36 + 2
On view from February 20th - March 19th, 2020 at the Greensboro Project Space in downtown Greensboro, NC
Focusing on object as agent of faith or identity, the inaugural exhibition of the GCJM shines a light on everyday objects that facilitate contemporary Jewish identity in its varied forms. Contributors, Jewish residents of Greensboro, North Carolina, were prompted to “share about a personal object imbued with significance” to them as a Jew. Moving beyond the universally identifiable objects to the particular, these household objects, their stories and the stories of their keepers are the content for a living archive that makes up the opening exhibition of the GCJM, 36+2.
ABOUT THE TITLE: 36+2
Hebrew is the sacred language of the Jewish people. It is the language of our Torah, the Five Books of Moses, and it is the language of Jewish mystical and spiritual experience. For centuries Jewish mystics have used the Hebrew letters of the Torah as numbers in a system called “gematria.” For example, the two letter word “chai / חי” (“life”) in the familiar phrase “L’chaim” (“to life”), is composed of the letter “chet / ח” (numerical value 8) and the letter “yud / י” (numerical value 10.) Therefore “chai / חי” (“life”) has the numerical value of 18. When we see 18, we think “life”, and when we see life we think “18.” Multiples of 18 are considered particularly auspicious. Likewise the letter bet / ב, the first letter of the Torah, the beginning of utterances that bring the world into being, with its numerical value of 2, is expressive of the Creation. This inaugural exhibit of the GCJM is presented in the spirit of a doubling of the life force (18+18=36) within the creative spirit of sacred Beginnings.
The images below and accompanying stories (click to enlarge and read) are primarily excerpts from the texts which appear in the gallery exhibition and in the GCJM catalogue. Catalogues can be purchased here.
