Tree of Life
30cm x 30cm, marbles, gold smalti, stained glass, mirrors, slate and safety glass
The Tree of Life is a faith symbol for many faiths, in this instance it tells a Jewish story. The Magen David in the middle was made with blue glass and mirror, the 7 branch menorah sports flames amidst the tree of life, as if it is the burning bush, which tells of the covenant with the God of Abraham. Out of that faith, that covenant, that promise came the Torah, which is the Tree of Life, happy are those who holds her fast: she is more precious than jewels and nothing compares with her, her ways are always pleasant and all her paths are peace (Proverbs 3:15-18) The stones in the background signify the colour and races of all Jews in diaspora, the silver and gold tiles are the brilliant scholars, scientists, artists and humanists among them. Shattered glass is my way of commemorating the Krystallnacht of 1938. The piece was chosen for a juried art exhibition named "Mosaics of the Passover: a Jewish Story" at the Museum of Biblical Art of Dallas, Texas in 2016. |