From the Depths I Call to You, Fiber Art, 27″ x 21″, 2012 In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast leaving behind destruction anything seen before in New York and New Jersey. Using photographs by Theodore Parisienne and words from Psalms 130:1, this piece represents the feeling of absolute helplessness that was felt following the storm.
Repentance, Fiber Art, 12″ x 12″, 2008 This piece is part of a series on the blessings of the weekday Amidah prayer. Through this blessing, which is recited every day, we ask God to lead us back to the right path. In this piece, an open zipper represents this opening of the self as we show both God and ourselves the messy inside of our lives which we otherwise try to keep covered and under control.
Steven, Fiber Art, 96″ x 30″, 2011 An inside panel of “Temporary Shelter”, this piece tells the story of Steven who grew up on the streets of New Jersey. His mother was unable to take care of him and his three sisters so he was raised by his grandmother. He dropped out of school in 6th grade and, by the age of 13, he was getting high with his friends, which led to a life of petty crime and hard drugs. Now, at the age of 42, he is ready to break away from that world. He is in a 12 steps program as well as programs for behavior modification and relapse prevention. He is also learning the trade of plumbing and writes poetry that reflects his new outlook on life. This piece shows his journey from the darkness of drugs to the light of religion, poetry and an honest profession. The words from two of his poems are included in the piece. The first, which speaks about his belief in God and the need to do the right thing, acts as a divider between his two lives. The second, a poem he wrote for his mother about believing in yourself, pours out of an open journal toward the light of his new life.
NYC-based Jewish Art Salon is a 501.c.3 non-profit; an international artists & scholars organization for contemporary Jewish visual art. It provides exhibitions, important resources and programs, and develops lasting partnerships with artists, curators and the general public.