Passover
This illustration of Passover is a mixed media piece (watercolor, Mulberry paper, and Illustrator).
It depicts traditional elements of the Passover event like the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud. It’s a representation of G-d going ahead of us and thus through this physical manifestation of his divine presence making it not possible for Israel to travel by day or night but also confuse our enemies. Exodus 13:21-23
The split waves symbolize the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea (keriat yam suf) from Exodus 14 as well as The Song of the Sea (Shirat Ha Yam) sung in celebration after the ultimate deliverance from Egypt and the destruction of the Egyptian army recorded in Exodus 15.
Furthermore, the piece features the four cups of wine that are part of a typical Seder. There are different takes of what they represent. They can symbolize our freedom from our four exiles such as Egyptian, Babylonian, Greek and current diaspora. They can also represent the four “I Wills” shown on this piece, which are the four phrases used to describe G-d taking us out of slavery: 1. I will bring you out 2. I will deliver you 3. I will redeem you 4. I will take you as My people. According to the Vilna Gaon, the Four Cups relate to four worlds: this world, the Messianic age, the world at the revival of the dead and the world to come. I used four distinctly different cups to represent Reform, Conservative, Orthodox and Humanistic Judaism. Despite the differences, all celebrate Passover.
Overall, I aspired to portray a sense of miraculous wonder, joyous celebration birthed out of tumultuous persecution and unity in diversity.