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An Intrinsic Concept Shared by Religion, Science and Art Religious traditions worldwide use contrasts to lead people closer to their god(s) and also to define ideas about good and evil, holy and secular, right and wrong, etc. Scientific principals, especially in physics, include many contrasting theories and principals, for example: for every action there is an equal reaction. Biology studies how life both blends into it’s environment (camouflage) or stands out to attract attention (for instance flowers in bloom) to survive. The arts rely on contrast, for example the iconic masks that symbolize drama, by depicting stylized smiling and sad faces. Painters study how to make contrasts using values, colors, shapes, lines, forms, etc. |
| "I often think the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day." -- Vincent Van Gogh
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Return Ye Children of MenUnGraven Image art challenges the viewer to see what lies beneath common reality, by
using the Hebrew letters to symbolize the smallest sub-particle wave motions. The letters
are used for ever stroke and they are chosen from the words of biblical texts. So, for
instance, in the Written on the Wind series, which uses a Psalm for each painting, when
one looks at a watercolor of one of the cardinals all that is actually there is Psalm 23,
although there is the appearance of a cardinal. This both reflects the scientific theory that
all physical reality is actually only composed of atoms, particles and finally the smallest
sub-particle motions and the belief of the Abraham ic religions that when the Lord speaks
the universe is created from those words made of Hebrew letters. This theological belief
is held by all Christian religions whether Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant or
Evangelical and it also appears in the Talmud and Kabbalah. Theologically the Hebrew
letters symbolize the essential elements (that physicists now say are wave
motions/dimensions) or the universe. "Art is either plagiarism or revolution." -- Paul Gauguin The idea of contrast is especially explored in two of Judy Rey Wasserman’s series, the first being the Genesis: Sunrise-Sunset and the, inspired by the animals of the 2004 tsunami, the Written on the Wind. |
 Sag Harbor Bridge Genesis: Sunrise-Sunset series, 2005, acrylic on canvas, <br>30 x24 inches |
In the Genesis: Sunrise-Sunset series object or life forms appear dark and without much detail against the bright colors of a sunrise of sunset. This not only mirrors the way we perceive at those times of day, but also the painterly solidity of those darker images contrasts boldly the sky and often reflected waters, which are painted with many interwoven layers, including transparent ones, of many colors. This is done to contrast the reality of what we see (or think we see) to what lies beneath (both from a scientific and religious understanding). The series is painted using the words of Genesis I-II:7, Deuteronomy 6 and is always framed with a Psalm, usually in gold to both indicate the boundary of our perception, which is the physical universe in contrast to other universes, a concept that both physicists and religions hold. The painted Psalm frames can also be thought of as our prayers reaching out and surrounding our world as well as the Word of the Lord reaching the edges of our perception, a kind of contrast in simultaneity as well as unity.
 Psalm 84 Written on the Wind series, 2005, watercolor pencil on paper, 14x10 inches |
Very few wild animals were lost
in the tsunami as most “knew” somehow to move to safety. This inspired the Written on the Wind series. Wild animals are depicted in their natural settings, currently scenes found easily on
the East End of Long Island. Sometimes, the animal is camouflaged, blending into its environment. A good example of this is found in Psalm 84, which depicts three song sparrows, one of which seems to blend into the tree they are perched upon.
While camouflage may seem to be a lack of contract, in reality, the life form that is camouflaged is always is in stark biological contrast to that which hides it. For instance a bird is fauna and is free to walk and fly while a tree is flora and remains in one place for its normal life cycle.
Appearances are deceiving!
Although the series depicts wild animals in their environment, at one in it and with the Words of the Lord that the environment is created of, it also intrinsically contrasts this with the lack of attunement we humans seem to have in the world and with each other. More than in any other of Judy Rey's series, one can see the letters individually peeking out, most notably in the sky, where the breezes and winds blow. The title of the series refers to the "wind", often symbolized in the Bible as the breath of the Lord. In each painting the animal, or at least one of them, seems to be caught in a moment of awareness, alert to something, perhaps a presence, some intrinsic relevance that is unseen and unheard by the other animals around (if any) and by the viewer. |
 Psalm 69 Written on the Wind series, 2005, Watercolor pencil on paper, 10x14 inches |
The Written on the Wind series is primarily created with watercolor pencils by writing the
words (individual letters) for a specific Psalm. For instance, the painting of the seagull is
made with the words of Psalm 69 and the paintings of the cardinals use Psalm 23. The
Psalms selected have relevance to the subject portrayed.
Of course, all UnGraven Image art uses the original words of the Bible, letter by letter to represent the smallest, most intrinsic elements of the universe.
What's unique about this series, is that only one Psalm is used for each painting and that selection both compliments and contrasts the experience.
Just as we use the Psalms when we most need comfort and reassurance. For instance, just after the tsunami eastern Long Island was blanketed by a blizzard, the worst in many years.
The wild birds, most notably the cardinals, because they were most easily seen against in the now white world, were scrambling to find the berries and seeds they relied on, which was hidden beneath the deep snow.
The contrast of the natural beauty of the snowy, pristine landscape that brought a harsh and threatening reality seemed to echo the on-going news story of the horrors wrought by the tsunami in paradise. Yet, the animals survived.
The series contrasts the peace of awareness, which brings comfort in times of threat and trouble. |
Copyright © 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 by Judy Rey Wasserman. All rights reserved