Press
Article from Focus Magazine Dec 2002
MOTHER EARTH AND BIBLICAL MATRIARCHS
Transcendent feminine energy illuminates the work of Sara Novenson
By Judith Fein
In Sara Novenson’s work, there are dazzling colors, life-infusing rays of sun, people shimmering with power and beauty, but most of all, there is female energy and spirituality.
Novenson moves fluidly between Biblical Matriarchs and the world of Mother Nature. “They all share Mother energy.,” says Novenson. “Nature and Women of the Bible are all about beauty, contrast, light and the sinuous curves of sensuality that are bestowed by the Creator.
Her landscape paintings are often framed by Hebrew psalms. The pieces are luminous and textural, an effect she creates using layers of pastel, gold leaf, and paint. Much of Novenson’s work is editioned in hand painted giclee prints and mixed media embossed etchings.
Several years ago, the award-winning and nationally acclaimed artist became inspired by the matriarchs of the Old Testament and she was able to capture their transcendence, and also their earthly reality. To date, she has completed a dozen paintings, and the series is ongoing.
Miriam, who is always associated with water, is aligned with Spirit as she leads her people through the sea to freedom. Rachel meets Jacob at the well, and love flows out to all the world. Sarah, the prophetess, is under the protective wing of the Shekhina (the feminine aspect of the Divine), and she is illuminated by a swirl of radiance. Deborah sits on the throne of justice, holding the scales that balance light and darkness.
In Novenson’s latest creation, Ruth sets out alone at night, to meet with Boaz. “I think she knows she is going to her destiny, out of which came the royal lineage of King David,” says Novenson. Ruth’s face is suffused with wonder and anticipation, awe and determination.
Novenson’s pieces have been exhibited extensively in museums, galleries, synagogues, and churches for over 20 years.
She is a vibrant and exuberant lecturer and teaches extensively for museums, religious venues, and was a keynote speaker for Hadassah. Her paintings adorn the covers of many magazines, including American Psychologist, and appear on UNICEF cards, and in books and calendars. In Robert Wuthnow’s recently published book, Creative Spirituality: The Way of the Artist, Novenson’s life and work are featured prominently.