here, is the Place

I use watercolor, stencils, stamps and freehand writing to create maps that create a bridge between spiritual places and physical locations, science and Kabbalah. I am interested in the intersection of the current environmental crisis of climate change and the ancient stories of Judaism, Jewish mysticism, and even the high holiday liturgy.I think a lot about Hebrew words such as Makom which means Place, and Shmita, which is the sabbath year for the land – when the land is left to rest, and l’dor v’dor meaning from generation to generation. These are words used in the Jewish tradition that emphasize that we are caretakers of the earth; the earth is precious and precarious, and we need to honor and sustain it for future generations.This piece titled, here is the Place, explores the fact that the Hebrew word for ‘the Place,’ ha-Makom, is also used as a name for God. And, in the bottom right-hand corner of the map it says, “remember, even the fields need to rest” — I was specifically thinking about the shmita year.There is real ecological grief for the environmental changes happening around us but my map also tells a story of hope and repair and possibility. We can pivot our behaviors and embrace ideas such as shmita — and see that the decisions we make as individuals, as families, and especially as governments all affect the story that we are creating together about how we care for the earth and for each other. We live in a world that is mapped all the way from outer space right down to our front doors. I create maps that subvert our sense of knowing exactly where we are and instead reflect upon why we are here and what we can do to make the world a better place.