You Only Think That

My head is in the West, but my heart is in the East. And my heart aches.

This is "You Only Think That," a 2014 papercut portrait of the Old City of Jerusalem made of cut-up war comics — a mixture of sun-drenched golden walls and darker passageways and shadows. The presence of helicopters and jeeps and part of an ad for war-themed toys undermines the city’s dream of peace. The city's golden walls are dark with the stain of war.

I dream of peace for Jerusalem, and Israel, and all of the world. I dream of peace for all that seek it. And the news from Jerusalem today pains me.

The title is taken from a speech bubble at the top of the papercut – it's one of the things that maddens and saddens me: that from over here in the West I can't truly know what's going on, and I can't truly contribute to making Israel what I want it to be.


I dream of peace, and my heart aches.

____________________

You Only Think That
18" x 24"
Mixed media
2014

Truth, Justice, Peace – Captain America and Rabbi Steve Sirbu

Truth, Justice, Peace
16" x 20"
Mixed media
2016

Truth, Justice, Peace is an original papercut that was commissioned as a gift for Rabbi Steven Sirbu by Temple Emeth of New Jersey on the occasion of their 2016 Spring Gala honoring him (this past weekend) on the occasion of his “bar mitzvah year” with that congregation. He's also a long-time friend.

The piece is inspired by Rabbi Sirbu’s work for the congregation and his dedication to truth, justice, and peace — with words from Pirkei Avot which tell us that the world is sustained by those three concepts. However, the middle concept in Pirkei Avot, in the original Hebrew, is דין (“deen”) which is usually translated as “judgment.” Artistic license transforms that word to צדק (“tzedek”). Supported by these words is the world itself, with New Jersey in central position.

The papercut is made of cut-up comic books featuring Captain America, symbol of truth, justice, and peace — a man who has dedicated his life to helping others and serving higher causes. Captain America’s real name, of course, is Steve Rogers — another connection to Rabbi Sirbu. Within the Hebrew we find words celebrating those qualities for which Captain America and Rabbi Sirbu fight, as well as references to the original words from Pirkei Avot and a reference to Temple Emeth.

This piece includes:

• Captain America #263 (Jan 1986), #322 (Oct 86), #333-338 (Oct 87 – Feb 88), #413 (Mar 1993), #600 (Aug 2009), #634 (Sep 2012), #636 (Nov 2012), #12 (Dec 2013)
• Captain America – Marvel Knights #14 (Aug 2003)
• Avengers #501 (Oct 2004)
• Ultimate New Ultimates #1 (May 2010)

Three Things

I've made a new papercut to donate to this weekend's fundraising auction at the annual Temple Ahavat Shalom gala (Saturday, May 31, 2014).

In Pirkei Avot 1:18 we read, "Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel tells us that the world stands upon three things: truth, justice, and peace." This papercut takes as its inspiration the journeys of friendship and giving that have sustained Mindy & Dave and Debbie & Scott, being honored at this year's gala — the ideals that make them who they are, and their commitment to tikkun olam... to fixing the world that they see on their travels.

In this papercut the world is represented supported on a foundation of these three ideals, rendered in papercut Hebrew: emet, tzedek, and shalom. It is titled "Three things," and it's backed with cut-up comics including:

The Infinite Horizon (#5, Oct 2011)
The Infinite Vacation (#5, Jan 2013)
Batman/Superman (#8, Apr 2014)
Superman (#23.3, Nov 2013)
Wonder Woman (#23.2, Nov 2013)
Justice League Europe (#2, May 1989)
Nextwave (#1, 2006)

Details on the gala can be found on the web here. If you're interested in bidding in absentia, please email here or call (818) 360-2258.


Three things
16" x 20"
Mixed media
2014

"Shalom" print in auction to support Temple Ahavat Shalom

This is "Shalom," one of the 16 papercuts in my "Paper Tefillah" series. I've donated a giclée print of "Shalom" to the silent auction at this Sunday's Temple Ahavat Shalom Early Childhood Education Center luncheon.

It's a 16" x 20" signed giclée print (archival ink on archival watercolor stock, framed by me). "Shalom" represents the prayer for peace. The dove is a universal symbol for peace; likely because of its presence on Noah’s Ark. The dove in this papercut is in flight with wings unfurled, backed with comics featuring winged heroes who strive to bring peace and defend it, notably Angel from the X-Men, Hawkman, and Zauriel. Also contained within the wings of the dove are the Hebrew words of "Sim Shalom" and English prayers for peace.

It's a low-tech auction – if you want to bid, you've got to go the luncheon (Sunday, March 4, at Temple Ahavat Shalom); call 818 360 2258 for details.