Safed: Vertical City of Rhyme and Contrast By Jonathan Lyon                                 Inspired by Edith Green

For questions, purchase and/or contact information, see below.

About This Piece’s Construction

This special limited edition (12) art piece was made in honor of the opening of this exhibit in Safed. The paper cut is floated between two specially-designed, and individually hand-crafted, clear blocks of plexiglass, which are held together by strong magnets, to enhance its beauty.  The case was constructed to sit on a table or mantle in front of a solid background. Paper color, thickness, texture and pattern vary from one piece to another. Each special edition piece is signed and marked “Limited Edition No.X of 12.” After the limited edition is over, each piece will be signed and numbered.

My Reason for Calling this Art Piece “Safed: Vertical City of Rhyme and Contrast”

Whenever my wife Jane and I visit Safed, we are both struck by the contrast of residents (the very religious, mystical, and non-religious) living in such close quarters – and how that is reflected in the numerous types of art displayed in the artists’ colony. Yet, it seemed obvious to us that all of them and their art are offshoots of the same root stock. I symbolized this with the arch between the Safed General Art Gallery in the converted mosque (a contrast in and of itself from its previous use) and the Beyt Midrash on the left.

The Hassid walking between these contrasting elements is studying Talmud as he walks. We are left wondering about his awareness of others unlike him. We are teased at the possibility of his attitude toward the “other” by the upside down Menorah over the gallery. Does the inverted menorah symbolize the new use of the mosque for Jewish purposes or does it reflect an attitude that those “others” have turned dedication on its head? Because his head is buried in his Talmud, he may also be oblivious as to whether he is going down or up – Yeridah or Aliyah – a theme of verticality often used in terms of Teshuvah (repentance).

It is the awareness and appreciation of the fact that we are each on a personal journey of Yeridah and Aliyah that give us the ability to live in harmony – in rhyme with – and in appreciative contrast to each other.

This piece comes framed: $250.00 plus shipping

5.75″ X 8″ Paper cut on premium-quality, acid-free medium card stock

Copies are signed and numbered.

For purchase or questions, please feel free to contact me.

email: jonathan@jonathanlyonblog.com

Telephone within Israel: 058-647-8411 Use this number to text me

Telephone from the USA call me in Israel using my Los Angeles line: (213) 259-8298