Gesturing Saints: Photographs by Sandy Kaufman

GESTURING SAINTS Photographs by Sandy Kaufman

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Hand gestures speak. Mr. Spock on the Enterprise spreads his fingers in the traditional sign of the Hebrew Cohenim. The Christian sign for benediction was based upon the planatary coding of the fingers of the hands of Roman gods. While painters can show a flow of words (often in the Annuciation) sculptors use gestures to impart identity and communicate spiritual meaning. Saints and martyrs often display symbols of their martyrdom: St. Stephen with a rock lodged in the forehead; Lucy holding a platter of her eyes; St. Lawrence with a fiery grill. St. Catherine with the torture wheel.

When photographing these gesturing states, I enjoy the strike-a-pose theatricality: sometimes fiercely emotional, sometimes comforting, sometimes wounded. Some are there to hear prayers and provide spiritual comfort and solace. Some are costumed by parishoners. Some are encased in glass like full-figure reliquaries. Some are like hand-painted folk art. Some are in operatic grand posture with dramatic lighting and intricate carving. Take a look.

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his photography in India, he Through holds a child; he holds a staff.

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Kaufman reveals a poetry of place while discovering thethe unfamiliar in the familiar— I am looking through camera lens and greeting these forms, patterns, juxtaposed images, textures, they holy characters like theatrical performers. Voiceless, and composition in shadow and line. speak through the objects they display, through gestures,

through clothing and posture.

Sandy Kaufman is a painter and photographer living Brooklyn, York. He has Sandy Kaufman is in a painter andNew photographer living in worked for Columbia University New UniBrooklyn, New York. He has worked forand Columbia YorkNew University for the past versity and York University for20 theyears pastas 28a years as graphic designer and print/creative director a print/creative director while continuing to work on and while continuing to work on his paintings exhibit his paintings and photography. Now, he is focused and photography. Now he is solely focused on solely on his personal art. his personal art and discovering, through his camera, the poetry around us. http://www.sandykaufmanphoto.com http://www.sandykaufman.photos

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