Rend: The Justification of the Judgment 2016
Printed in editions of 5 on 100% cotton cloth. $1800
Recited in ancient Aramaic as a transition from one section of the Jewish prayer service to the next, the Kaddish also became a concluding expression for mourners: a collection of rhythmic, alliterated praises meant to help heal the rend in a grieving soul. In the space between chaos and justice, accident and judgment, despair and peace, death and life, the Mourner’s Kaddish is a bridge, a metaphor, an attempt to unify disparate concepts. The justification of the judgment; the paradox—who is judging, who is repairing whom?
A rend is a physical expression of grief, like a tear meant both ways. Jacob rent his clothes, so too did Job. These eighteen images are torn because our memory and hope of being here with Josh is torn. Eighteen for his life and his holiness and his steps beside us among these hills, rocks, spires, dunes, trees, walls, and waters. The Kaddish in English from right to left around the gallery of our travels together. A camera freezes Epictetus' river and makes light of recollection, that place of all our knowledge. Torn, these memories are now a place of healing to which we return to dip our foot again. Our search begins in recollection, and we will catch meaning where it presents itself in the places we have been and will go.
Thank you Josh. Your life and our memories with you are indeed a blessing for us and for all the world.