You Did What To My Comics?

FREE Art Gallery Opening Reception: With artist and special guest Blue Moon Comics -- Sunday, September 9 from 4 to 5:30pm

Exhibit: Sept 9 - Nov 30, 2012

From afar, these papercuts might remind you of a Chagall window. But up close, the magic is revealed: artist Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik layers meaning into his work by meticulously positioning cut-up pieces of comic books, maps, and holy books destined for ritual burial beneath delicately sliced paper. The result is visual biblical commentary that uses the dialog and imagery of familiar comic books (think Iron Man, the Hulk, etc.) to tell another story. Filtered through the twin lenses of traditional paper cutting and contemporary graphic storytelling, his work visually re-interprets popular bible stories such as the burning bush, the parting of the Red Sea, the orbits of the planets, and Noah and the ark.

Meet the artist, Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik (www.NiceJewishArtist.com), and learn about his unique papercutting process at a free art gallery opening reception on Sunday, September 9 from 4 to 5:30pm in the Isaacs Gallery at the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, 200 North San Pedro Road, San Rafael. Enjoy complementary treats and browse comics and graphic novels from special guest Blue Moon Comics (www.bluemooncomics.com).

The exhibit will be on display September 9 through November 30, 2012.

ABOUT THE ARTIST: ISAAC BRYNJEGARD-BIALIK

Combining familiar comic imagery (think Iron Man, the Hulk, etc.) with biblical text, Isaac infuses the traditional art of papercutting with a contemporary graphic sensibility to explore biblical traditions and themes. The result is what he calls, “visual biblical commentary.”

He always begins each piece with text from sources as disparate as biblical passages and teachings to poetry and music lyrics. His work is also influenced by elements of the natural world that have been touched by God, such as the burning bush, the parting of the Red Sea, the orbit of the planets, and Noah and the ark. From afar, you’re struck by the clean lines and patterns, sinuous shapes, and splashes of color that might remind you of Chagall’s iconic stained-glass windows. But up close, you’ll see that his backgrounds incorporate watercolor, comic books, and cut-up pieces of holy books destined for ritual burial.

Married to his high school sweetheart, now a rabbi, Isaac lives in Southern California with his three daughters, two toy poodles, and one guinea pig.