Embroidered Watercolor
Framed with Museum-Grade UV Glass
26" x 40" x 1"
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There are many different types of freedoms, many of which Americans take for granted. There are physical freedoms as well as spiritual, emotional, and mental freedoms. There is freedom from hate and discrimination, and the freedom to be oneself. This painting was designed specifically thinking of the hostages who were taken by Hamas and who, when I painted this, still had not been released, as well as thinking about the uptick in antisemitism spreading around the world and noticeably across college campuses in the spring of 2024. The ancient-looking olive tree I painted represents the House of Israel or the Jewish people. Mordecai Paldiel said of the olive tree, “It may grow crooked, it suffers, but it never dies. It is a symbol of the Jews.” Olive trees are fascinating because they can become hollowed out, cut down, or completely break in two, but if their root system is good, they will continue to grow and produce. Jews have faced oppression, captivity, extermination, and persecution time and time again over the centuries and yet they have survived, and their traditions remain strong. One such tradition is the ancient prayer, “Acheinu.” Translated into English it reads, Our family, the whole house of Israel, who are in distress, or in captivity — who stand either in the sea or on dry land — may the Omnipresent have mercy on them and take them out from narrowness to expanse, and from darkness to light, and from oppression to redemption, now, swiftly, and soon! The prayer has become a bit of a rallying cry since October 7th, 2023, and was repeated by many at Passover tables the following year. When my cousin stood and shared it at our table, I knew immediately it provided the imagery I needed for this painting. The cerulean blue represents the sea while the roots are firmly on dry land. Both the side borders and the chains themselves fade from dark to light, and the gold light shining down represents the mercy and redemption we seek. All the stitching is a type of chain stitch (Knotted Chain, Cable Chain, Interlaced Chain, and Roman Chain), as chains are a fairly obvious symbol of constraint, captivity, or oppression. The olive tree has been freed from many chains of the past but three of the lines of chains remain unbroken, representing the hostages, their families, and Jewish people around the world who are in distress. This painting is a plea to not forget the hostages, to remember those in captivity and those in distress. It is a supplication to think of those Jewish college students who are being told in actions, if not in words, that the freedom of speech of others is more important than their safety or their freedom to not be discriminated against based on religion, nationality, or race. Are we really thinking about the meaning of the words being used, especially before repeating or reposting them? Imagine not knowing if you would ever see your loved ones again. How would you feel in their shoes? How much does freedom really mean to you? How much would it mean if it was taken away?