06th Feb 2010
George Washington‘s Ten Commandments Essence Portrait
The first Essence Portrait of George Washington, is created using strokes that are the original letters of the Bible’s Exodus chapter 20, better known as the Ten Commandments.
So while it appears to be a portrait of Washington this image is simultaneously a text.
“It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible. ”– George Washington
Following the tenets of the theory of Post Conceptual UnGraven Image Art theory the letters are used as traditional artists’ strokes, so the overlap, interweave and are not necessarily presented in any order, this the meaning is intrinsic but impossible to read. [Further information on Judy Rey Wasserman's new art theory is found in the free PDF download of the Manifesto of Post Conceptual UnGraven Image Art theory, Click: “A Painting's Meaning is Inherent in its Strokes” and at http://ungravenimage.com ]
Creating a portrait of George Washington with a radical new art theory, perhaps the most radical ever, seems especially fitting as he was one of the most radical and revolutionary people who ever lived. He changed the world despite the indisputable fact that the odds were against him as he stood up to the then greatest most powerful country in the world: England.
“The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments.” — George Washington
The Ten Commandments serves as the basis for most of the law of the governments of the world and certainly that of the United States of America . As such, it is fitting for the strokes of an Essence Portrait of any of the presidents of the USA. As chief executive the president administers the laws.
“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.” — George Washington
I am a great fan of George Washington and find him inspirational. If you follow me on Twitter ( http://twitter.com/judyrey ) you will see that most mornings my first greeting contains a sort weather report, such as, “Sun & warm here”. The idea for that actually derives from Washington ’s own diaries, where the one update he was sure to log was the daily weather. Beginning with that grounding reference makes sense to me, too.
“If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter. ”– George Washington
Of course as an artist I greatly revere Washington and the founding fathers as the United States o America is the first country that offered full freedom of expression, commonly known as freedom of speech, to all artists.
“Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God.” – George Washington
Washington ’s image on the one dollar bill makes him the USA ’s most recognized president. Like the etched lines of the engraver’s marks, my strokes of alpha-numeric Torah font symbols appear in lines to convey features of Washington ’s face, mapping him with the text.
“I walk on untrodden ground. There is scarcely any part of my conduct which may not hereafter be drawn into precedent. ”
Without Washington’s contributions as a general and then as the man who refused to be crowned as king, the USA and the world would probably not enjoy the freedom we have.
“Happy, thrice happy shall they be pronounced hereafter, who have contributed any thing, who have performed the meanest office in erecting this stupendous fabrick of Freedom and Empire on the broad basis of Independency; who have assisted in protecting the rights of humane nature and establishing an Asylum for the poor and oppressed of all nations and religions.”

George Washington’s Ten Commandments Essence Portrait
by Judy Rey Wasserman
For related articles see:
Celebrating the Anniversary of Washington’s First Thanksgiving decree http://ungravenimage.com/blog/2009/11/celebrating-the-anniversary-of-washingtons-first-thanksgiving-decree/
Barack Obama Ten Commandments Essence Portrait http://ungravenimage.com/blog/2009/11/barack-obama-10-commandements-essence-portrait/

Posted by judyrey under
Art Theory and Show Reviews
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Denied Stamp by Judy Rey Wasserman with artist’ signature, initials and dated











