Leah Golberstein: Uprooted Lights

Leah Golberstein's work is primal. Her show "Uprooted Lights" features plant-material sculptures and explores the relationships among the Jews, Muslims, and Christians that she witnessed during her time in Rhodes, Greece. In a few pieces, handmade paper reminiscent of translucent dry skin is held together with thick, raw stitches. In Figure, the grapevines and paper are twisted into a dainty, fetal-like shape. Perhaps most striking are those pieces that mimic religious symbols. The beads of the rosary in Rhodos-Rosary are dark, rose petal balls that stain the paper they are sitting on brown. In Rhodos-Tzitzit, the tassel that is traditionally worn by observant male Jews is formed with tarnished copper wires so that the tips of the tzitzit look alternately menacing and delicate. By recreating these symbols in these ways and with these materials, Golberstein seems to be recalling the similar primordial roots of these religions that perhaps have as much in common as not. Opening reception 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, November 10.
Nov. 8-Dec. 13, 2007