Eco MaG Tu B’Shevat 2014 approx. 3.5" X 4"
The Tu B’Shevat service was nicely printed in booklet form; I took one home as I was so impressed with the service, and carefully cut out the picture for the MaG (I’m keeping the rest of the booklet for my own use, so it will be reused—it was an internal debate as to whether or not I should cut it out but I was so enamored of the image and thought that a photocopy wouldn’t look as good).
From the Tu B’Shevat service: “In Jewish law, Tu B’Shevat marked the day on which we count the years a tree has lived. For the first three years of a tree’s life, we are prohibited from eating its fruit, on the fourth year we give the fruit of the tree to God or to do God’s work of providing for others, and in subsequent years we can have the fruit, setting aside some of it for others…Today we celebrate Tu B’Shevat to remind us to work to conserve and protect the environment and to protect the earth and nature…each participant learn(s) about their relationship to nature and their responsibilities to care for our world for the generations to come.”
The image shows an upside-down tree: “According to the mystical view, all trees are symbolic of Eitz Chayim, the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. Divine goodness and blessing flow into the world from the Tree of Life, and through this tree we are connected to God’s creative power and life-giving energy. The Kabbalists (Jewish scholars studying mysticism) pictured the Divine Tree as inverted with its roots in heaven and its branches reaching down toward us on earth. This Tree of Life has ten sefirot, or emanations, which represent the attributes of God. Through these, creation is channeled into the world.”
Eco MaG Jewish Art 2014 approx 3.5" X 4"
This MaG was made out of the synagogue advertisement post card depicting the art work of Mordechai Rosenstein; it has red electrical tape around the edges.
Mr. Rosenstein is 80 years old and has been making Jewish art for 35 years, inspired by the Hebrew letters. He hand paints his creations using gouache (opaque watercolor) directly onto the paper without sketching it out first…truly divinely inspired! I LOVED his 3-D art; it is made out of prints of his original art work that have been strategically and artistically cut out by hand and layered so that the art design pops out! Really amazing work!
From his website: “The Hebrew alphabet is the essence of the art of Mordechai Rosenstein. ‘The flowing forms of the letters have been an inspiration to me since my youth.’ Mordechai's love of these forms is evident in every piece he creates. His vibrant shapes and colors enhance synagogue interiors, tapestries, paintings, murals, and silk screen prints… By uniting his interest in Judaica and painting, Rosenstein has given a contemporary meaning to the art of Hebrew calligraphy.” http://rosensteinarts.com
Related Blogs:
Art: Flower Tic Tac Toe: http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=2144518