Mira
Reisberg
MILLS COLLEGE MFA THESIS STATEMENT
It
is no coincidence that from the early cave paintings to the beginnings
of organized religion artists have been drawn to (or employed to) give
vision to spiritual and religious belief. Faith and fanaticism find
common ground in both the art world and the world of religion, both
having the potential to create meaningful connection suffused with transcendental
beauty. Both being potentially corrupted by power, ego and greed.
As a daughter of the holocaust, reconciling Judeo/Christian constructs
has been a lifelong dilemma. How do I reconcile the idea of God with
my families history? How do I reconcile everyday horror with the beauty
I see every day? The goodness of people in the world with the cruelty
of people in the world? My own goodness with my own cruelty?
At what point is art or religion mere decoration and at what point something
authentic and meaningful? The bible stories we learn as children are
imprinted like the wallpaper we rarely notice. They provide comfort
and familiarity. They provide the background narrative behind the daily
soap operas of judgement and punishment enacted within our family lives,
within our global politics.
As an artist I find myself drawn to these stories, fascinated by their
influence on our culture, on our history, on my history. My intent with
this installation is to play with some of the images associated with
Bible studies, to question some of these beliefs and to find comfort
in others.
(With
many thanks to my Mills Professors)
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