STATEMENT

From Per:

Origins, beginnings … People have investigated these notions since, well, the beginning. And artists have been endlessly fascinated with the moment when breath hovers over water and the ripples bring into light something that wasn't there before. These two sets of concerns inspire some of the most interesting conversations humans have had with each other, in story, dance, shapes, and over coffee, about their creator, their environment and their creations.

We have delved into the myth and images of our Judaic tradition through a conversation in poetry and painting, a conversation we began almost 17 years ago when our families began studying and exploring Torah together. In the past decade that exploration took the form of joint exhibitions. The most recent result of our exploration is what you see here today.

From Janeen:

In Judaism, the Torah (the five books of Moses … Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) is read weekly throughout the year. There are 54 parshyot or weekly torah portions. These pieces address the portions individually.

There is always something new to be found in the study of Torah. Generations upon generations (minds certainly much greater than ours) have added their thoughts, inspirations and stories to Torah interpretation.  A page of Talmud resembles a patchwork quilt.  I have chosen to use this tradition, one of layered words and meanings, as a backdrop to our individual insights.