Israel, his Wives, & the 12 Tribes, 2012. Oil on wood panel, 30×40 in.
Then: Israel was the name given to Jacob after he spent an entire night wrestling with an angel, and the name was used from then on to refer to the Jewish people as a whole. His 12 sons, each becoming a tribe as they themselves fathered families, grew to be known as B’nei Yisroel, the children of Israel. Each tribe was given a specific blessing at Jacob’s deathbed, and they carried flags that flew a symbol related to their defining attributes.
Now: East meets west as the figures from Jan Van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait are updated with African patterning, a Hindu representation of the multiple wives, and a Japanese composite of the symbols of the 12 tribes of Israel. The two central figures each have a hand with the traditional priestly blessing formation. The faces are inspired by Mizrachi Jews of Yemen who have the most historically unchanged customs in Judaism today. In the center-left there is a string of letters from the ancient Paleo-Hebrew characters that spell out “B’nai Yisroel” or “Children of Israel” in a graffiti style. The letter yud from the end of B’nai and beginning of Yisroel is shared to show there is no separation between the original Israel and the descendants.Deborah Rises in Judgement, 2012. Oil on canvas, 30×40 in.
Kylie Lefkowitz as Deborah
Then: Deborah was a prophetess and judge, an important leadership position prior to the Israelite monarchy. She was known for conducting her business beneath a palm tree. Along with Yael, she is recognized for being a strong, independent woman who was crucial in the Jewish victory against the Canaanite army under the command of Sisera.
Now: Kylie Lefkowitz is a modern Jew and her sense of religious identity stems from a free Birthright trip to Israel. The candy striped background is reflective of her energetic and creative energy, complimenting her colorful dreadlocks.Broadway the Divide, Mixed Media, 19×13 in. 2009 Broadway in Brooklyn in the dividing line between the Hipster and Hassidic sides of Williamsburg. I am standing in the middle, an artist and religious Jew.
Born in 1987, and based in Brooklyn, Elke Reva Sudin is a graduate of Pratt Institute and fine art painter.
Elke has exhibited extensively in solo and group shows in New York City as well as at Art Basel Week Miami, the Canton Museum of Art, and the Madden Museum.
Selected solo exhibitions
“We Are Patriarchs” 2013, at the Hadas Gallery, Brooklyn NY “Hipsters & Hassids” (various dates), at the German Consulate (NYC), the Jewish Education Project (NYC), Le Salon D’Art (NYC), the Chase Family Gallery, Hartford, CT; and the Greenstein Gallery (Long Island).
Selected group exhibitions
“Sacred Voices,” 2013, at the Canton Museum of Art
“Fiesta Lenta” 2014, during Art Basel Week, Miami
“Transcending History: Moving Beyond Slavery and the Holocaust”, 2010, Vivant Art Collection, Philadelphia.
The Jewish Art Salon (JAS) is a 501.c.3 non-profit organization. It is a global network of contemporary visual artists and art professionals. Established in 2008 and based in New York City, JAS has over 400 members and over 2,000 participants. Through its 60+ shows, events and collaborations in the US, Europe and Israel, JAS has reached approximately 30,000 individuals since its inception. JAS provides important programs and resources, and develops lasting partnerships with the international art community and the general public.
