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Bailin Studio

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1991 – 1999

Biblical Images

[T]hese psychologically—charged fragments, juxtaposed one against the other, reflects one of the major problems of modern life—the anxieties that arise from the stream of highly-charged emotional situations that arise daily, the desire for the simple life, and the complexity of the questions that arise when one is finally alone.

— Ruth Pasquine • In Search of a Hero • 2004

The Minyan Series: The Ten

  • Emanations [Sefirot] • 1991 48

    Emanations [Sefirot] • 1991 48"x51" • Charcoal on paper • B'nai B'rith National Jewish Museum, Washington, DC

  • Golem • 1991 48

    Golem • 1991 48"x51" • Charcoal on paper • B'nai B'rith National Jewish Museum, Washington, DC

  • Siren • 1991 48

    Siren • 1991 48"x51" • Charcoal on paper • B'nai B'rith National Jewish Museum, Washington, DC

  • Ezekiel’s City • 1991 48

    Ezekiel’s City • 1991 48"x51" • Charcoal on paper • B'nai B'rith National Jewish Museum, Washington, DC

  • Diagram Of The World • 1991 48

    Diagram Of The World • 1991 48"x51" • Charcoal on paper • B'nai B'rith National Jewish Museum, Washington, DC

  • Amulet [Num 6:22-1/Psalm 121] • 1991 48

    Amulet [Num 6:22-1/Psalm 121] • 1991 48"x51" • Charcoal on paper • B'nai B'rith National Jewish Museum, Washington, DC

  • Labrynth • 1991 48

    Labrynth • 1991 48"x51" • Charcoal on paper • B'nai B'rith National Jewish Museum, Washington, DC

  • Vessel • 1991 48

    Vessel • 1991 48"x51" • Charcoal on paper • Private Collection, Little Rock, AR

  • The Count [Minyan] • 1991 48

    The Count [Minyan] • 1991 48"x51" • Charcoal on paper • B'nai B'rith National Jewish Museum, Washington, DC

  • At The Center of the World [Kibleh • 1991 48

    At The Center of the World [Kibleh • 1991 48"x51" • Charcoal on paper • B'nai B'rith National Jewish Museum, Washington, DC

The Midrash Series

  • Pyramid [Moses & Aaron] • 1999 • Charcoal on paper • 96 x 157 inches

    Pyramid [Moses & Aaron] • 1999 • Charcoal on paper • 96 x 157 inches

  • Skin [Cain & Abel] • 1997 • Charcoal on paper • 96 x 144 inches

    Skin [Cain & Abel] • 1997 • Charcoal on paper • 96 x 144 inches

  • Breath [Expulsion] • 1996 • Charcoal on paper • 96 x 144 inches

    Breath [Expulsion] • 1996 • Charcoal on paper • 96 x 144 inches

  • Road [Job] • 1996 • Charcoal on paper • 96 x 168 inches • Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR

    Road [Job] • 1996 • Charcoal on paper • 96 x 168 inches • Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR

  • Rock [Abraham] • 1995 • Charcoal on paper • 96 x 168 inches

    Rock [Abraham] • 1995 • Charcoal on paper • 96 x 168 inches

  • Bone [Noah] • 1995 • Charcoal on paper • 96 x 168 inches

    Bone [Noah] • 1995 • Charcoal on paper • 96 x 168 inches

  • Salt [Lot's Wife] • 1994 • Charcoal on paper • 96 x 120 inches • Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR

    Salt [Lot's Wife] • 1994 • Charcoal on paper • 96 x 120 inches • Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR

Other Biblical Images

  • VOWS 3 [for Elizabeth and Grady] • 2022 • Charcoal, Pastel, and Coffeel on Paper • 40 x 43 inches [102 x 122 cm] • Private Collection, Quincy, MA

    VOWS 3 [for Elizabeth and Grady] • 2022 • Charcoal, Pastel, and Coffeel on Paper • 40 x 43 inches [102 x 122 cm] • Private Collection, Quincy, MA

  • VOWS 2 [for Leah]• 2019 • Pencil on Drafting Film over Acrylic and Gouache on Paper • 13 x 19 inches [33 x 48 cm] • Private Collection, Minneapolis, MN

    VOWS 2 [for Leah]• 2019 • Pencil on Drafting Film over Acrylic and Gouache on Paper • 13 x 19 inches [33 x 48 cm] • Private Collection, Minneapolis, MN

  • VOWS [for Rachel] • 2019 • Pencil on Drafting Film over Acrylic and Gouache on Paper • 13 x 19 inches [33 x 48 cm] • Private Collection, Los Angeles, CA

    VOWS [for Rachel] • 2019 • Pencil on Drafting Film over Acrylic and Gouache on Paper • 13 x 19 inches [33 x 48 cm] • Private Collection, Los Angeles, CA

  • TREK • 2018 • Charcoal, Walnut ink, Acrylic, and Coffee on Paper • 32 x 44½ inches • Private Collection, Nashville, TN

    TREK • 2018 • Charcoal, Walnut ink, Acrylic, and Coffee on Paper • 32 x 44½ inches • Private Collection, Nashville, TN

  • ORCHID • 2016 • Charcoal, Pastel and Coffee on Prepared Paper • 44 x 46 inches • Private Collection, Atlantis, FL

    ORCHID • 2016 • Charcoal, Pastel and Coffee on Prepared Paper • 44 x 46 inches • Private Collection, Atlantis, FL

  • ALEPH • 2014 • Charcoal, Pastel and Coffee on Prepared Paper • 39½ x 54 inches • Private Collection, Iowa City, IA

    ALEPH • 2014 • Charcoal, Pastel and Coffee on Prepared Paper • 39½ x 54 inches • Private Collection, Iowa City, IA

  • ARK • 2013 • Charcoal and Coffee on Prepared Paper • 38 x 50 inches • Private Collection, Minneapolis, MN

    ARK • 2013 • Charcoal and Coffee on Prepared Paper • 38 x 50 inches • Private Collection, Minneapolis, MN

  • CREATION • 2010 • Charcoal on Paper • 36½ x 54 inches • Private Collection, Pacific Palisades, CA

    CREATION • 2010 • Charcoal on Paper • 36½ x 54 inches • Private Collection, Pacific Palisades, CA

  • MOURNING • 2006 • Charcoal on Paper • 37 x 44 inches • Private Collection, Des Moines, IA

    MOURNING • 2006 • Charcoal on Paper • 37 x 44 inches • Private Collection, Des Moines, IA

  • ATTIC • 2004 • Charcoal on Paper • 34 x 46 inches • Private Collection, Boston, MA

    ATTIC • 2004 • Charcoal on Paper • 34 x 46 inches • Private Collection, Boston, MA

  • ABRAM & SARAH • 2004 • Charcoal on Paper • 30 x 42 inches • Private Collection, Des Moines, IA

    ABRAM & SARAH • 2004 • Charcoal on Paper • 30 x 42 inches • Private Collection, Des Moines, IA

  • SCARLET THREAD • 2001 • Charcoal and Pastel on Paper • n/a • Private Collection, Nashville, IL

    SCARLET THREAD • 2001 • Charcoal and Pastel on Paper • n/a • Private Collection, Nashville, IL

  • TREAD UPON • 1999 • Charcoal on Paper • n/a • Private Collection, Los Angeles, CA

    TREAD UPON • 1999 • Charcoal on Paper • n/a • Private Collection, Los Angeles, CA

  • HARVEST • 2001 • Charcoal on Paper • n/a • Private Collection, Brighton, MA

    HARVEST • 2001 • Charcoal on Paper • n/a • Private Collection, Brighton, MA

  • JACOB AND ESSAU • 2001 • Charcoal on Paper • n/a • Private Collection, Philadelphia, PA

    JACOB AND ESSAU • 2001 • Charcoal on Paper • n/a • Private Collection, Philadelphia, PA

  • THE BALLOON • 1992 • 26

    THE BALLOON • 1992 • 26"x30" • Charcoal on paper • Private Collection, PA

  • IF WE DON’T SURVIVE, REMEMBER [v2] • 1992 • Charcoal on canvas • 72 x 72 inches

    IF WE DON’T SURVIVE, REMEMBER [v2] • 1992 • Charcoal on canvas • 72 x 72 inches

  • IF WE DON’T SURVIVE, REMEMBER • 1992 • Charcoal on canvas • 72 x 72 inches

    IF WE DON’T SURVIVE, REMEMBER • 1992 • Charcoal on canvas • 72 x 72 inches

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Statement

The TEN (or MINYAN) was a series of holocaust drawings I created that superimposed Kabbalah symbols or references onto documentary photographs. I hoped to provide some psychological closure by embracing the victims within Jewish mysticism. That was naive. However, an outcome of this series was the Midrash series and a new, more invigorated approach to mark making.

While working a full-time job, my Saturdays and Sundays were filled with taking care of young ones or finding time in the studio. When I was in the studio I worked very fast, completing a drawing/painting in a single setting. The problem was that I had little to sustain me during the rest of the week. My solution seemed counter-intuitive but served me in the long term: create a series of drawings that were so large and complicated that they couldn't possibly be finished in one day and, as a result, couldn't be shown in a gallery (removing the anxiety of finding a gallery and exhibiting.

My studio was located in the basement of a building and occupied half a city block. It could accommodate large drawings. My theme was taken from my childhood memories of bible stories that haunted me: The Expulsion, Cain, Lot's Wife, Noah, Job, Abraham, and Moses' breaking of the tablets. Each drawing took at least six months to create and the week long absence gave me a chance to meditate on the work. I was creating my own Midrash.

The MIDRASH, or more appropriately, Midrash Aggada, examines the moral principles behind the bible stories and through the months of drawing I came to understand the stories. Throughout, I was influenced by The Book of J (Harold Bloom, author and David Rosenberg, translator).

Since the 90s I have drawn Bar and Bat Mitzvah invitations for my nephews and nieces using the passages from the Torah or Haftorah as inspiration. This activity has evolved as my family has grown into wedding and birth announcements.


View Prophets, Parables, Paradoxes Catalog.

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