Burning Bush

I began to investigate the imagery of the Burning Bush since that is the Torah Portion for this week. It is amazing what you can find.

The images were plentiful but many were political... and few were done by Jewish artists. This beautiful wood sculpture is by a Montana artist- who is not Jewish

The piece is large- nearly four feet square- and it took over 300 hours to complete!

Chana Gromer created this wonderful parochet for the Chabbad of Lauderhills, Florida. She utilized silk screen, metallic pigments, painting, fiber-reactive dyes, silk, velvet, applique, and a satin lining.


One of the thing I love to see is how different artists interpret the same theme. Here, Michael Toree, a sculptor, turns the bush into a teapot. I bet Susan would love this.

"Exploring the contradiction between the hard tough surfaces of clay and the soft sensual fluid form it evokes, ceramist Michael Torre finds inspiration for his work from disparate sources – Renaissance paintings, music and dance from various periods of history. Torre's Burning Bush is visual evidence of this artist's goal to design and create strong imagery derived from religious, spiritual or natural powers. Rather than use bright colored glazes to embellish and distract, Torre leaves the red clay unadorned and entices the viewer to focus on and revel in the rhythmic power between natural and human forms."
- Michael Monroe

Woman of Valor

A woman of valor, who can find? Far beyond pearls is her value.
Her husband's heart trusts in her and he shall lack no fortune.
She repays his good, but never his harm, all the days of her life.
She seeks out wool and linen, and her hands work willingly,
She is like a merchant's ships; from afar she brings her sustenance.
She rises while it is still nighttime, and gives food to her household and a ration to her maids.
She considers a field and buys it; from the fruit of her handiwork she plants a vineyard.
She girds her loins with might and strengthens her arms.
She senses that her enterprise is good, so her lamp is not extinguished at night.
She puts her hand to the distaff, and her palms support the spindle.
She spreads out her palm to the poor and extends her hands to the destitute.
She fears not snow for her household, for her entire household is clothed with scarlet wool.
Bedspreads she makes herself; linen and purple wool are her clothing.
Well-known at the gates is her husband as he sits with the elders of the land.
Garments she makes and sells, and she delivers a belt to the peddler.
Strength and splendor are her clothing, and smilingly she awaits her last day.
She opens her mouth with Wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She anticipates the needs of her household, and the bread of idleness, she does not eat.
Her children rise and celebrate her; and her husband, he praises her:
"Many daughters have attained valor, but you have surpassed them all."
False is grace, and vain is beauty; a God-fearing woman, she should be praised.
Give her the fruit of her hands, and she will be praised at the gates by her very own deeds.

Proverbs 31:10-31


















The piece on the left is done by Ruth Rudin and the beautiful calligraphy on the right was created by Ardyn Halter.

I must confess though, I chose this post today because I felt a need to post some more polymer clay. There is an Israeli Artist by the name of Orly Rabinowitz who has created the most wonderful pins of women's faces. They are comical yet expressive and as a PCer, I envy her craft.