Valley of One Thousand Hills

“Valley of One Thousand Hills” was commissioned for Jonathan Liebesman in 2017 to mark his birthday, and is inspired by a quote from Nelson Mandela’s autobiography:

“After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.”

This papercut is about life as a journey, about finding one’s place and mission, and a way to connect to the world. It’s about the need to be doing good, important work — and that there’s always more to be done. The landscape includes the distinctive quiver tree (indigenous to South Africa) and the rolling patchwork hills of the Valley of One Thousand Hills, from which it takes its name.

Mandela gazing out over the landscape, an excerpt from X-Men #76 (June 1998),
and text from D'varim (Deuteronomy) 11:11

Hills have significance to the Jewish tradition as well. The city of Jerusalem is said to have been built on seven hills; in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 11:11 we read, “The land into which you go is a land of hills and valleys and drinks water of the rain of heaven.”

Loki riding across the hills, with Raphael looking on.

The background elements all come from Jonathan’s journey so far: South Africa and Mandela (from the 2009 Nelson Mandela: The Authorized Comic Book), and also the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Wars, Loki and more.

"Jacob and Esau" receives juror's award at Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center

I'm so pleased to share the good news: my "Jacob and Esau" papercut has been awarded a juror's award in the "Heroes & Villains" show at Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center.

I have three pieces in the show, which is open through August in Maryland.

Heroes & Villains: Exploring Archetypes Through Art

I'm pleased to announce that three of my papercuts have been accepted into an upcoming show called "Heroes & Villains: Exploring Archetypes Through Art" at the Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center, a museum in Maryland affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution. I'm packing up "The Thicket," Jacob and Esav," and "Masters of Mysticism" for a little cross-country trip!

Left to right: The Thicket, Jacob and Esav, Masters of Mysticism

The opening reception will be Friday, June 19, from 6 to 9 pm, and the show is open through August 23.

For more information about the show, you can visit the website here.

Beware the trickery of "Trickster Coyote"

I've completed my "Trickster Coyote" papercut today! Based on the traditional Native American representation of Trickster Coyote, the piece uses cut-up Loki comics as background texture, bringing together an ancient trickster with a comic book counterpart. The Loki pieces are from Thor comics throughout the 20th century, including some Jack Kirby and John Buscema. There are also some Native American colors and textures (courtesy of Alpha Flight and The Ringo Kid), and a few other surprises here and there.

This piece, and many others, will be on display in my upcoming one-man show at Brave New World Comics (the opening reception is Saturday, September 11).

Trickster Coyote papercut begins to take shape

I'm working on a papercut for my upcoming show at Brave New World Comics (opening reception is Saturday, September 11), and I thought I'd share a couple of detail photos as it's coming together. The image on the left is just the cut; on the right you can see the background getting filled in -- I'm using Loki as a primary background element, but there may be some other characters you recognize once it's done...