Water is the broth of life—it nourishes, purifies, and renews. Without water we are no more than dust, to which all organisms eventually return. Water urges seeds to bud and larvae to metamorphose—water is living matter.
In religious rites around the globe, water is used to elevate spiritual awareness and is a universal gateway between this world and the Other. For observant Jews this gateway is the mikvah—a body of water collected from rainfall; every month a woman is obligated to immerse in it, and as she emerges from the waters, she is born anew, ready to conceive once more. Rainwater plays an essential role in conversions as well as in the preparation of the deceased—both rituals require the body to be immersed in it. For Christians, it is baptism—the door that gives access to all other sacraments. And for Hindus there is the River Ganges, where pilgrims cleanse their soul and hope to one day die in its waters, thus be liberated from the cycle of earthly life.
Umbrellas endure challenges in all kinds of weather—harsh winds, persistent rain, and the rays of unrelenting sun. When their ribs break and fabric tears, umbrellas are abandoned on city streets. Alone in the womb of the night, their remains take on new lives. The umbrellas in this collection have been transformed into flowers, butterflies and moths. In their resurrected state, they unveil the beauty inherent in discarded objects and deepen our awareness in the ever changing face of life.
Nestled within the great canopy that holds the moon and stars, is a small planet inhabited by birds and beasts. Looking up, one marvels as stars disappear and others replace them in a dance of flickering lights. These winking luminous bodies remind us that death is always near, but what’s important is not that some will fade away, but how each kept the sky aflame.
Rain falls, tapping the earth on its shoulders; like steady beats of an alarm clock—entreating humanity to face life boldly, reminding the living not to despair in the presence of loss, for renewal comes after the rain.
Abraham Menashe
New York City, 1978