This painting is based on a photograph taken in 1899 tittled “a Jew from Bukovina.” Upon researching Bukovina more and learning it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire I came to realize that some of my ancestors are from close this area, and I felt like painting his Portrait would help me reconnect with this part of my family history.
In grade school we were assigned a project to report on a country that our families had come from. I chose Hungary because I had heard in some family conversations with my Grammy Joy that some of our family was from this area, and had migrated with Nepoleon’s army as merchants. After I did my presentation in class I was on the playground during recess and three girls who I thought were my friends came up to me. They asked me “Are you hunGAYrian?” I said yes, because I thought they asked if I was hungarian, and clearly that was what my whole presentation was about and didn’t they listen?
It wasn’t until later that I realized I was being bullied, and that I as a queer child was being made fun of. The homophobia that I expeirienced that day, maybe the first time I was seen as gay by my peers has stayed close to my heart, and every day I try to make that queer child inside of me proud. I drew pink heels for the fabulousness and on the right side is a tallit string that turns into an umbilical chord like thread. Teathered to reality through prayer. A good friend upon looking over this piece told me that it looks like a self portrait. I have never had the honor of wrapping tefillin, nor do I have a huge rainbow pastel tallit or cool green blue pants, but I do have a beautifully full beard, and am growing out my peyot. The talis strings look kind of like my bright pink cane that I take with me often, and I have a similar purple coat. I love this interpretation, and hope one day I can look more similar to this portrait.
Me feeling very proud with the new Frame I painted at Hillel Purim 5785
Mycelium Memory 