Paper Golems Are Coming to Los Angeles in January 2022!

 

The golem story is one of power and protection. When the pandemic began and the world seemed to unravel in so many different ways, I wanted to regain a sense of control over my life, and so I started making golems. And now, for the first time ever, you can see all 72 of my paper golems in a new exhibition at the Dortort Center for Creativity in the Arts at UCLA Hillel.

If you've been keeping up with me through the pandemic, you know how personal this series is. Every golem is a response to what I saw happening in the world, day after day and week after week. The series is, at its heart, a pandemic diary.

“Paper Golems: A Pandemic Diary” is on display at the Dortort Center for the Arts Gallery at UCLA Hillel from January 27 through March 11, 2022. The free opening night reception is Tuesday, March 1, from 7-9 pm — with exclusive posters for sale, freebies like stickers and buttons, and some big surprises!

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).

Super Heroes, Holy Land: "Fantastic City"

I cut this papercut as a navigable map of the Old City of Jerusalem showing its four quarters and major thoroughfares. My favorite route to the Wall is on here (from the Jaffa Gate, through the Armenian Quarter), and I'm sure you'll find your way as well.

Each of the quarters is represented by a member of the Fantastic Four: The Thing for the Jewish Quarter, Mr. Fantastic for the Christian, the Invisible Woman for the Armenian, and the Human Torch for the Muslim. The Temple Mount is backed with academic texts on these religious traditions.

There are pieces of Israeli comics in it as well – including a bit with the Hebrew for "amen" at the site of the Western Wall.

This papercut includes:

Fantastic Four #17 [trade book] (Aug 1963), #248 (Nov 1982), Annual #18 (1984), #265 (Apr 1984), #272 (Nov 1984), #296 (Nov 1986), #297 (Dec 1986), #300 (Mar 1987), #314 (May 1988), #354 (Jul 1991), #410 (Mar 1996), #542 (Jan 2007)
Fantastic Four: Flesh and Stone (2001)
Fantastic Four 2099 #6 (Jun 1990)
The Last Fantastic Four Story #1 (Oct 2007)
Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four #34 (May 2008)
Silent War #1 (Mar 2007)
The Thing #22 (Apr 1985)
Ultimate Fantastic Four #4 (May 2004), #10 (Oct 2004), #42 (Jul 2007)
Life World Library: Israel. Time Incorporated, New York (1965).
Sacred Books of the World. A.C. Bouquet. Penguin Books, London (1954).

"Fantastic City" is in my current show in Los Angeles, "Super Heroes, Holy Land" – in which all of the papercuts are inspired by my recent family trip to Israel. This one is already sold, but there are still pieces available for purchase.

Super Heroes, Holy Land: "Tower of David"

This is "Tower of David" — one of the works in my all-new show, "Super Heroes, Holy Land!"

The Tower of David as it now stands is actually an Ottoman structure, having been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times since it was first built in the second century B.C.E.   — with no connection to King David at all. Nonetheless it has come to represent him and his palace, and has a place on every Jerusalem tourist’s list. In addition to the stone textures taken from comics used to build this paper tower, there are pieces from Theodore Herzl’s speech at the First Zionist Conference and from a traveler’s phrasebook, underscoring the dichotomy between the history of Israel and the way these sites are experienced by the tourist. This papercut includes:

Automatic Kafka #1 (Sep 2002)
300 #2 and #3 (Jun and Jul 1998)
Aquaman #23.1 (Nov 2013)
Dreadstar and Company #6
(Dec 1985)
Green Lantern #23.3 (Nov 2013)
The Infinite Horizon #4 (Sep 2011)
Infinite Vacation #5 (Jan 2013)
Justice League of America #7.4 (Nov 2013)
Secret #2 (Jun 2012)
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #12 (Jan 1993)
Wonder Woman #23.2 (Nov 2013)

Berlitz Hebrew Phrase Book. Grosset & Dunlap, New York (1964).
Israel. Ed. by Yigael Yadin. Massadah Publishing Co. Ltd., Tel Aviv (1958). Portion used is an essay by David Ben-Gurion.
“The Jewish State.” Theodore Herzl, 1896.

The show is open through March 14 at UCLA Hillel's Dortort Gallery in Los Angeles, at 574 Hilgard Avenue; call 310-208-3081 for more information.

And you can see all of the work online in this PDF catalog.

Tonight: opening reception for "Super Heroes, Holy Land"

This is "The Menorah," one of the papercuts in my all-new show, "Super Heroes, Holy Land" – opening tonight at the Dortort Gallery at UCLA Hillel in Los Angeles. The reception is free and open to the public, and goes from 7 to 9 p.m. The show is open through March 14.

The Knesset Menorah, upon which this papercut is based, is itself a history text, with scenes carved into detailing the history of the Jewish people. In “The Menorah,” cut-up scenes and speech bubbles from Daredevil comics stand in lieu of these stories; the story of this blind super hero who faces continual trials and challenges serves as a parallel to the high and low points of our people’s narrative. It includes:

Automatic Kafka #1 (Sep 2002), #3 (Nov 2002), #4 (Dec 2002)
Daredevil [vol 1] #107 (Jul 2008)
Daredevil [vol 2] #56 (Mar 2004)
Daredevil [vol 3] #14 (Aug 2012), #15 (Sep 2012), #16 (Oct 2012), #27 (Aug 2013)
Powerless #3 (2005)
Secret #1 (May 2012)
Testament #9 (Oct 2006), #11 (Dec 2006) 

Jews, God and History. Max Dimont. The New American Library, New York (1964). 

I've posted a PDF catalog of all the work in the show – so please click the link and take a look.

Reception details
Dortort Gallery, UCLA Hillel
574 Hilgard Avenue  •  Los Angeles, CA 90024

Parking is available across the street at on-campus meters; call 310-208-3081 for more information.

Super Heroes, Holy Land: "Tree of Knowledge" (for Tu B'shevat)

This is "Tree of Knowledge," one of the new papercuts premiering in my new show, "Super Heroes, Holy Land" — opening tomorrow night at UCLA Hillel's Dortort Gallery in Westwood.

It seemed an appropriate papercut to share on Tu B'Shevat, the "new year of the trees." It's inspired by a vision of Israel in its early years being planted with trees funded by Jews around the world. This tree is a representation of this bustling growth of the state, backed by cut-up dictionaries and representations of books and libraries from comics.

Opening Night Details
Thursday, January 16, from 7 to 9 at the Dortort Gallery: 574 Hilgard Avenue; LA, CA 90024. Parking is available across the street at on-campus meters; call 310-208-3081 for more information. The show is open through March 14. And if you want to see what else is in the show, please check out the online PDF catalog.

"Super Heroes, Holy Land" catalog now online

I've posted a PDF catalog of all the work in my new show, "Super Heroes, Holy Land" – so please click the link and take a look.

The show comprises all new work exploring Israel's history and its present, as well as the narrative inherent in country-building and the ideals of Zionism. The papercuts show the country in natural as well as architectural settings, in work driven by story and character. They feature cut-up comics, including Israeli ones I purchased on my trip, as well as pieces of old books, maps and ephemera collected during the trip.

You can see all of the work LIVE this Thursday (January 16) at the opening night reception for the show. Join me from 7-9 pm at the Dortort Gallery at UCLA Hillel in Los Angeles: 574 Hilgard Avenue; LA, CA 90024. Parking is available across the street at on-campus meters; call 310-208-3081 for more information. The show is open through March 14.

Rhea Carmi's "Humanity's Struggles"

My opening is next Thursday, January 16, at the Dortort Gallery (at the UCLA Hillel) in Los Angeles from 7 to 9 pm; I'd love to see you there. There are actually three artists opening new shows at the  Hillel that night, which means LOTS of great art for you to enjoy.

Rhea Carmi is one of them. Her work "celebrates with antiquity the everlasting human spirit, which survives the brutality, and insanity of war, aridity and harshness of human nature as it endures." Her series called "Humanity's Struggles" is very strong, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it – here are some detail shots I took when I stopped by last week for a sneak preview.

The opening night reception is free to the public — join me on Thursday, January 16, 2014, from 7-9 pm at the Dortort Gallery at UCLA Hillel in Los Angeles: 574 Hilgard Avenue; LA, CA 90024. Parking is available across the street at on-campus meters; call 310-208-3081 for more information. The show is open through March 14.

Super Heroes, Holy Land: Thickets

Above on the left is my new papercut about the binding of Isaac, called "The Thicket." On the right is a piece by Avner Moriah on the same subject. Both are at the UCLA Hillel building right now – and you can see them and much more on Thursday, January 16.

My new show is called "Super Heroes, Holy Land" and is inspired by my family trip to Israel this past summer. It's all new work, and it's all stunning – and some of the largest work I've yet made.

The opening night reception is Thursday, January 16, from 7 to 9 pm, and it's free to the public. Plus, it's also the opening night for Avner Moriah and Rhea Carmi, who have work in other locations in the Hillel building.

Please join me at the Dortort Gallery at UCLA Hillel in Los Angeles: 574 Hilgard Avenue; LA, CA 90024. Parking is available across the street at on-campus meters; call 310-208-3081 for more information. The show is open through March 14.

Super Heroes, Holy Land: "Jerusalem of Gold"

This is "Jerusalem of Gold," one of the new pieces I'm premiering in my next show, which opens on January 16 at the Dortort Gallery in Los Angeles.

The show is called "Super Heroes, Holy Land!" and it's inspired by my family trip to Israel this past summer — my first time back since my wife and I lived in Jerusalem for a year in the mid 1990s.

The show explores  Israel's history and its present, as well as the narrative inherent in country-building and the ideals of Zionism. The papercuts feature cut-up comics, including Israeli comics I purchased on my trip, as well as pieces of old books, maps and ephemera collected in Israel.

The opening night reception is free to the public, and there are two other artists premiering new work that same evening – a great night of art! Please join me on Thursday, January 16, 2014, from 7-9 p.m. at the Dortort Gallery at UCLA Hillel in Los Angeles: 574 Hilgard Avenue; LA, CA 90024. Parking is available across the street at on-campus meters; call 310-208-3081 for more information. The show is open through March 14.

“Jerusalem of Gold” references the story of Rabbi Akiva giving his wife a tiara with this name — just as the papercut explores the role of women in prayer and the continuing evolution and pursuit of gender equality at the Kotel (the Western Wall). The women in this piece are relegated to the margins, away from the Wall — and the speech bubble above Wonder Woman and her companion is blank, representing the silencing of women’s voices at this holy site.