Shari Pedowitz
2000
acrylic on canvas
14 x 18 inches
 
Shari Pedowitz's Throne Room is a deeply personal rendering of the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Israel, a place etched in the heart of our Jewish history and identity. She welcomes you into her quiet, intimate encounter with the stones themselves, sharing a moment of contemplation and connection with the Wall as a witness, a testament, a tangible link to generations past.
 
Her painting focuses on the texture and weight of the Kotel's ancient limestone. Each stone, rendered in warm, golden tones, feels like it holds a story, a prayer, a piece of our history. Worn smooth by time and touch, they whisper of resilience and unwavering faith. Thin, shimmering lines of gold thread their way between the stones, illuminating the spaces with a divine light. It's as if the very stones radiate a spiritual energy, connecting the earthly and the heavenly.
 
Dark green plants — ephedra, henbane, horsetail knotgrass, phagnalon, podosnoma, Sicilian snapdragon, and thorny caper — thrive among the stones, tenacious symbols of life in this ancient place. Nestled between the stones are the prayers of our people, including Shari’s own red note of hope and faith.
 
Shari's Throne Room is an invitation to connect with the Western Wall as a place of profound personal meaning. It's a reminder of hope, resilience, and the enduring power of our faith, rendered with intimacy and grace.