Papercut for Mollie's Bat Mitzvah
Jewish Papercut Designs
Paper Cutting is a traditional folk art form that is found many cultures -- Chinese, French, German, Mexican, Polish, Swiss, and Jewish paper cutting.
It is an ancient craft that followed the evolution of paper from its creation in China, across the Muslim Empire and into Europe through Spain. Jews were prominent in medieval paper manufacturing, and remained involved with the trade in Central Europe when mechanized processing in the 18th Century made paper much less expensive.
At that point, when paper became affordable enough, the tools for making cut-outs were readily available – all a craftsman had to do was pick up a pencil and penknife to make a design. Because of this simplicity, it became a very popular and widespread art form in Jewish communities throughout Turkey, Italy, North Africa and especially Eastern Europe.
At the same time, because of the nature of paper, older work is very fragile. It is easily damaged or destroyed, and older paper can deteriorate rapidly, so existing 18th and 19th Century designs are especially valuable.
The art of Jewish papercutting almost died out in the 20th Century, but now it is seeing a modest resurgence among artists in Israel, Europe and the United States.
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In Europe during the Middle Ages, papercuts were hung inside Jewish homes when superstitious amulets were considered important charms to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. Amulets which carried any of the names of G-d carried the most powerful magic, giving special meaning to charms written on or made of paper.
Popular written amulets were mezuzot, fixed to the doorway of a house to keep evil spirits from entering, and papercuts, which were hung inside a home especially to protect women and young children. Papercuts were often made for such family events as the birth of a child, circumcisions, weddings, birthdays, and yartzaits (memorials), as well as devotional designs for religious festivals and holidays.
Unlike other papercuts that were common in the general population, Jewish papercuts did not feature human subjects or depict daily life. Instead, similar to other Jewish art, they featured traditional Jewish symbols including birds, lions, gazelles and other animals; menorahs; stars of David; tablets of the Law; columns to commemorate the Temple; and floral decorations that can be found on other Jewish ceremonial and ritual objects. They can be intricate with repeating patterns of natural and geometrical designs and often they include calligraphic inscriptions with specific prayers or texts.
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Nan’s Papercut Designs
When living in Denver, I was Project Director of the highly acclaimed 1988 public radio documentary "Search for the Buried Past: The Hidden Jews of New Mexico," the story of living descendants of converted Spanish Jews who have maintained remnants of a secret Jewish culture in rural New Mexico for more than 400 years. I began creating papercuts because of the powerful spiritual impact which this incredible story has had on me.
Drawing on designs from Pueblo Indian pottery and basketware, elements of Sephardic (Spanish) and "Santa Fe" style found throughout the southwest, and Jewish images, I try to integrate Native American and Jewish symbols into each papercut. There are certain elements I use in every design which represent commonalities to both Native American cosmology and Jewish mystical tradition, such as six points of the Star of David, which, to Native Americans, are the six cardinal directions.
I often use papers that are the colors of the region—sage green, sandstone, haze blue, etc, reinforcing the spirituality which permeates the mesa landscapes. Every papercut includes symbols of the four elements -- air, water, earth, fire—as well as plants, fruit and animals. Many of my designs also incorporate mystical numbers and Hebrew words, names or phrases.
Paper Cutting is a traditional folk art form that is found many cultures -- Chinese, French, German, Mexican, Polish, Swiss, and Jewish paper cutting.
It is an ancient craft that followed the evolution of paper from its creation in China, across the Muslim Empire and into Europe through Spain. Jews were prominent in medieval paper manufacturing, and remained involved with the trade in Central Europe when mechanized processing in the 18th Century made paper much less expensive.
At that point, when paper became affordable enough, the tools for making cut-outs were readily available – all a craftsman had to do was pick up a pencil and penknife to make a design. Because of this simplicity, it became a very popular and widespread art form in Jewish communities throughout Turkey, Italy, North Africa and especially Eastern Europe.
At the same time, because of the nature of paper, older work is very fragile. It is easily damaged or destroyed, and older paper can deteriorate rapidly, so existing 18th and 19th Century designs are especially valuable.
The art of Jewish papercutting almost died out in the 20th Century, but now it is seeing a modest resurgence among artists in Israel, Europe and the United States.
* * * * *
In Europe during the Middle Ages, papercuts were hung inside Jewish homes when superstitious amulets were considered important charms to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. Amulets which carried any of the names of G-d carried the most powerful magic, giving special meaning to charms written on or made of paper.
Popular written amulets were mezuzot, fixed to the doorway of a house to keep evil spirits from entering, and papercuts, which were hung inside a home especially to protect women and young children. Papercuts were often made for such family events as the birth of a child, circumcisions, weddings, birthdays, and yartzaits (memorials), as well as devotional designs for religious festivals and holidays.
Unlike other papercuts that were common in the general population, Jewish papercuts did not feature human subjects or depict daily life. Instead, similar to other Jewish art, they featured traditional Jewish symbols including birds, lions, gazelles and other animals; menorahs; stars of David; tablets of the Law; columns to commemorate the Temple; and floral decorations that can be found on other Jewish ceremonial and ritual objects. They can be intricate with repeating patterns of natural and geometrical designs and often they include calligraphic inscriptions with specific prayers or texts.
* * * * *
Nan’s Papercut Designs
When living in Denver, I was Project Director of the highly acclaimed 1988 public radio documentary "Search for the Buried Past: The Hidden Jews of New Mexico," the story of living descendants of converted Spanish Jews who have maintained remnants of a secret Jewish culture in rural New Mexico for more than 400 years. I began creating papercuts because of the powerful spiritual impact which this incredible story has had on me.
Drawing on designs from Pueblo Indian pottery and basketware, elements of Sephardic (Spanish) and "Santa Fe" style found throughout the southwest, and Jewish images, I try to integrate Native American and Jewish symbols into each papercut. There are certain elements I use in every design which represent commonalities to both Native American cosmology and Jewish mystical tradition, such as six points of the Star of David, which, to Native Americans, are the six cardinal directions.
I often use papers that are the colors of the region—sage green, sandstone, haze blue, etc, reinforcing the spirituality which permeates the mesa landscapes. Every papercut includes symbols of the four elements -- air, water, earth, fire—as well as plants, fruit and animals. Many of my designs also incorporate mystical numbers and Hebrew words, names or phrases.
Symbols of Life Mizrach
Some of the Native American symbols in my designs:
Some of the Jewish symbols in my designs:
- Eagle Feathers - Denoting the power of the Great Spirit
- Squash Blossoms/Pomegranates - Fertility
- Flowing Water designs - Lifeblood to desert peoples
- Corn - The sacred gift of food and abundance from the Earth
- Lighting Bolts – Brings life-giving rain to crops and desert people
- Bear - Symbols of wisdom and strength
Some of the Jewish symbols in my designs:
- Star of David - Symbol of the Jewish People
- Six-Petaled Flower - Used by Sephardic Jews as a substitute Star of David
- Grapes and Tendrils - Joy and abundance from the Earth
- Sun/Moon/Stars - Heavens and the Universe
- Mountains - Sacred places where the spirit of G-d resides
- Rainbow Arc/Sky God - A symbol of the Covenant and peace
- Birds/Animals/Fish - creatures of the air, earth and sea
- Book - The Book of Life
- Candles - Representing the holy spirit in the home, lighting candles are part of every Jewish holiday. Secret Jews lit candles but hid them in cupboards or under upturned bowls so no one could see them burning.
