Chabad hosts Jewish pop art exhibit
Joey McAllister Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Rabbi Yitzchok Moully’s art stands at a confluence of ancient traditions and modern techniques. He uses silkscreen in the style of Andy Warhol and bright colors that bring a fresh vibrancy to his subjects—classic Judaic and Hasidic images, such as bearded and hat-wearing Hasidic men dancing. On August 3, Chabad of The Woodlands will exhibit Moully’s art at an event that will include a talk by the artist.
“It’s a rare blend,” said Rabbi Mendel Blecher of Chabad of the Woodlands. “I think for a lot of Jewish people, this is a type of event and a type of artist that will shatter misconceptions, and that’s why I think it’s so intriguing and that’s why we’re doing it.”
This is the first art event hosted by Chabad of The Woodlands, whose outreach to its community more commonly includes worship services, classes, camps and Hebrew School for children. “We thought also that for some people, this might not be their sort of thing—they might not be into worship—but Jewish culture and Jewish art would speak to people,” Blecher said.
Like his art, Moully also comes from a diverse background. He was born in Darwin, Australia, to hippie parents who returned to their parents’ Judaic roots during Moully’s childhood. They later moved to a Hasidic enclave in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, NY.
“That’s pretty much my work,” Moully said. “It started off with this alternative influence, and then we became members of this Hasidic community These two worlds that live within me coexist quite nicely and bring me to this expression.”
Moully was afraid to paint or draw in his youth, he said, so he began his artistic journey through photography. When he later discovered the silkscreen process, he was excited about the potential to “do more” with his photos. However, as a practicing rabbi by day, he soon became concerned about the amount of time he was spending being an artist by night. His rabbi and mentor told him, “God gave you a gift. You use that gift to make the world a better place.”
“His statement to me was a weight off my shoulders,” Moully said. “My art isn’t just about my expression, but it’s about this opportunity to take Judaic and Hasidic concepts and convey them in a different medium to reach perhaps a greater audience than the rabbi could at the pulpit.”
One of the themes Moully explores in his art is the effort to find light in darkness and goodness through difficulty. In one piece, “Darkness Dancing into Light,” he uses a frame of darker colors to emphasize the color and vibrancy of the dancing characters at the center of the canvas.
“We all experience darkness, but when we recognize that darkness can sometimes be a springboard for greater light, it’s an opportunity to reflect on our hardships and perhaps see them in a different perspective,” he said.
Moully displayed another piece, titled “Morning Prayer,” at the Jewish Music and Art Festival, an outdoor event which he also organized. During a sudden downpour of rain, Moully rushed to help other participating artists cover their art, but his own work was damaged.
“The ink had run and there were streaks over this gentleman praying, over his face,” he said. “It sat in my basement for years. Little by little, it dawned on me that, because of the rain, this had become a greater piece. Life will throw us a curve ball, and we’ll think, ‘It’s ruined. It’s all over.’ When we look deeper—and sometimes it even takes years—we see what was indeed enhanced because of that situation.”
Chabad of The Woodlands is located at 25823 Budde Road. The exhibition takes place August 3 at 7:30 p.m., followed by Moully’s talk at 8 p.m. A selection of kosher wines and cheeses will be served, and giclees, prints and original artworks will be available for purchase. Reservations are $15 in advance, $18 at the door and may be made at www.jewishwoodlands.com/art. For more on Moully, visit www.moullyart.com.