ladies guild collection

this is a beginning of a series of papercuts. The Ladies Guild is basically the kiddush rota at the orthodox synagogue that I grew up in. Women's communal involvement was solely connected to food preparation, and presentation - putting the cake out only on pretty doillies was part of that. I have used the doillie as the setting for various rabbinic mysoginist quotations. these quotes have been chosen by a range of orthodox women educators, each one having their pet piece of text that makes them go 'grrrr....'

more sefer torah corsets

this corset from the 'maternal torah' series is pregnant. the talmud describes the fetus in the womb as being given instruction from an angel. the mother's body becomes a place of revelation, a personal har sinai. I have called this piece - 'the yeshiva inbetween - yeshiva bifnim', inbetween heaven and earth, the upper and lower yeshivot.

sefer torah corsets

these are a series called 'torah imecha - maternal torah.'
They combine elements of a traditional sefer torah mantle - the oval top piece with 2 holes cut out, the proportions of height + width + depth; with a women's corset. Emphasizing the feminine aspect of torah. The corset seems to be a perfect metaphor for torah and halacha (jewish law), in that it constrains and restricts but also gives shape and support.
they are made from synammay - a millenary fabric and are suspended from the top, and are extremely lightweight.