JERUSALEM

 

BIO

Born in New York, where Sharon graduated from Queens College with a B.A. in Art. She 

studied calligraphy and design in Toronto, Canada with Alf Ebsen and Nona Brown and took workshops with Donald Jackson, Sheila Waters and Thomas Ingmire. In Israel, she 

studied with Hella Hartman and in workshops with Lili Wronker. She became fascinated with Hebrew and English letters and began integrating them into her illustrations to 

expand the concept of hiddur mitzvah (enhancing the commandments). Her work bridges the connection between work and image, form and function, combining tradition and innovation into a new artistic language.

 

STATEMENT

Hanging by a Thread

The three sets of priestly hands which form the protective "roof" of the sculpture 

represent the three verses of Birkat Kohanim (the priestly blessing): May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and grant you peace.

ישא ה' פניו אליך וישם לך שלום

The first verse of the blessing refers to God's assistance in the material realm, the second blessing speaks of enlightenment and spiritual attainments, while the third offers “peace” – peace of mind and peace of being. Birkat kohanim is said to one’s children on Shabbat eve before Kiddush.  It is also said everyday in Israel during morning tefillot for the congregation.  It is both a 

personal prayer and a communal prayer, seeking God’s protection, guidance and 

peace while our lives are hanging by a thread.  This is particularly true when facing the constant worry of a terrorist attack, knowing that we have to defend our very existence while continuing to build a life that might be destroyed within the blink of an eye. The images for the sculpture began to take form last summer when three young men were kidnapped from Gush Etzion and murdered, tunnels dug by Hamas into Israel were discovered, and war broke out again in Operation Protective Edge (Tzuk Eitan).  

My son, who, along with hundreds of other sons and daughters, was called up again 

and my thoughts strayed.  As my son was given this blessing by us and I tried to 

work in my studio (the cheder atum [sealed room] was too far away to reach by the time a missile would hit our building), the paradox of the blessing’s meaning became more pronounced. I long to feel God’s presence and intervention.  My arms want to reach out and 

embrace my child with a protective hug, but this seems like an illusion.  All natural materials are used in this installation

knowing that they are perishable and will disintegrate in time.  The stones have been wound using six strands of embroidery floss for added strength, although I know that they, too, will fray and break with wear and tear.  In the course of assembling the stones, dog tags, labels, and code red symbols with embroidery threads, the act itself became cathartic.  It became a part of the whole concept of protection and eventually "letting go" of one's child to his destiny and my own.

 

Hanging By A Thread

360cm x 52cm

mixed media