The Queens' Garden, 2026
The painting was begin in February 2026 on the rooftop balcony of my daughter’s apartment in Tel Aviv as Purim approached, and completed in March during the war with Iran. I had not been to Israel since shortly before October 7, 2023, and I had since been carrying a range of deep emotions, including grief, anger, and even hopefulness. As soon as I returned to Israel, I immediately felt a part of the oneness of the people around me. The painting, The Queen’s Garden, was begun with the resilient and hope-filled air that I found in Israel surrounding me, and determinedly completed between many sirens and repeated trips to bomb shelters, experiences which all became part of its creation.
The painting is intended to celebrate the Hadassahs within us all, whose strength, determination, hopefulness, and commitment have sustained and defined Jewish life and identity across generations. The painting’s richly textured garden, accented with hints of metallic gold, symbolizes the beauty of Jewish peoplehood, rooted in tradition and the sacred value of knowledge and life. Its blooming flowers and strong, beautiful Queens express community, resilience, hope, and collective flourishing.
The painting is intended to celebrate the Hadassahs within us all, whose strength, determination, hopefulness, and commitment have sustained and defined Jewish life and identity across generations. The painting’s richly textured garden, accented with hints of metallic gold, symbolizes the beauty of Jewish peoplehood, rooted in tradition and the sacred value of knowledge and life. Its blooming flowers and strong, beautiful Queens express community, resilience, hope, and collective flourishing.