I conceived the Illuminated Letters project during the past year, as a way to further my own exploration of Jewish text and language through my art. Over a career spanning more than thirty years of continuous productivity, I have earned widespread recognition for my work on ritual and ceremonial art, including torah mantels, tallitot, parochot and chupot. These works utilize diverse techniques, including acrylic painting, papercutting, mixed media, limited edition lithographs, stained and etched glass, and fiber art. Across these diverse media, I have created a recognizable body of work, utilizing strong jolts of color, sacred imagery, pattern, and movement that invite the viewer to go beyond seeing and enter the realm of experience. The themes I use are universal and have been described as "deceptively eloquent, encompassing the joy and celebration that can be found in life, love, and spirituality." By bringing together the diverse work and techniques that I have used, the idea for "Illuminated Letters: Threads of Connections" emerged.

My hope is that the completed Illuminated Letters project will truly fulfill my vision by broadening the borders of Jewish study, literally "shifting the gaze" through the innovate blend of visual and textual commentary on Jewish life and thought, enriching contemporary dialogue within Jewish studies, and perhaps capturing in the process the hearts and minds of those who may currently be alienated from more traditional modes Jewish study and discourse.

I am currently exploring partnerships with the top teachers, scholars and rabbis with the expectation that the total number of collaborating writers and scholars will reach a minimum of twelve, and that this group of writers will provide a range of perspectives—male and female, liberal, traditional and secular—and will represent diverse scholarly disciplines. Currently I am working on the initial three concepts and pieces.

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