Made for the Beyond the Object: Jewish Artifacts Reimagined exhibition at the Baycrest Museum, Toronto.

When visiting the Judaica Collection at Baycrest, I was drawn to the Hahukkah lamps – the shine of the metal and how they sat together, almost calling to be examined. Lighting the Hanukkah candles is a tradition I have always loved. A heavily decorated Hanukkiah caught my eye: the floral pattern, lions and flourishes were so elegantly adorning the surface.

In 2021 I began taking ceramics classes at the Prosserman JCC. What began as throwing mugs and bowls had led me to explore the possibilities for how to begin to explore the incorporation of ceramics into my work. I was inspired by the idea of the Hanukkahiah, and its nine branches, to create this organic, biomorphic shape. The sculpture is embellished with elements inspired by the Hanukkaiah and treated as surface decoration that covers the sculpture. By manipulating the scale and shape of the pattern, I am drawing attention to the details and redrawing the viewer’s focus. The shape references the body, and how we are ourselves branches holding up others, and requiring adornment during special occasions.