Special Projects
These are some of the projects and events which have had significant impact and relevance to my artistic development.
Tree of Life Synagogue Memorial
From Darkness to Light
An affirmation of Life
I was honored to be one of 18 artists asked to create a mosaic to commemorate the lives lost in the horrific mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh PA in 2018.
My design centers on the word LIFE, CHAI in Hebrew, which is also the numerical equivalent of 18, a powerful & ritualistic number in the jewish tradition. I created a simplified version of the tree of life, to include eleven branches, each topped with a golden leaf, to commemorate the eleven lives lost in the incident.
On a more personal note, my father’s name, Chaim, is derived from the same root. As a first generation American, daughter of a holocaust survivor, I grew up with a keen awareness of anti-semitism, always trying my best to eradicate hatred and bigotry from my own life. It is an honor to contribute to this project.
L’Chaim – To Life!
International Symposium of Contemporary Mosaics, Sardinia
Find Your Own Path & Leave a Trail
“Find Your Own Path and Leave a Trail” (70 x 100 cm)
This work is an homage to my mother, who died at the age I am today. she always encouraged me to be creative and follow my passions. The inclusion of natural materials from Sardinia (cork, stone, a button with an historic imprint & sea polished ceramics) help to express the significance of this unforgettable moment of my journey. The pointing fingers and maze are indicative of the choices we all make throughout our lives. Whichever path you choose, enjoy your time & leave a mark for others to follow.
~ What I neglected to mention in my statement, is that the saying “Find your own path and leave a trail”, was printed on an a pencil my parents used for advertising their business. I remember growing up with those pencils in hand. Something rubbed off! ~
Smalti, dishes, ceramic, stone, cork, cork bark & sea polished tile.
Work created for & during the Third International Symposium of mosaic art in Ploaghe, Sardinia Italy. (July 31 – Aug 11, 2018)
Permanent collection of Contemporary Mosaic & Art Assocciation, Ploaghe. Sardinia Italy
International Virtual Symposium of Turkey
Tower of Contemplation: Digging Out & Rising Up
Digging out from the depression of the daily news,
I rise to the challenge.
Uncovering precious & forgotten materials,
that urge me to action.
Spirits soar with the breath of creation,
blocking out the noise and panic.
“It is proper that noble spirits, equipped with truth and enlightened with the Divine intelligence, should arm themselves against dense ignorance by climbing up to the high rock and tower of contemplation.” Giordano Bruno
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Created as part of the First Virtual Mosaic Symposium, sponsored by Sardinia Contemporary Mosaic & Art.
22 artist from 14 countries participated.
April 13-25, 2020
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22″ diameter x 62″ – Marble, stone, several varieties of glass, gold smalti, resin tiles, ceramic, glass marbles, plastic, handmade thin-set “stone”, sea urchin spines, plaster, thin-set mortar, red guard, fiberglass mesh, powder pigments, tin cans.
Master of Horse
The Ruins Project
Master of Horse – Portrait of coal miner John Moskal
installed @ The Ruins Project – Fayetteville County – Whitset PA
Go behind the scenes to see how Master of Horse was created.
