The Place of the Cure of the Soul: A Commission for Robert Kirkman and Skybound

This is “The Place of the Cure of the Soul,” a papercut I was commissioned to create for Skybound Entertainment (Robert Kirkman! The Walking Dead! Yeah, those guys.)

The papercut is a representation of the Ancient Library of Alexandria, one of the largest libraries of the ancient world and dedicated to the Muses. According to legend, an inscription above the library’s shelves of papyrus scrolls read, “The Place of the Cure of the Soul” — and what better way to represent Skybound Entertainment, whose work serves that same goal — with its body of work encompassing comic books, television shows, merchandise, games and more.

This papercut is made of a single sheet of cold press watercolor stock, thematic selections from the Oxford English Dictionary, and cut-up comic books from Skybound Entertainment including:

Birthright #8 (Jun 2015), #12 (Dec 2015), #13 (Jan 2016), #16 (Jun 2016)

Invincible #121 (Jul 2015), #123 (Sep 2015), #126 (Dec 2015), #128 (May 2016)

Manifest Destiny #14 (Apr 2016), #15 (Jun 2015), #18 (Oct 2015), #19 (May 2016), #20 (Jun 2016)

Outcast #12 (Sep 2015), #15 – #17 (Jan – Mar 2016)

Techjacket #10 (Jun 2015), #11 (Sep 2015), #12 (Dec 2015)

Thief of Thieves #28 (May 2015), #30 (Aug 2015), #31 (Sep 2015)

The Walking Dead #142 (Jun 2015), #149 (Dec 2015), #150 (Jan 2016), #151 (Feb 2016), #153 – #156 (Apr – July 2016)

"Tower of Babel" at the Pacific Design Center

This is "Tower of Babel," which will be included in "One for the Road," an exciting group show being held this Friday, January 31, at the Hudson|Linc gallery at the Pacific Design Center.

This papercut is made with cut-up and reassembled speech bubbles. It's probably obvious why. On the left is the piece in its frame; on the right, a detail shot.

It's Hudson|Linc's last show in this space, it's only for one night. It's a "cash and carry" show, with all works priced at $1000 and under. It's suite B215 at the Big Blue Whale from 5 to 8:30 pm. Artists in the show include:

Anthony Ausgang
Jaime Becker
Debra Bianculli
Dave Bondi
Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik
Gavin Bunner
Sam Dahl
Walpa D'Mark
Chuck Feesago
David French
Tm Gratkowski
Kio Griffith
Paul Guillemette
Zeal Harris
Brian Hollister
Thomas Isaac
James Johnson
Ben Junta
Kohl King
Shannon LaBelle
Olga Lah
Leanne Lee
Nick Lisica
Chris Mercier
Miriam Noske
Mary Anna Pomonis
Steven Poster
Max Presneill
Dominic Quagliozzi
Mike Reynolds
Sandy Rodriguez
Andy Romanoff
Yoshie Sakai
Danny Schaefer
Julia Strickler
Ami Tallman
Christa Toole
Philip Vaughan
Marjan Vayghan
Mike Vegas
Tracey Weiss
Renelle White Buffalo
Steven Wolkoff
Peggy Zask
Essi Zimm

Doctrine of Law

This is "Doctrine of Law," a papercut I made for the silent auction at Temple Ahavat Shalom's gala this year. The gala and auction are being held this Sunday, June 2, and support temple activities throughout the year. If you haven't gotten your tickets yet, or if you want more information about the auction, click here. A full list of auction items is available as a PDF.

"Doctrine of Law" is an exploration of the role of Torah – the "tree of life" – in our lives, in the past and present. I see Torah as a living document, one that must be read and reread and continuously interpreted and understood for each generation; the tree will always be an appropriate metaphor for Torah. It's backed with cut-up comics and a snippet from Ye That Thirst by David Hausdorff, published by Shulsinger Brothers in Brooklyn in 1940; that snippet is how this cut got its name.

"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.

Rebel Spies

"Rebel Spies" — one of the new papercuts I'll be featuring in my upcoming show, which opens this Sunday (click the image to see it larger).

"Rebel Spies" is based on Shelach Lecha in the Torah (Numbers 13:1–15:41). Moses sends spies to scout out the Land of Canaan, and they return with stories of giants who live there and clusters of grapes so large it takes two men to carry them. The story is a contrast between those who fear going into the land, and those who have faith that with God they will succeed. The papercut includes cut-up Star Wars comics, with characters and speech bubbles that complement the biblical story. So yeah, that is Princess Leia in one of the grapes.*

The opening reception for my next show — where you can see this new papercut in the flesh, as it were — is Sunday, September 9, at the Osher Marin JCC; details here. The show will be open through the end of November, but I'll be posting a catalog on my blog later this week, in case you can't make it in person.

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*Are you curious about the comics that get cut up when I make my papercuts? Here's what's included in "Rebel Spies":

• Star Wars #3, #68, #70 (Marvel) – Sep 1977, Feb & Apr 1983
• Star Wars #17, #18, #30 (Dark Horse) – Apr & May 2000, May 2001
• Star Wars: Jedi Council #3 of 4 (DH) – Aug 2000
• Star Wars Crimson Empire II #3 of 6 (DH) – Jan 1999)
• Star Wars Empire #34 (DH) – Jul 2005
• Star Wars Jedi: The Dark Side #3 (DH) – Jul 2011
• Star Wars Legacy #15 (DH) – Aug 2007
• Star Wars Rebellion #5 & #15 (DH) – Aug 2006 & Jul 2008
• “The Grand Canyon” (National Geographic) – Jul 1978

The power of words

No title for this piece just yet. It's about the creation of the world and the power of words, and it features a lot of Black Bolt. I've got three close-up shots I took while I was making it, showing how it developed. You won't see Black Bolt here, however — just Metamorpho and The Watcher.

You'll be able to see the whole thing (and lots more all-new work) in my upcoming show at the Osher Marin JCC. Please join me at the opening reception on September 9, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the JCC. There will be free food, and local comics shop Blue Moon Comics will be bringing Jewish-created comics and graphic novels for your perusal and pleasure.

Completed commission: "Psalm 150"

Here's my latest completed commission: "Psalm 150." This papercut was commissioned as a gift for a local musician who is an accomplished pianist, conductor, orchestrator, composer and vocalist. It's based on the words of Psalm 150, written by King David, and urges the praise of God through music:

Halleluyah!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for His mighty acts;
praise Him for His excellent greatness!
Praise Him with blasts of the horn;
praise Him with harp and lyre!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
praise Him with clashing cymbals!
Let all that breathes praise God. Halleluyah.

The papercut is built on the word which appears at the beginning of many of the poem’s lines: 
“הללוהו – Halleluhu – Praise Him.” Within those letters are the psalmist’s words for each of the instruments. Surrounding the letters are swirling patterns of line and shape that evoke those instruments: the curved neck of a lute, the narrow waist of a drum, the plucked strings of a lyre, and more.

The background of this papercut features the tones and textures of musical instruments, in blues and browns and gold and silver, alongside snippets of cut-up comic books and a medieval illustration of King David himself, playing his harp. There are numerous surprises to be found in these backgrounds, including one space left intentionally blank as a nod to the pauses between notes which, as one famous musician said, is where artistry lies.

"Ahavat Olam" in online auction to support Temple Ahavat Shalom

I've donated a signed, framed giclée print of my "Ahavat Olam" papercut to support the 2012 Temple Ahavat Shalom Gala auction. It's a 16x20 giclée print, and you can bid for it online right now; just follow this link.

"Ahavat Olam" is from my Paper Tefillah series, which features 16 papercuts that represent the major prayers of contemporary Jewish worship. It's a prayer about God's gift of Torah to the Jewish people, and I've represented it as the Etz Chaim (Tree of Life). The leaves and branches 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.

More details -- and ONLINE BIDDING -- here. Bidding will continue at the gala at Temple Ahavat Shalom on Sunday, June 24 -- gala details here.

Completed commission: "Visions of Johanna"

It's Bob Dylan's birthday today, and what better day to share my latest completed commission: "Visions of Johanna," a portrait of Dylan couched in the metaphor of the story of Jonah — they have both been called reluctant prophets, and they both have their visions.

The visions of Jonah came as he sat in the belly of the big fish which swallowed him. He had saved the fish from its destined death by the Leviathan, and midrash tells us that in return the fish took him on a journey through time and space — showing him the origin of the oceans, the path of the Israelites through the Red Sea, the beginning of breakers and waves, the pillars of the earth, and much more. These visions are represented by the textures and shapes within the big fish of this papercut, while it is behind these lines that Dylan’s visions are shown.

Represented through various salvaged papers, photographs, and textures, including pieces of The Bob Dylan Scrapbook, are representations of lyrics from Dylan’s “Visions of Johanna” — a handful of rain, the ghost of electricity, small talk at the wall, infinity up on trial, jewels and binoculars, the nightingale’s code, whispering and muttering...

There are fragments from the book of Jonah from a volume of Tanakh originally destined for ritual burial in the genizah. There are glimpses of album covers of “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan,” “Highway 61 Revisited,” and “Blonde on Blonde,” from which the song “Visions of Johanna” is taken.

There’s a piece of sheet music and handwritten lyrics scattered through the waves. There’s a bit of Dylan Thomas (from “Ballad of the Long-Legged Bait”), from whom Dylan took his surname. There’s a map, constellations, a reference to Woody Guthrie, a miniature figure of the prophet/musician himself... and more.

It is a raucous, wild, portrait of the artist through the metaphor of Tanakh and midrash, designed to illuminate Dylan’s character and encourage exploration of his lyrics and influence.

Lettering a ketubah

I'm at work lettering a ketubah right now, and thought I'd share a photo of my work table and tools. I always enjoy seeing another artist's workspace; I hope you enjoy seeing mine.

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.

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: "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.

 

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.

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.

"King David": Commission for a Magician

I'm very pleased to share with you a photo of my latest completed commission, titled "King David."

[CLICK TO SEE IT LARGER]

Commissioned for award-winning magician Paul Green by his wife to mark his birthday, "King David" is a representation in paper of the King of Spades playing card, an oft-used tool of the close-up magician. The King of Spades is traditionally known as King David -- an acclaimed warrior, musician, and poet, and credited with writing most of the Book of Psalms.

The "King David" papercut brings together magic and Judaism in this birthday commission, backed in shades of green to represent Paul's name and his predilection for that color.

The background of the papercut features cut-up comics, featuring snippets of Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and others. The papercut also includes a section from Psalm 145 (from a book taken from the genizah before ritual burial), written by King David, which contains reference to "thy wondrous works" -- used by the artist as an allusion to Paul's magic. The English words of the psalm are found in the "top" face, and the corresponding Hebrew is found in the reverse.

Below are details of the two faces -- click the images to see them larger.

New papercut: "Higher and Higher"

As I teased in an earlier post, I've been working on a new papercut inspired by the seventh chapter of Bereshit... here's a photo of it on my table (click it to see it larger).


Tentatively titled "Higher and Higher" -- named for one of the snippets of text in the background -- this papercut shows Noah's ark being raised by the uprushing "fountains of the deep" described in the Torah, while flooding rains fall from the sky.

The background is made up of a selection of grayscale and limited-palette comics, pages from a 1946 book of biblical commentary titled Pathways Through the Bible (which I rescued from the genizah box at our synagogue), and a photograph from an old National Geographic magazine.

Here are some close-up shots.