This is one of the first paintings in series I began around 2004.
The central figure is an amphora, unearthed from a completely fictitious place as evidenced by the fake Latin. The work uses acrylic paste, paint and a custom rubber stamp.
The color scheme is one of my favorites. I started using it for autumnal themed cards at the stamp store I used to work at. But the major theme of the work comes from a Kabbalistic idea behind the Sephirot; that of creation being a vessel into which G'd poured It's essence. Both Judaism and Christianity metaphorically use the human body as a receptacle for the in dwelling spirit of G'd in their more mystical and ecumenical moments.
The Sephirot describe this indwelling as a unification of G'd and Man, introducing the concept of Tikkun which is the repair of the world, through unification of the divine spark in all things and giving humanity some responsibility to seek the Divine and nurture creation. Our human vessels were created to hold the in dwelling spirit. In uniting with each other, we fill the Universal Cup. When the Cup is full the Shekinah is in complete harmony with G'd and with Man and the New World is made in which there is no disharmony and G'd and Man are one.
The Christian teachings that call G'd the potter and we the clay also teach that these mortal vessels hold the Spirit, thus putting man close to its creator. The spirit that fills the cup sanctifies the cup. Unification between men and between G'd and man seems to be an absent concept. While I grew up Catholic and embraced the mortal clay concept along with many more mystical points of interest, I always felt there was more to it that the priests wanted to teach but were prohibited from doing so. And thus I find that Kabbalah teaches the nuances that are missing in the newer Christian doctrines. It fills in many blanks which I could only speculate upon as a contemplative child. Discovering Jewish roots three years ago has made this an even more interesting journey and the art that emerges on this path that much more personal.
The central figure is an amphora, unearthed from a completely fictitious place as evidenced by the fake Latin. The work uses acrylic paste, paint and a custom rubber stamp.
The color scheme is one of my favorites. I started using it for autumnal themed cards at the stamp store I used to work at. But the major theme of the work comes from a Kabbalistic idea behind the Sephirot; that of creation being a vessel into which G'd poured It's essence. Both Judaism and Christianity metaphorically use the human body as a receptacle for the in dwelling spirit of G'd in their more mystical and ecumenical moments.
The Sephirot describe this indwelling as a unification of G'd and Man, introducing the concept of Tikkun which is the repair of the world, through unification of the divine spark in all things and giving humanity some responsibility to seek the Divine and nurture creation. Our human vessels were created to hold the in dwelling spirit. In uniting with each other, we fill the Universal Cup. When the Cup is full the Shekinah is in complete harmony with G'd and with Man and the New World is made in which there is no disharmony and G'd and Man are one.
The Christian teachings that call G'd the potter and we the clay also teach that these mortal vessels hold the Spirit, thus putting man close to its creator. The spirit that fills the cup sanctifies the cup. Unification between men and between G'd and man seems to be an absent concept. While I grew up Catholic and embraced the mortal clay concept along with many more mystical points of interest, I always felt there was more to it that the priests wanted to teach but were prohibited from doing so. And thus I find that Kabbalah teaches the nuances that are missing in the newer Christian doctrines. It fills in many blanks which I could only speculate upon as a contemplative child. Discovering Jewish roots three years ago has made this an even more interesting journey and the art that emerges on this path that much more personal.
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