Connecting Through Art

I can’t remember a time when art was undiscovered to me. I was always an imaginative and creative being, someone who went just a little bit against the grain. In grade school, teachers would complain to my parents that I’d be daydreaming and doodling instead of paying attention to their lessons. But I always loved art class. Once a week, for about 45 minutes, I was not only allowed, but encouraged to be my out-of-the-box (and to some “out-of-line”) self. It was my happy place. On weekends, I’d spend hours of the day that went well into the night drawing, painting, and scrapbooking on my bedroom floor. I could spend hours upon hours doing nothing, but pour myself and my creativity onto a canvas. Like a machine, I would work nonstop, producing labors of love. My room was always a mess, my mom was never happy about it, and I was always looking for more reasons to leave my supplies around my room to revel in my chaos of color.

As I started getting older and ventured into my teenage years and eventual adulthood, my anxieties, fears, and insecurities all grew together with me. Creativity was my way to escape certain realities allowing me to cope and work out my issues in a healthy and productive way.

I could say that art saved me. It has been a constant and reliable shoulder in my life. It’s been my happy home and my place of comfort. It’s provided me with a passionate and fulfilling career. Art gives me reasons to run headfirst into the day and gives me the full force to break through walls.

Now, understanding art – that’s a whole different game. So many times I’ll hear things like, “What is it supposed to mean?” or “What is this meant to represent?” and even the dreaded “I don’t get it.” As a visual artist and someone who cherishes and appreciates so many different forms of art, perhaps I have a different insight and fresh look on the meaning of art as a whole. For me, each piece of an artist’s collection is a small extension of themselves that they’re putting out into the world. Every piece of my work is a piece of my self-expression and reflection of what’s going on in my inner-world. For me, art is about reflecting: “What does this piece mean to you?” “Does it evoke any emotion or memory for you?” Even very simply, “Do you like it? Do you hate it? Does it make you uncomfortable in any way, or are you finding some unexplainable comfort from it?” Defining art as an extension of the artist allows us to recognize that art is about the viewer’s personal experience with the piece and the connections we make through it. When someone enjoys or connects with my work, it feels like they are telling me, “I get you. I understand you. I accept you.” Even if they don’t know me, they see me. It brings out the universal need that we all have as human beings to be understood, loved, and accepted. It fulfills the part of us, which needs to be a part of something greater than ourselves.

Connecting through art is such a huge part of our Jewish community that is oddly overlooked for what it is. Chamsas and Jewish stars, tallis bags, challah covers, and home décor – it’s all art. With my Judaica work, I like to create art with purpose and function. In my “Torah Quote” series, my pieces serve the purpose of filling the home with holy words and blessings. However, the purpose doesn’t stop there; my goal is to have the pieces leave the viewer wanting more and to feel curious and excited about the visual representation of my interpretation of the Torah. Most of my work is inspired by nature and Hashem’s creations. I use a whole lot of blues and greens, representing the sky, greenery, and botany, as well as metallics like gold, silver, and other precious metals and stones commonly found in nature. They are often representative of kingship, royalty and the holiness of the Torah, mitzvohs, and the high regard we hold for our religion.

I seek to inspire the viewer to look beyond the surface. For example, in my Bereishis piece, text from the first line of the Torah is hand-painted. Behind it, the abstract artwork is reminiscent of Tohu-Vavohu (the state of the universe before the days of creation) made of visual chaos. This abstract aspect in this and other works may seem random, but in actuality, every part, color, and movement has been carefully planned, thought out and placed. I think this is something that we can all relate to in our own lives. Sometimes things get messy, crazy, and chaotic, but somehow everything finds its place. I hope that through viewing my work, you, the reader will connect with my art, with myself, and with yourself.

Jessica Goldsmith is an artist born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She works independently and with clients creating custom work, both Judaica and otherwise, which will beautify and add color to any home. She also holds private art classes for young adults and children. You can view more of her work online at www.JessicaGoldsmith.Org/Judaica or on instagram @JessicaGoldsmithArt. She can be contacted at JessicaAGoldsmith@Gmail.com.