Gallery Reception: Rachel Kanter: Sacred Community

“God will dwell in the holy spaces we create…” (Megillah 29a)

Artist Rachel Kanter’s exhibit, Sacred Community, brings together the history and tradition of the tallit (prayer shawl), the wimple (Torah binder), the parochet (Torah ark curtain), and the mikdash me’at (small sanctuary). Kanter’s art reinvents these traditional ritual objects through modern ideas about Judaism. Together, Sacred Community is a meditation on who, what, and how we create holy space and holy community.

Rachel Kanter is a fiber artist using quilting and embroidery techniques while incorporating vintage textiles, sewing patterns, furniture and found objects into her work. Her interests lie in the combination of history and tradition with modern ideas about Judaism and feminism. Kanter’s art is in the permanent collections of The Jewish Museum, NY, NY; Jewish Museum, Frankfurt, Germany; and The Bernard Museum of Judaica, NY, NY. In addition, select solo and group exhibitions include the Jerusalem Biennale, Jerusalem, Israel; Art Fair 14C, Jersey City, NJ; Jewish Museum, Hohenems, Austria; New Jersey Arts Annual, Stockton, NJ; Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford, CT; Jewish Theological Museum, NY, NY; The Temple Judea Museum, Elkins Park, PA; and Hebrew Union College, NY, NY.