About Jewish Papercutting - A Visual Midrash

HIDDUR MITZVAH

HIDDUR MITZVAH is a Jewish concept derived from commentary on the verse, "This is my God and I will glorify God" (Exodus 15:2). The rabbis explained that the way human beings can glorify God is to carry out all the mitzvot, all actions, in beauty. 

MIDRASH  מדרש‎ refers to the imaginative collection of stories created for the last 2000 years to explain passages in the bible. Midrash is a method of interpreting biblical stories that goes beyond the simple meaning of religious, legal, or moral teachings. It fills in gaps left in the biblical narrative regarding events and personalities that are only hinted at. Papercutting is an artform that combines both of these concept o create a VISUAL MIDRASH.

Papercutting is a traditional Jewish folk art that originated in Eastern Europe and the Middle East hundred of years ago. Papercuts were created in neighboring communities in Germany, Switzerland and Poland as well as in many places throughout the world, including China, Japan, Indonesia and Mexico. Perhaps the popularity of this versatile folkart is based on the dramatic designs that can be created using only inexpensive paper and a knife.

Jews developed this technique into a complex folk art that was thoroughly integrated into their religious lives. Papercuts played a part in many religious holidays and events, and papercut amulets were created to protect pregnant women, infants, homes, and synagogues. Marriage contracts, religious calendars and sacred scrolls were cut from paper or parchment, as were plaques commemorating special occasions or honoring important members of the community.

Despite the encroachment of the modern world on traditional Jewish culture and the near destruction of the Eastern European Jewish community during the Holocaust, papercutting has endured. Only a handful of papercuts and papercutters survived the war, and they have passed on their expertise to new generations of artists who helped to revive the fragile art.

Papercuts still serve many of the cultural and religious needs of the Jewish community today. In addition to the traditional uses of this folkart, papercuts are now created to celebrate life cycle events, including birthdays, bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings, anniversaries and personal achievements.

MY ART JOURNEY

I was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey and have been an artist all my life: photography, printmaking, illustration, papercutting, ceramics, fabrics and puppetry. While living in Boston, I learned papercutting from two of the masters of this traditional folk art, Joahnn and Martin Farren. Using this intricate technique, I have created hundreds of papercut for individuals, institutions, books and projects. I translate my papercut images to etched and silkscreened glass for architectural installations around the country. I accept commissions for original papercuts and offer silkscreen, lithograph and laser cut reproductions of her papercuts. My work can be seen at Kolbo in Brookline MA. 

In 2014, I was commissioned by the Edenton Street Methodist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina to create a large papercut about the holocaust, genocide and slavery. In 2005, I created two silk-screened/etched panels for the new Goodson Chapel at the Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina. I was a finalist in the 2000 Philip & Sylvia Spertus Judaica Prize Competition for her Torah cover, and was awarded the American Institute of Architects Excellence in Religious Art Award in 1994 and the Massachusetts Fellowship in Folk Art in 1989. Diane's  political artwork from the last century has been displayed in five exhibits at the Albuquerque Museum from 2022-2024.

Just as I received this precious Jewish folk art from my teachers, I have taught this heritage to students of all ages. I especially love to work with young people to help them create papercuts as a visual midrash or d'var torah for their b'mitzvot. I also am available to teach in-person and remote workshops and presentations. . I welcome comments and inquiries.