Judith of Serebrin Books & Prints

Scroll: 2 1/4 x 16 9/16 open, 2 1/4 x 1 1/4 x 7/8” closed

Box: 3 1/4 x 2 1/8 x 1 7/8”

Mixed media: polymer clay, rice paper, cloth, ink, watercolor, photocopy transfers

2000, Edition of 2 (none available)

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Rethinking the Kaddish Yatom, a traditional Jewish prayer, to directly honor all creatures in remembrance.

 

I created this rectangular scroll in 2000 to honor all creatures and sacred spaces. The text has both the original Aramaic prayer said by Jews when in mourning, and an English adaptation to honor a lost animal soul directly. The journey of making this scroll was a very profound one in which I was able to show my care and appreciation of all creatures and the earth. It has now become a functional prayer for me, having lost some very special companions over the years. It is very comforting for me to be able to say these words in their honor.

 

I made ink drawings of elephants on paper, then reduced them on a photocopy machine (along with some photographs as well), then transferred those onto polymer clay ‘papers’ that I made. These panels were then laminated between two pieces of Japanese rice paper on which the traditional Aramaic prayer had been transferred. The new prayer in English was handwritten on the other side. The drawings of stones were drawn directly on the rice paper between the polymer panels (stones are placed on Jewish graves by mourners). I made a box to house the rectangular-folding scroll from polymer clay to look like an ivory/stone ossuary. There is a transfer of a photo inside the box as well.