materials owned by others (including photographs, sculptures, paintings and other works of art or images published on or in websites, television, movies or other media) without permission [this is the one that eliminates most of my current work -- I won't bother arguing with the venue about appropriation and fair use]
• Content cannot contain materials embodying the names, likenesses, photographs, or other indicia identifying any person, living or dead, without permission

Speech bubbles on the cutting table

At work on a new papercut.

Paper Tefillah series: detail from "Mi Chamocha"

This is on my cutting board right now -- still working on it, but wanted to share a little detail with you.

UPDATED

Here's another one.

Happy Sukkot from Nice Jewish Artist!

An early Sukkot present for my loyal readers: I made these posters a few years back as silly instructional guides on "how to hold and wave the four species" and "how to pick an etrog." Feel free to download, print, distribute, and share (as long as you cite NiceJewishArtist.com). I'm providing links to both 11" x 17" posters in JPEG and PDF format. Happy Sukkot!

Sukkot Poster

Sukkot Poster JPEG

Sukkot Poster PDF

Etrog Poster

Etrog Poster JPEG

Etrog Poster PDF

Paper Tefillah series: "MaAriv Aravim"

As promised, here's a small photo of the completed "MaAriv Aravim" papercut that I created as part of my "paper tefillah" series for a show coming up this January. Here's an excerpt of the text of this evening prayer:

...Whose word brings on the evening. Whose wisdom opens heaven’s gates, and Whose understanding changes the times and seasons, and orders the stars in their heavenly constellations... God creates day and night, rolling away light in the face of darkness, and darkness in the face of light, causing the day to pass and bringing on the night, separating day and night.

There's quite a bit of the comic characters Cloak and Dagger in this papercut, and even a bit of the prayer itself in the eye in the palm of the hamsa.

Shanah Tovah!

The new year begins tonight at sundown; I hope yours is a sweet one. (You have to come up with your own snarky comments on this clip art I found online.)

On the cutting table: lots of rectangles

I haven't gotten around to photographing my recently completed "MaAriv Aravim" cut -- but I'm already working on my next piece. Here's a pic of it in progress on my table...

Lexie's naming certificate

Here's the naming certificate I made as a gift for a new cousin we formally welcomed to the tribe today (my wife, Shawna, performed the ceremony). Her name is Lexie, and she's so very sweet!

"Pillar of Fire" featured in Jack Kirby Collector #55

Just a little mention, but it's always nice to be included. Issue 55 of Jack Kirby Collector, a zine that celebrates the life and career of the "King" of comics, included a detail from my "Pillar of Cloud, Pillar of Fire" papercut in an Adam McGovern-penned article on Kirby-inspired work: "Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik's minimal mosaics of biblical wonders and pulp fable special effects." Here's what the original cut looks like in its entirety (click to see it bigger):

Click here to see the article -- which also mentions one of my fave comic-inspired rock bands, Kirby Krackle.

(And yes -- I noticed that it's incorrectly titled "Burning Bush" in the article -- but it's the pillar, all right.)

Toronto Flora Ketubah

The Toronto Flora Ketubah is complete and in the hands of the happy couple that commissioned it; here's how it came together.

The design of the ketubah is based on conversations with the couple, with abstracted imagery drawn from the time they spend together “by the lake up north” in Toronto.

At the top of the ketubah is the constellation of Orion, visible in the night sky at this time of year. On the left, golden stalks of Bebb’s Sedge mingle and rise. At the bottom is a patch of Wild Ginger, its heart-shaped leaves emphasizing the love between bride and groom.

On the right side a twining Woodbine, shown with its autumn burgundy-red coloring, wraps around a traditional romantic verse from Shir haShirim (The Song of Songs): “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li — I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.” The verse is particularly appropriate, as its initial letters spell out “Elul,” the month of the wedding. Within the Woodbine, at each end of the verse, can be seen the “R” and “T” from the wedding invitation, while the sinuous winding lines evoke the invitation’s script.

Above the ketubah text is an initial cap of the Hebrew letter bet, contained within vines of River Bank Grape; it stands for the first word of the ketubah, and for the couple's last name — and of course, grapes are a traditional Jewish symbol of joy and celebration.

Toronto Flora Ketubah sneak peek

Couldn't resist sharing a little detail from the ketubah I finished cutting yesterday -- now I've got to add some color and get this to the happy couple in time for the wedding! I'll post some pix once it's delivered.

Wild Ginger

Here's a little abstraction of a patch of Wild Ginger -- part of the ketubah I'm working on right now. Very excited about this one, as I'm basing the papercut elements on flora from northern Toronto, to which the couple has a special attachment. Once it's delivered I'll post a photo and explanation of the whole thing.

The summer is ending, and art is happening.

Haven't updated the blog in a few weeks -- been busy getting out of summer mode and back into the saddle of art... with a few commissions to keep me busy, including a ketubah that I'll be sharing here once it's delivered to the happy couple. And I've got a few big shows in the works for 2012 -- stay tuned for details!