Samuel Abelow recounts a lively exchange with artist Maurizio Cattelan outside "A Hug From the Art World" gallery. Curious about Abelow's tzitzit, Cattelan's questions spark a conversation about Jewish customs, spirituality, and cultural misconceptions. Through humor and storytelling, Abelow offers insights into faith and identity, bridging cultural gaps in an unexpected meeting of art and tradition.
Read MoreScenes from the Soul: Francesco Clemente, the Upper East Side Art World /
In a vivid interplay between the NYC art world and studio solitude, this essay explores Francesco Clemente's star-studded show alongside the writer's own mystical painting practice, uncovering shared esoteric themes. From gallery encounters to personal revelations, it reveals art as both a social celebration and a deeply personal affirmation.
Read MoreIdentity in Diaspora: A Kaleidoscope of the Personal & Universal /
A highly personal statement weaves together psychoanalysis and artistic process.
Read MoreA Conversation With Julian Schnabel /
Now, Julian Schnabel was right in front of me. There was a tall blonde woman in a black dress to his right – I think that is his current wife. And there was the blonde boy clinging to the painter’s jacket. I went up to Mr. Schnabel.
I said, “Hello Rabbi Schnabel, I have a question for you.”
Read MoreEpilogue: Synchronicity & Living Beyond Separateness /
I profess in writing, in songs and to friends, about how I see synchronicity and how God’s hashgacha pratis is in everything, and here I was, I was tested! The frustration built up and I prayed out loud, which led to this outreach conversation. The relationship between the identity of this young woman and my painting of Sheba was an obvious synchronicity. However this was just the icing on the cake; Gods way of winking at me, that there was a meaning behind all those inconveniences of my commute. The deeper meaning here is the enforcing that there is always a meaning, a connection to the Greater Being.
Read MoreSynchronicity in the City: A Mystical Bud Light /
Outside, the eerily warm ambience set the stage for me to get Kendra's reaction to my latest music recording, a sort of irony packed pop tune like The1975 or Lana Del Rey, but with a Jewish slant.
Read MoreSynchronicity in the City: Why Art, Why a World? /
I inspect the meticulous layers and sophisticated use of color: “The discipline and commitment to a particular mode and approach in a serious way, makes EJ’s works art.” I pause, “The paintings seem rather buyable to me. There’s a decorative value to them. I could imagine a young live streamer with expendable income putting that lime green one on the wall.” Another pause, “And then, there's also effort and intention involved. One person makes a doodle on the back of their homework, another invests a year investigating doodles on large format canvases and puts it in a gallery for commercial sale. Is not the intention and follow-through relevant to what defines art?”
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