Akira

Israel/Gaza Border Fence acrylic and pastel on canvas 60 x 48”2024 Based on a photo published in the New York Times by @neil_hall_photo, of an Israeli tank crossing the security fence between Israel and Gaza on Nov. 10. Color palette from the post apocalyptic anime movie Akira. I’ve been painting Mexican border paintings based on stills from movies shot near the border and have been thinking about other borders, especially Israel’s borders. This summer I traveled to Morocco with 40 teachers - 20 from Jewish schools, 3 rabbis, 3 Israelis, and a Palestinian peace activist nominated for the Nobel peace prize. We were studying how Jews had lived peacefully for centuries side by side Muslims in Morocco, a country that has preserved its synagogues and has a mandatory history of the holocaust in its schools. How heartbreaking to witness October 7 and the subsequent relentless bombing and destruction of Gaza after this experience. To me, landscapes transcend borders, but also absorb their history of violence.

October 7 oil, acrylic and pastel on canvas 36 x 48”2024 Based on a New York Times photo by Sergei Ponomarev, of the aftermath of the Re’im music festival massacre in Israel. Color palette from the post apocalyptic anime movie Akira. I’ve been painting Mexican border paintings based on stills from movies shot near the border and have been thinking about other borders, especially Israel’s borders. This summer I traveled to Morocco with 40 teachers - 20 from Jewish schools, 3 rabbis, 3 Israelis, and a Palestinian peace activist nominated for the Nobel peace prize. We were studying how Jews had lived peacefully for centuries side by side Muslims in Morocco, a country that has preserved its synagogues and has a mandatory history of the holocaust in its schools. How heartbreaking to witness October 7 and the subsequent relentless bombing of Gaza after this experience. To me, landscapes transcend borders, but also absorb their history of violence.

Al-Hol, Syria oil, acrylic and pastel on canvas 36 x 48” 2024 Inspired by this excellent New Yorker article and recent photos (overhead published in Kuwait Times) of the encampment: The Open-Air Prison for ISIS Supporters—and Victims Since the Islamic State fell, tens of thousands of people—many of them children—have been herded into Al-Hol, a giant fenced-in camp in Syria, and effectively given life sentences. By Anand Gopal March 11, 2024 @newyorkermag Color palette from the post apocalyptic 1988 anime movie Akira.

Gaza Beach Oil, acrylic and pastel on canvas 20 x 16” 2024 Inspired by this Reuters photo of the beach last July. Color palette from post apocalyptic anime #akiramovie

Cotton Field, Israel Oil and pastel on canvas 16 x 20” 2024 Inspired by this #nytimes photo by Avishag Shaar-Yashuv, color palette from the post apocalyptic anime movie, Akira.

Gaza Strip, 2024 oil, acrylic and pastel on canvas 24 x 36” Inspired by this news photo taken by Jack Guez/Agence France-Presse. Color palette inspired by a friend’s happy vacation photo.