Holy Lands: Israel and Beyond NEW PAINTINGS BY JEFFREY HESSING PUCKER GALLERY, BOSTON

On the Vision of Jeffrey Hessing LAWRENCE KUSHNER n 1966 I was a second-

I

ordinary but it is an We

year rabbinic student

sense the entire spectrum

in New York City. I

on virtually every canvas.

landed a part-time job

And we leave these paint-

advising the youth group

ings now infected with the

of the Avenue “R” Temple

mischievous possibility

in Flatbush. I was twenty-

that we too can find all the

two years old. Once or

colors—full, rich, alive—

twice a week I would take

everywhere, even in a gray

the QB/Brighton Beach

wall of concrete.

train from Manhattan

2

The rabbinic scholar,

down to Brooklyn and try

Arthur Green, once

to help a couple hundred

observed that spirituality

Jewish high school kids

is living in the continu-

have some fun without

ous presence of the holy.

forgetting that they were

Hessing’s work, likewise,

also Jews. Jeffrey Hess-

offers us a vision of the

ing was a member of that

continuous presence of

youth group. I have not

light. Even things in the

seen him in over forty

distance are vibrant and

years. He found me a few months ago because the woman across the aisle

bright. Jeff told me that he

VIEW FROM MISHKENEOT 32 x 25 1/2” JH637

only paints things that are uplifting. I would modify

on his first flight to Israel “happened” to be reading a

that slightly: Hessing finds (and helps us see the) uplift

book I wrote about Jewish spirituality. He took this as a

everywhere.

sign and, with the help of the internet, closed another

Finally, without being deliberately or specifically re-

one of those mysterious great life circles. I remember

ligious, we engage a Hessing painting and are, at once,

him as a good kid who had a unique inner voice; he

reminded that everything is connected. We didn’t

said I touched his life. So it goes.

used to think that the tree was related to the sky or

When I now review his extraordinary oeuvre, and

that the chair was somehow connected to the window

especially the many Israeli themed works offered in

but now, after luxuriating in Hessing’s rich, sometimes

this exhibition, I am startled to realize how many of

even psychedelic palette, we have the intuition that

the principles of Jewish spirituality infuse his vision.

maybe, perhaps, they’re actually somehow joined.

Permit me three examples.

And, if spirituality is discerning seemingly invisible

Spirituality is predicated on the notion that there

lines of connection, Jeffrey Hessing’s work, makes

is more to reality than meets the eye. In other words,

invisible connections visible. To paraphrase Proust,

something else is going on but it is not readily ap-

we leave Jeffrey Hessing’s work now able to see reality

parent. This is also an accurate statement, I believe,

with new eyes.

about Hessing’s paintings. Through them, we are surprised and, indeed, coaxed to see another, hitherto concealed, dimension of ordinary reality. The subject matter may be everyday (even if it’s Israeli) and even ALL WORKS ARE OIL ON CANVAS.

Rabbi Lawrence Kushner is the Emanu-El Scholar at Congregation Emanu-El of San Francisco. He is the author of 17 books on Jewish spirituality and mysticism and a new novel, Kabbalah: A Love Story (Morgan Road, 2006).

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TWILIGHT 34 3/4 x 51” JH665

CALM SEA 18 x 24” JH659

HILLSIDE OUTSIDE JERUSALEM 51 x 35” JH666

4

THE JORDAN RIVER 34 3/4 x 51” JH667

A CALM STREAM 31 3/4 x 39 1/2” JH649

5

PRAYER 28 1/2 x 36” JH648

A VILLAGE IN THE VALLEY 35 x 45 1/2” JH663

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THE RIVER 51 x 63 1/2” JH652

ST. PAUL 19 1/2 x 24” JH656

HIDDEN HOUSE 18 x 21 3/2” JH655 THE HOUSE UNDER A RED SKY 10 3/4 x 14” JH653

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THE DISTANT SAILBOAT 28 1/2 x 39 1/2” JH646

THE CAP FERRAT 25 1/2 x 39 1/2” JH645

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TOWER OF DAVID I 18 x 21 1/2” JH635

LA PISCINE 18 x 21 3/4” JH654

THE GARDEN’S END 25 1/2 x 32” JH643

10 FORECAST UNCERTAIN 25 1/2 x 32” JH644

HAIFA (LOOKING SOUTH) 25 1/2 x 32” JH641

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HAIFA (FACING NORTH) 25 1/2 x 32” JH642

BLUE RAIN 31 3/4 x 25 1/2” JH661

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LA FERAUDE 23 1/2 x 28 3/4 ” JH660

LA SERRE (THE GREENHOUSE) 33 1/2 x 32 1/4” JH662

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VILLAGE ON A RIDGE 31 3/4 x 39 1/4” JH669

THE RIVER JORDAN 18 1/4 x 22” JH627

EIN GEDI 22 x 18 1/2” JH626

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THE KIDRON VALLEY (ABSALOM’S TOMB) 23 1/2 x 29 1/4” JH630

UNTITLED 23 1/2 x 29” JH628

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THE WEST WALL 23 3/4 x 29” JH629

GATE TO THE TOWER OF DAVID 23 3/4 x 28 3/4” JH631

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ROSH HANIKRA 23 1/4 x 28 1/2” JH632

GALILEE 20 x 24 1/4” JH634

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THE DEAD SEA 23 1/2 x 28 3/4” JH636

THE GOLDEN GLOW 18 x 21 3/4” JH657

18 THE SEA OF GALILEE 25 1/2 x 32” JH639

JERUSALEM 25 1/2 x 32” JH638

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TOWER OF DAVID II 25 1/2 x 32” JH640

MORNING IN THE VALLEY 39 1/4 x 28 1/2” JH647

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THE RED ROOF 18 x 21 1/2” JH658

TUSCANE HILLS 38 x 57 1/4” JH664

The Color of Emotions 21

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

E

motions, which are the driving force in art, are also

green in the Golan Heights or the ethereal orange hills

the basic fabric of Israel. The land has been fertil-

of Jordan overlooking the turquoise Sea of Galilee. The

ized with tears and blood, not just for centuries

countless men in black walking through the old streets

but for millennia . No where is there a place that has

of Jerusalem are accompanied by the sound from the

been nourished with the hopes and dreams of so many

minarets calling others to prayer. Prayer and devotion,

diverse peoples, cultures, and religions. Here, much as

contrasts and conflicts. Each place I stop is experienced

in art, spirit is manifest in the physical. Revelations are

as a deep and multi-leveled adventure. The past is pal-

not uncommon. Reverence is an everyday practice. Is-

pable as each story is told by my guide in the heat of

rael is more than just a place. Visiting Israel is a journey

the desert. I am especially touched by the people I

through time. It is a living classroom of Western history,

meet; the gallery owner in Safed waiting out the bomb-

religious thought, philosophy, folly, and tragedy. Cer-

ings during the last Lebanese war and wondering if the

tainly the landscape is beautiful – often breathtaking.

gallery would still be there upon her return; the fisher-

In most other places the true nature of things is hidden

man who, one day walking with his brother at low tide,

deep beneath the shell of our daily concerns or veiled

discovers a 2,000 year old boat buried in the mud and

by our unwillingness to take the time to really look care-

uses his newfound notoriety to speak about peace, to

fully. Here the past merges with the present, constantly

bring people together. Their stories are a continuation

showing itself and demanding to be seen and acknowl-

of 4,000 years of history, which is always apparent and

edged. In my creative process I do not see a place at

inescapable. These are the elements and experiences

first glance, but rather discover it gradually through

that color each of my canvases.

painting. It reveals itself slowly, so that I am almost surprised to see reflected on my canvases the deep bluish

— JEFFREY HESSING

purple skies over ochre hills punctuated with patches of

November 2007

LOOKING DOWN FROM MASADA 15 x 18 1/4” JH633

SUNDAY LUNCH 18 x 21 3/4” JH668

Jeffrey Hessing BIOGRAPHY 1952

Born in New York, New York Currently resides in Nice, France

Education

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1969-1972 1972-1973

B.A., State University of New York at Binghamton Private study with Leonard Baskin

Solo Exhibitions 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 1999, 1997, 1994, 1992, 1989 2007, 2006, 2005 2007 2007 2006 2005 2004 2002 2000, 1998, 1996 2000 1999 1997 1994 1994 1994 1994 1993 1992 1991 1991 1991 1990 1989-1990 1989 1986

Pucker Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts Shanghai Art Fair, Shanghai, China Chinart Gallery, Shanghai, China Beijing Art Fair, Beijing, China Maison Gallery, Shanghai, China Natus Gallery, Shanghai, China Galerie Aktuarius, Strasbourg, France Association des Jeunes Monagasques, Monaco Le Mas d’Artigny Gallery, Saint Paul de Vence, France Maison du Portal, Levens, France Masterworks Foundation Gallery, Bermuda La Salle Gallery, Monaco Val Rameh, Menton, France Moulin des Artistes, Valbonne, France Centre Henri Matisse, Vence, France Villa Principe Leopoldo, Lungano, Switzerland Galerie Musée, Nagoya, Japan Le Mas d’Artigny, Saint Paul de Vence, France Galerie Leo Allarmargot, Paris, France Galerie Leo Allarmargot, Saint Tropez, France Unisys, Saint Paul de Vence, France Maralyn Wilson Gallery, Birmingham, Alabama Galerie Bleue, Vence, France Galerie Quincampoix, Paris, France Musée Municipal de Saint Paul, France

Group Exhibitions 2005, 2004 2004 2004 2000 1999 1999 1998 1997-1998 1996-1997 1996 1995 1995 1995 1994-1995 1994 1993 1992-1993 1993 1993 1993 1993 1993 1986 1985 1985 1985 1981 1983, 1981 1978

Galleria Limes, Komarno, Slovakia Kato Gallery, London, England DML Fine Arts, Monte Carlo, Monaco Ora Sorenson Gallery, Delray Beach, Florida Château d’Eze, France Château de Tourrettes-sur-Loup, France Galerie Mouvance, Place des Vosges, Paris, France Evelyn Avery Fine Arts, Atlanta, Georgia Fel Gallery, Singapore Four Visions, Chateau de Tourettes-sur-Loup, France Kwai Fung Hin Art Gallery, Happy Valley, Hong Kong Caesarea Gallery, Boca Raton, Florida Lyons Gallery, Delray Beach, Florida Cygnet Gallery, Toronto, Canada Kwai Fung Hong Gallery, Hong Kong Galerie Musée, Nagoya, Japan Galerie Debut, Nagoya, Japan Hotel de Ville, Lausanne, Switzerland Unisys, Saint Paul de Vence, France Litho Art, Copenhagen, Denmark R.V.S. Gallery, Southampton, New York Center Gallery, Winter Park, Florida Palais de l’Europe, Menton, France Exposition Art Themes, Tourettes-sur-Loup, France Prix de la Galerie de la Cite des Arts Biennale de la Jeune Peinture Méditerranéenne, Nice, France Musée de Ponchettes, Nice, France Terrain Gallery, Greene Street, New York, New York Spencer Museum of Art, Lawrence, Kansas

Publications October 1999 August 1998 Summer 1997 July 1997 December 1995 November 1993 Winter 1989

Pulse, Hessing on Bermuda Nice Matin, Hessing Devoilé Ses Toiles New Riviera, Art on the Move The Seattle Times, View Worthy Outdoor Photographer, Eos or Ease Art & Antiques, Cote d’Azur Allure New Riviera, Jeffrey Hessing: Reflection on Gardens

Artist Residencies 2007 2004 1999 1980 1980 1978-1979 1979 1977

Red Gate Gallery Residency Program, Beijing, China Sympa, Ptince, Slovaki Masterworks Foundation, Paget, Bermuda Karolyi Foundation, Vence, France Ossabaw Island Foundation, Savannah, Georgi Millay Colony for the Creative Arts, Austerlitz, New York Virginia Center for Creative Arts, Sweet Briar, Virginia Artist-in-Residence, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

Selected Collections Aidekman Arts Center, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts Art Gallery, University College of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts Centre Culturel Henri Matisse, Vence, France Château de La Napoule, Mandelieu-La Napoule, France Office of the Mayor, Seattle, Washington Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts

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Holy Lands: Israel and Beyond NEW PAINTINGS BY JEFFREY HESSING Exhibition Dates: 5 APRIL TO 5 MAY 2008 Opening Reception: 5 APRIL 2008, 3 TO 6 PM The public is invited to attend. The artist will be present.

CREDITS: Design: Leslie Anne Feagley Editors: Destiny M. Barletta and Kate Lincoln Photography: Keith McWilliams Photography © 2008, Pucker Art Publications Printed in China by Cross Blue Overseas Printing Company TOWER OF DAVID III 35 x 45 1/2” JH650

COVER: STREET IN JERUSALEM 45 3/4 x 32” JH670

Pucker Gallery 171 Newbury Street Boston, MA 02116 Phone: 617.267.9473 Fax: 617.424.9759 E-mail: [email protected] This catalogue and other Gallery publications can be viewed at www.puckergallery.com

Gallery Hours: Monday through Saturday 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM Sundays 1:00 to 5:00 PM Member of the Boston Art Dealers Association. One hour free validated parking is available in the lot on the corner of Newbury and Dartmouth Streets.

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