Onalaska Wisconsin is now on the map. Controversial Rabbi Jesus paintings get an exhibition
By Terry Rindfleisch, La Crosse Tribune, Wis.
Knight Ridder/Tribune Business NewsApr. 17--Clara Maria Goldstein soon will have the chance to show all of her Rabbi Jesus paintings in one exhibition. The paintings will be shown in the Luther Room at English Lutheran Church from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 10.
Goldstein has shown a few of her paintings elsewhere but not the entire collection.
"I'm very happy to have all the paintings on display so people can get a chance to see them," she said. "I think it's interesting that a Lutheran church will show them."
Last September, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center officials asked the Onalaska, Wis., woman to remove her 10 oil paintings hanging in the hospital entryway because of the organization's policy to not display artwork that could be considered controversial.
Goldstein said she wanted to display her Rabbi Jesus paintings to create awareness and promote understanding and acceptance.
But she said she didn't expect the fallout -- worldwide media attention and support from many different faiths.
Since the controversy, Goldstein completed her 11th painting, The Virgin Mary and Jesus celebrating Hanukkah, in time for the Jewish Festival of Lights. She said she will have a 12th painting ready for the exhibit -- "I Love You Daddy" Jesus with his father.
Her paintings include Jesus celebrating his bar mitzvah, Mary preparing Jesus for circumcision, the 10 Commandments, the Shroud of Yom Kippur, the 12 apostles as Jews, Jesus affirming his Bible at the cross and Rabbi Jesus saying to love one another.
Goldstein said she plans to create a total of 25 paintings portraying the Jewish heritage of Jesus.
IIRC, there is strong evidence that the Jews of Jesus's era did not walk around with Talleisim. What's next, Jesus with a yarmulka?
ReplyDeleteBeen there, done that? -->
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Andy,
ReplyDeleteIn Jesus times, there were times when a male, leading the prayer quorum (minyan) for example, could wear a large talit. The wearing of fringes was commanded.
For these paintings to convey to the people in the world today that Jesus was Jewish, they most have the symbols that modern people would recognize as Jewish. That is the reason they include symbols such as the six-pointed star of David; a modern looking version of the reverential head covering worn during Jesus' times; and a modern-looking Hanukkah Menorah.