My paintings are mainly pictures of words.

My paintings are mainly pictures of words. Contemplating words as if they were objects encourages viewers to focus less on their meanings and more on their sanctity. The butterfly floating between word and viewer is a symbolic veil -- as in the veils of the Holy of Holies at the Temple -- intended to separate human beings from the unbearable intensity of transcendent holiness. (That Christianity insists that "the veil ripped" at the death of Jesus, while Judaism believes that the veil survives -- that intimacy and transcendent holiness co-exist -- is one of the central issues between the two systems of thought.) My "gisants", inspired by the recumbent tomb-sculpture of the Abbey of St Denis, represent the first three kings of the United Monarchy of Israel: Saul, the tragic hero; Solomon, every inch a king; David, who stalks, raging, forever. They are intended as part of a reconstruction-in-art of Royal Jerusalem, whose spectacular artistic and intellectual achievement is often lost in the countless layers that came after. Royal Jerusalem can never be reconstructed by archeology--it can only be recaptured and re-imagined in art. This is the ancient city that did more than any other to shape the western mind. Both types of picture are part of my attempt to speak about Judaism in images. Jewish art must speak directly about Judaism, not about Jewish types or customs or cultural milieux. It must not stand in some ethnic enclave, but squarely in the mainstream of western art. -- David Gelernter Gisant of Solomon; acrylics, pastels, cloth and metal leaf on panel, 24 x 72. 2012. Gisant of David; acrylics, pastels and liquid iron on panel, 24 x 72. 2012. Gisant of Saul; acrylics, pastels, metal leaf and liquid iron on panel, 24 x 72. 2012. Kivtah Nafshi; acrylics, liquid steel and pastels on panel, 18 x 24. 2012. De Profundis; acrylics, oil, pastels and metal leaf on canvas, 48 x 60 . 2010. SOLD Lecha Dodi; acrylics, metal leaf and collage on panel, 18 x 24. 2010. SOLD Hineni; metal leaf, aquarelles, liquid iron and pastels on panel, 16 x 20. 2012. Chadesh Yemenu; acrylic, aquarelles and collage on panel, 18 x 24. 2009. SOLD Ashrei; collage, acrylics and aquarelles on panel, 18 x 24. 2005. In a Dry and Thirsty Land; acrylic, pastel, aquarelles, metal leaf and liquid iron on panel, 18 x 24.2010-2011. Shma'ah; acrylic, pastel, metal leaf and liquid steel on panel, 18 x 24. 2010-2012. Sh'ma; acrylic, aquarelles and collage on panel, 16 x 20. 2009. SOLD Vaya'avor; acrylics, pastels, metal —leaf and metal suspensions on panel, 36 x 24. 2012. Merkt Auf; pencil, metal leaf and aquarelles on paper, 11 x 20. 2011. Vag ■ Zachreinu; acrylics, pastel and gold leaf on canvas, 60 x 72. 2009-2012. SOLD Khaneinu; acrylics, oil, liquid iron and pastels on canvas, 54 x 60. 2010. Aneintr, acrylics, pastel and liquid iron on canvas, 48 x 72. 2010. Vehu Rachum II; acrylics, liquid metal, and pastels on panel, 18 x 24. 2012. —Hayinu Kecholmim; acrylics, pastels and liquid metal on panel, 18 x 24. 2011. Ha'azinu II; acrylic, pastel and liquid stee' on panel, 18 x 24. 2011. Yishama; collage, acrylics and aquarelles on panel, 18 x 24. 2005. Hosiah et Amecha; acrylics, oil and gold leaf on canvas, 48 x 60. 2009. Ha'azinu I; collage, acrylics and aquarelles on panel, 18 x 24. 2000. Ha'azinu (drawing); pencil, acrylic and metal leaf on paper, 12.5 x 20. 2011. Blue Mezuzah; collage and mixed media —on panel, 16 x 20. 2000. Bronze Mezuzah; collage, acrylics and pastel on panel, 16 x 20. 2002. Sweet Singer of Israel I; acrylics, pastel, — liquid iron, graphite on panel, 24 x 36. 2006. Sweet Singer of Israel II; acrylics, liquid iron, gold leaf and shell gold on panel, 24 x 36. 2010. EFTA01187842