Art at Congregation Albert - November 2005

"Covenants" - A Tapestry

We continue our look at sanctuary art with a discussion of the hand woven tapestry, "Covenants," by Nancy Kozikowski, installed in 1993. The notes are adapted from the artist and Rabbi Paul Citrin.

This tapestry expresses the uniquely Jewish way of experiencing cosmos and consciousness through covenant. The remote past, symbolized by red, orange and purple flames on the right side of the tapestry, suggest Sarah, Abraham, Moses and countless generations who have known the fires of faith and idealism. The blue and green shapes are time eternal, a boundary without limits as long as we seek the Holy One. Situated between ancient memory and eternal hope, five covenants speak to us through this tapestry which took 40 days to complete.

Under the center arch, darkness gives way to light, solitude to companionship, indifference to concern. Darkness is part of the natural rhythm, a reminder to all creation, but especially humanity, that unless we keep the covenant to tend and care for the world, all will return to chaos and void.

CREATION: "All being seeks the Creator; God reaches out to the created world. Mutual yearning brings contact, engagement, relationship. If, in meeting the divine, commitments grow deeper and vision clearer, a covenant is established."

RAINBOW BLESSING: "God spoke to Noah and his sons saying `This is the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature…for perpetual generations. I have set my bow on the cloud…'" The rainbow arcing over day and night is ot brit hashalom, the sign of peace. It reminds us that the world God created is faithful to nature's laws. The world and nature are not our enemy, but our home.

TORAH: The people Israel is God's great experiment. Perhaps one small, committed people will respond to a summons to live as an exemplary community, a beacon for others to follow. Rescued from slavery, Israel entered into a Torah covenant with God. The rectangular shape of the tapestry, the parchment color background and horizontal stripes suggest a Torah scroll; vertical black stripes and corner fringes suggest tallit.

ZION: The physical symbol of our relationship to God, Zion is a state of mind which, no matter how far we wander from its physical borders, binds us to God, Torah and hope for redemption. Traditional Jews have always remembered Zion with a mizrach, a decorative plaque on the eastern wall of their houses. Our tapestry is a mizrach, the word in Torah-style calligraphy occupying its center.

PROMISE OF REDEMPTION: The golden harp of David symbolizes God's Covenant with Israel's greatest king, and the divine promise of redemption. "I will appoint a place for my people Israel… that they may dwell in their own place…your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever." The harp of David makes beautiful music in the presence of adversity. Israel's song of love for God resonates at times of trial.

At any single moment, an individual or an entire people may enter into a covenant with God. There are so many distractions. We require a focus and a reminder. May this tapestry enable us to celebrate the many covenants of our heritage.

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