SACI Studio Art Centers International, Florence, Italy, October 2007                                                  

                                                    

                                                            

 

Encaustic Painting

 Encaustic is an ancient painting medium using molten wax mixed with colored pigments. It was developed in ancient Egypt to paint portraits on sarcophagi. Encaustic painting has seen a revival among contemporary artists, and I feel it is appropriate to my subject matter.

  

Qumran Series

The Qumran Series is inspired by the Dead Sea Scrolls and the vessels and the desert landscape where they were hidden 2,000 years ago. The Scrolls are the oldest copies of the Torah and were written in a tumultuous time in Jewish history - during the Roman occupation. I feel the mysteries of these scrolls may provide clues to our current crises in the Middle East.
                                                         

 

     

Babata and Her Daughters 2005 48 " x 60"

There were other papers found with the Dead Sea Scrolls. One was a bundle of papers belonging to a wealthy widow named Babata. Her papers recount her life: her marriage Katuba, deeds to land, and letters to those caring for her children. She seems no different from women today who must deal with the day-to-day realities of life and war.  I feel an affinity to Babata as if my existence is a result of    her choices and actions.  

                                                                                                                           Qumran 2005 24 " x 30 "

 

 

 

 Caves of Qumran 2005 13"  x 25 "

    

                                    The Salt Sea 2005 13"  x 25"

  

                                                                                                                        Geode Pot 2005  19 "  x  25 "                      

 

In the Avatamaska Realm 2005 13" x 25 "

  

Ema's Vessel 2006 6 " x 7"

 

  

Float Baby 2006 14 "  x  38 "

 

 

 

 

Walking on Water 2008 25 " x 73"

      wax cast of sandals
                                                                  

 

 

 

  Solomon's Bride 2008 14 " x 20 "

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This detail is one of the Egyptian Fayum mummy portraits that were done in encaustic around 200 A.D. The portraits were placed on the wrappings covering the mummified body. Most were done when the person was alive and are unusual for their natural realism. This portrait is believed to be of a Jewish woman. Mummification is an anathema in Jewish religion, but these portraits were created just after the Romans expelled the Jews from Israel. The Expulsion marked the beginning of the Jewish Diaspora and centuries of wandering. Jews were living in new lands and assimilating new cultures and traditions. It is possible this woman's descendents moved on to Spain or Europe and then on to America, and it is also possible her descendents returned to Israel after the Holocaust.

Shoah Series

 

 

 Right Brain Left Brain 2008    24 "  x  24 "

            

 

                                                                                                                                    Henrietta Szold 2004  6"  x  7 "

 

                                                                                                     Hidden Jewels 2006 25 "  x  25 "

 

                                                              Cellar Hope 2008 12 "  x  48 "  

 

 

            

 

  Rescue 2008  12 "  x  48 "  

 

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