The impetus of this body of work was ignited when I received the news of the untimely death of my 45-year-old nephew, who was killed in a plane crash last January. All of the losses that I had experienced in my life were suddenly reawakened. I began working feverishly in every available medium. Not restricted to a particular medium or technique, I created works layered with emotion, fragility, and memory. Leonard Cohen’s haunting lyrics "Who by Fire" accompanied me as I created these works. As Rosh Hashanah/ Yom Kippur approached this year, 2023, the prayer מי ימות ו מי יחיה struck me to the core. When our world was turned upside down on October 7th, The Black Shabbat, the meaning and the purpose of this exhibition took on an additional dimension. In my despair, I felt compelled to respond to this national tragedy.

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During these weeks, as I listened to the horrendous news, the nightmarish announcements about the hostage situation, and the mounting deaths of soldiers, I felt the need to commemorate these losses.

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I began to cast beeswax figures to represent each fallen soldier’s life. I saw myself becoming consumed with how much wax to order. Too little was optimistic, too much was devastating.

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There were moments when I could not cast figures quickly enough to keep up with the count. I was shaken by the magnitude of the Shema Israel/The Fallen installation which unfortunately keeps growing.  I am committed to continuing

to cast beeswax figures until the end of the war.  Unfortunately, this installation is still expanding.

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While consumed with grief I  could not relinquish the hope that there are hostages to bring home. It was imperative to me not only to commemorate the deceased but also to be a voice for the living.  In the Kidnapped installation each hostage is represented in one of the one hundred and twenty-nine glass pieces.

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Since October 7 I have begun to comprehend the words of Leonard Cohen's lyrics Who By Fire in a new way. The words not only express how we die, but also how we live. And even more so, how we walk the fine line between the ephemeral and the eternal .