The following is an excerpt from “Israel: Democracy, Race, Ethnicity, and More”
(Fragments #2).
Artist’s statement:
Newspapers express the whole of a community, politically, culturally, and socially. One chair of “Listen Closely, Palestinians Have a Seat at the Table” is built entirely with Hebrew newspapers and the other with Arabic newspapers. On the arm of the Hebrew chair there are five cups of water. On the arm of the Arabic chair, one cup, presenting the great disparity in water distribution in the West Bank. On the table (bottom) is a landscape of collaged monotypes and symbolic walls, representing those that crisscross the West Bank and prevent Palestinians from moving freely, often from their homes to their land. The idea for this sculpture germinated in 2011 with Francine Perlman’s two-week visit to the West Bank with T’ruah (then Rabbis for Human Rights-North America) and has surfaced frequently in her work.
FRANCINE PERLMAN (she/her) exhibits both narrative and abstract work. Her installation Listen Closely included sculpture and printmaking presenting a critical Israel/Palestine dialogue. Her installation Doors Open/Close showcased art by women in domestic violence shelters. Her work has appeared solo and in group shows in many venues including Eldridge Street Synagogue, the Hammond Museum, the National Jewish Museum, and the Frauen Museum in the Bonn Biennial, Germany, which acquired her sculptures. Her website is francineperlman.com.
