Announcing The Jewish Eye 5781/2021 Calendar of Art
I'm pleased to announce the publication of my new calendar, The Jewish Eye 5781/2021 Calendar of Art. This is my seventh year publishing this calendar. As always, it was a labor of love creating the art, which consists of thirteen paintings, eleven of which are new. These images are inspired by Torah, Jewish holidays and history, Israel, life in the Diaspora, and concepts of Jewish identity.
The calendar begins with Modah Ani, a painting of the Hebrew prayer that gives thanks for regaining consciousness each morning. As always, my fascination with Jerusalem stone – that ubiquitous white limestone found in both ancient and modern architecture all over Israel – manifests in two landscape paintings, Mount of Olives Cemetery and Tzfat Window. As always, my experience as a member of the vibrant community of the Woodstock Jewish Congregation inspired and affected my art, evident in Blue Shema (below right) and the cover image, Shechinah.
New this year are two paintings that focus on the connection between Judaism and nature – Nature Sh'viti (shown at the bottom of this post) and Torah of Heaven & Earth – a concept that is alive and well in Jewish spirituality, and in my opinion deserves more expression in art. In the last year I also explored the teachings of Hillel – a great sage of the early rabbinic era (1st century CE) who inspired the teachings of Jesus – which I find most relevant for these troubling times. My delving into this fascinating subject culminated in Hillel's Argument.
Once again my maternal grandmother is remembered in a painting titled The China Cabinet, emblematic of the experience of hundreds of thousands of European immigrants of the early 20th century. Themes familiar to Christians will be apparent in Dinah & Her Lover, which illustrates the story of Jacob's only daughter; and Jeremiah (left) one of my personal favorites in which I try
to express the turbulent times in which the prophet lived, and his famous confrontation with God.
The calendar ends with Avinu Malkeinu, a painting whose title alone will surely bring the evocative melody of that song to mind for many Jews.
As always, you do not have to be Jewish to relate to this collection of art. I strive to transcend the particulars of my themes and speak to the human condition. Captions for each painting make the stories and history behind them clear. The Jewish Eye makes an appropriate gift for anyone interested in spirituality or art.
You can view the entire calendar here, and order it from my webstore here. The cost is $18 including shipping within the continental U.S. The calendar will be available on Amazon within the next few days – click here to find it – but please bear in mind, more profit goes to me from direct purchases from my webstore. Amazon takes a big cut.
You can also arrange for payment by check by responding to this post, or by emailing me at yael@jewisheyeart.com.
Please support my art by sharing this post with your friends and family! And please consider buying The Jewish Eye 5781/2021 Calendar of Art for someone you know who loves art.
Thank you for your interest in my art and writing.
D Yael Bernhard