Conscious Community Series - 2019 - 2021
Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira (1889 – 1943), the Aish Kodesh of Piaseczna, whose concept of a “conscious community” inspired this series of paintings, was a revered Chassidic rabbi who devoted his last years uplifting the broken spirits of the Jews of the Warsaw Ghetto. Fortunately, he had the foresight to bury his manuscripts shortly before the liquidation of the Ghetto. This spiritual treasure was found after the war among the ruins. It was his hope that others would learn from the holy legacy he left behind. In the midst of unbelievable darkness, he conveyed to his community the gifts of light and spirit. I have chosen to spread his ideals symbolically through visual imagery.
Rabbi Shapira envisioned a “conscious community” - an assembly of people united in their common goal to live mindfully and generate positive thoughts. The goal of this alliance was to love each other and be mindful of God at all times, to see beyond the mundane world and to allow their spiritual sensibilities to guide them.
These paintings include little white sparks in the lower portion of the canvases. This represents the brilliant light emanating from the souls of the members of the community, points of holiness that pierced through the darkness - a primary teaching of Rabbi Shapira.
The soft-edge color washes and hard-edge bands push and pull throughout the surface of the canvas, reflecting the inner struggle between the emotions and the intellect, generating organic vitality. The spacing and color interactions evoke a higher purpose, a movement towards transcendence.
My color system and stain technique were developed while studying at Oklahoma University with Professor Gene Bavinger, who taught me a formal system of how to juxtapose cool and warm colors. I have been influenced by the works of Abstract Expressionist Helen Frankenthaler and minimalist Agnes Martin.
Rabbi Shapira envisioned a “conscious community” - an assembly of people united in their common goal to live mindfully and generate positive thoughts. The goal of this alliance was to love each other and be mindful of God at all times, to see beyond the mundane world and to allow their spiritual sensibilities to guide them.
These paintings include little white sparks in the lower portion of the canvases. This represents the brilliant light emanating from the souls of the members of the community, points of holiness that pierced through the darkness - a primary teaching of Rabbi Shapira.
The soft-edge color washes and hard-edge bands push and pull throughout the surface of the canvas, reflecting the inner struggle between the emotions and the intellect, generating organic vitality. The spacing and color interactions evoke a higher purpose, a movement towards transcendence.
My color system and stain technique were developed while studying at Oklahoma University with Professor Gene Bavinger, who taught me a formal system of how to juxtapose cool and warm colors. I have been influenced by the works of Abstract Expressionist Helen Frankenthaler and minimalist Agnes Martin.
