In this Sunday Story, we explore the architects, painters, and sculptors whose designs are inspired by transcendence. Through the work of Mark Rothko, Daniel Libeskind, and Ruth Asawa, we examine the combination of awe, fear, beauty, frailty, and mortality present in designs inspired by transcendent experiences.
This video was originally published on The CJM's Facebook Live on September 13, 2020.
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Beyond Belief (Jun 28, 2013–Oct 27, 2013) was an expansive exhibition exploring the spiritual dimensions of modern art, especially as seen through the lens of Jewish theological concepts. The exhibition featured forty-eight internationally-known artists whose work—painting, sculpture, photography, video, and installation art—are all drawn from SFMOMA’s outstanding collection. Ranging from a 1914 abstraction by Dutch artist Piet Mondrian to a luminous 1960 abstraction by Mark Rothko and oversized prayer beads by contemporary artist Zarina, Beyond Belief provided an engaging alternative that prioritizes spirituality in the reading of art.
Visitors as seen through Teresita Fernández's piece Fire (2005). Silk yarn, steel armature, and epoxy. 96 in. x 144 in. Collection SFMOMA, Accessions Committee Fund purchase. © Teresita Fernández. From the exhibition Beyond Belief: 100 Years of the Spiritual in Modern Art, on view Jun 28–Oct 27, 2013 at The Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco. Photo: Gary Sexton Photography.