"The Garden of Peace"
Photo Michelle Plachte-Zuieback
"Garden of Peace"
The Temple Ohabai Shalom,
Nashville, Tennessee

20' x 24'
2001
"All Its Ways are Pleasantness and All Its Paths are Peace"

Of the seven species, the almond is the first tree to blossom in the spring. In fact, the moment of the flowering of the almond trees is used by the Rabbis to mark the celebration of Tu'Bishvat. Hence, it is a symbol of regeneration and new beginnings. Uniquely, it bears a five-petaled white flower, before it shows any leaves. Most often, it symbolizes the Lampstand of the original tabernacle, which God commanded to be constructed "like almond blossoms" (Exodus 25.34). In modern Israel, the almond is a symbol of beauty and hope

Ten doves, are going up and down, like angels, connecting the heavens and the earth, swooping around in a giant circle, further framing and forming the mystical gateway. The doves are partially hidden because parts of them are outside the frame of the window or behind the mullions. They also have very little color, only the color of the glass behind them, or they appear like a transparent shadow, above the darker blue background.

The mostly transparent background glass, in this composition allows the congregation to look out at an historic Oak tree which stands beside the sanctuary. The ever-changing dynamic and color of the tree combine with the crystalline and reamy clear glass to transform the sanctuary into a liquid sea of color and movement, changing at every hour of the day. .

 

 

 


     
A photo collage of the installation of "The Garden of Peace" David setting a panel off the scissor lift  
Details of the composition detail of the almond blossom  
     

 

 

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Copyright ©2002 Plachte-Zuieback Art Glass