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.