The Flowers

Flowers and floral motifs are frequently used in Jewish decorative art, in synagogues and Jewish cemeteries. They provide symbolic representation of life, joy and death. The Gwozdziec ceiling has flowers in each section, the four arabesques in the top of the cupola, surrounding the zodiac medallions, in the cove and there are over 80 flowers and fruits filling the North and South domes. These flowers surrounding the many animals in the synagogue may represent the wonder of life, the flora and fauna of God’s creation.

Interview with the Makers

SNOWFLAKE

GRAPES

FAN FEATHER

POMEGRANATE

POD

Image credits:

Snowflake Flowers - North and South Dome: 1. Detail from ceiling painting of South Dome of Gwoździec Synagogue, Photograph by A Breier, Collection and Copyright of Tel Aviv Museum of Art. 2. Drawing of the Snowflake Flower by Handshouse Studio MAKING/HISTORY Wooden Synagogue Project participants based on the archival photographs. 3. Test panel of Snowflake Flower. 4. Natalia Alberska painting one of the Snowflake Flowers for the Gwozdziec Re!construction project at the Synagogue in Szczebrzeszyn, Poland in 2012. 5. Finished Snowflake Flower painted by Handshouse Studio workshop participants for the Gwozdziec Re!construction project.

Grapes - North and South Dome: 1. Detail from ceiling painting of South Dome of Gwoździec Synagogue, Photograph by A Breier, Collection and Copyright of Tel Aviv Museum of Art. 2. Drawing of the Grapes by Handshouse Studio MAKING/HISTORY Wooden Synagogue Project participants, based on the archival photographs. 3. Test panel of Snowflake Flower. 4. Jason Loik, Handshouse Studio painting leader discussing painting the Grapes and Pomegranate for the Gwozdziec Re!construction project at the Synagogue in Szczebrzeszyn, Poland in 2012. 5. Finished Grapes painted by Handshouse Studio workshop participants for the Gwozdziec Re!construction project.

Fan Feather - North and South Dome: 1. Detail from ceiling painting of South Dome of Gwoździec Synagogue, Photograph by A Breier, Collection and Copyright of Tel Aviv Museum of Art. 2. Drawing of the Fan Feather flower by Handshouse Studio MAKING/HISTORY Wooden Synagogue Project participants, based on the archival photographs. 3. Test panel of Fan Feather. 4. Marta Topolewska painting one of the Fan Feather flowers for the Gwozdziec Re!construction project at the Synagogue in Szczebrzeszyn, Poland in 2012. 5. Finished Fan Feather painted by Handshouse Studio workshop participants for the Gwozdziec Re!construction project.

Pomegranate - North and South Dome: 1. Detail from ceiling painting of South Dome of Gwoździec Synagogue, Photograph by A Breier, Collection and Copyright of Tel Aviv Museum of Art. 2. Drawing of the Pomegranate by Handshouse Studio MAKING/HISTORY Wooden Synagogue Project participants, based on the archival photographs. 3. Test panel of Pomegranate. 4. Emily White, Handshouse Studio painting leader, painting one of the Pomegranates of Gwoździec Synagogue for the Gwoździec Re!construction project at the workshop at the Synagogue in Szczebrzeszyn, Poland in 2012. 5. Finished Pomegranate painted by Handshouse Studio workshop participants for the Gwozdziec Re!construction project.

Pod - North and South Dome: 1. Detail from ceiling painting of South Dome of Gwoździec Synagogue, Photograph by A Breier, Collection and Copyright of Tel Aviv Museum of Art. 2. Drawing of the Pod flower by Handshouse Studio MAKING/HISTORY Wooden Synagogue Project participants, based on the archival photographs. 3. Test panel of Pod flower. 4. Evelyn Tauben painting one of the Pod flowers of Gwoździec Synagogue for the Gwoździec Re!construction project at the workshop at the Synagogue in Szczebrzeszyn, Poland in 2012. 5. Finished Pod painting by Handshouse Studio workshop participants for the Gwozdziec Re!construction project.

Video of Evelyn Tauben’s story of painting the Pod flower at the painting workshop at the Synagogue in Szczebrzeszyn, Poland in 2012. Courtesy of Trillium Studios

RAISE THE ROOF