AN EXERCISE IN VISUAL MIDRASH:
RE-VISIONING JEWISHNESS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR ANCESTORS THROUGH ARTISTIC EXPLORATION
The poster above, created as a collaboration between poet Devon Spier and artist Lena Rivkah, came from a meditation on Selichot. What does it mean to think of our ancestors in the wilderness, grasping toward peoplehood? To pray Shema Koleinu at the top of our voices, grasping toward g-d and ourselves? To see ourselves in our ancestors and discover them anew through existing commentaries and midrashim, and then make our own?
Below are some of my 25+ portraits of Jewish imahot, conceived broadly to include heroes from the Tanakh and beyond
In order of appearance below: Chava (Eve), Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, Bilhah, Joheved, Miriam, Naomi, Ruth, Devorah, Esther, Vashti, and Judith (the gal who began this project!)
