On October 7th, about two weeks before this excursion described above, Hamas infamously attacked civilians in Southern Israel. The terrorists performed barbaric acts. The mystic asks: Where is this Hamas in me? That is the red fox. My own inner animal, which when left untamed, can do the unspeakable.
I traveled to the university museum on a Wednesday. That previous Saturday, as the Sabbath came to a close, my friend Levi Paris asleep upstairs, I flipped through the New Yorker – a magazine subscription my parents have had for decades. The very last page was an advertisement for an exhibition at the local university gallery: In Real Times - Arthur Szyk:
Read MoreI began the summer painting season (June 21) with a succession of varied works on paper: my princess, a metaphor for the soul, in a state of gem-like regal serenity. I slashed away at old canvases with oil sticks, inspired by the Spencer Lewis Russel and Oscar Murillo paintings.
What did these two disparate interests have in common? (That is, the Princess-Soul, and these rugged modern painters) The Feminine Archetype, of course.
According to the model of psychologist C.G. Jung, as well as Jewish Mystical thought (Chassidut), the feminine is symbolized by earth. Painting utilizes earthly substances – oils and pigment. [Note from Johaness, editor: Heidegger speaks of painting as “earth”/”dirt”.] Therefore painting is an investigation of the feminine domain – an expression of the uniting of the intellectual & physical, the spiritual & material, a Uniting of Heaven & Earth, of the Masculine & Feminine.
Read MoreThis essay explores how Naudline Cluvie Pierre’s mystical paintings have a profound impact on the expression of blackness in America. Written from the perspective of a Jewish-American author, it uncovers the intricate connections between black and Jewish histories, highlighting their respectful interactions and distinct yet intertwined experiences.
By examining Pierre's symbolism, such as serpents, faces, and flames, the essay delves into the artist's ability to evoke profound narratives of transformation. It celebrates Pierre's role in creating a space where black audiences find representation while fostering a universal sense of connection that transcends cultural boundaries.
Read MoreMugler is quoted as saying that all of his work was to make people “appear stronger than they actually are.” But, I felt that my fascination with his pieces was that they make the woman appear outside of this world, as if soaring in a spiritual world.
That is why the highlight piece from the show – which I agree with the Brooklyn Museum curators on – is most certainly the woman that is “part tuna and part bird”, as I said on camera. Her headpiece extends out with gorgeous black and teal wings, and her bosom and torso has scales, like armor – yes – but like a vision that Ezekiel might’ve had as well.
Read MoreAnselm Kiefer is a titan of painting. He is the only living painter with a work at the Louvre. As an American jewish artist, who is studying at a yeshiva, it was especially meaningful that Kiefer, a German artist, approached jewish themes. Our conversation was memorable and is documented in this blog.
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