“Flight”

2019-2020

COMMISSIONED FOR THE ASSEMBLY HALL AT PARDES SHALOM MEMORIAL PARK  • VAUGHAN ONTARIO

The keynote of this installation – with thanks to Rabbi Larry Englander – is a phrase from the memorial prayer El Malei Rachamin:

תחת כנפי השכינה נכונה מנוחה  המצא

Let them find perfect rest under the wings of the Shekhinah

This suggests poetically the wish that the spirits of the departed find peace embraced by God’s nurturing presence.

The overall esthetic is dignified and contemplative; and designed to honour the architecture, which is overtly quiet, but subtley rich.  Layers of near transparency respond to changes in natural light, integrate with the indoor and outdoor surroundings, and convey an inviting mystery when viewed from outdoors. 

This suite of elements consists primarily of a cut steel valance curved and hovering about 7 cm above the feature wall; and numerous modules of metal screening treated as textiles; ie dyed, slightly rumpled, and hung from a grid affixed near the ceiling.