Artist Statement

We're all made of stars

This mural, “We are all made of stars”, is my depiction of the universe in which we exist.

Having started on the day of the solar eclipse, I began to construct the universe from nothing, just as God did on the first day of creation (בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים). Through portrayals of galaxies and planets, and the infinite number of stars that exist within the distances between them, this mural is meant to transport people to another environment and mindset.

The mural is ultimately a composite of my senior year studies at Ramaz, paying homage to my ID space class, AP art, and Tanach studies/discussions. By transforming the stairwell’s blank walls into a vast universe, I hope to spark thoughts and questions within students who pass it - questions similar to the ones that I had when learning about art, science, and religion. How big is the universe? How significant are we as humans within the universe? Why did God choose to start with the universe and build it off of this specific design?

When standing in the stairwell, I want people to feel that they are part of something much larger than them – whether it is outer space, human kind, the Jewish religion, or God Himself. It is my hope that this mural has the power to do that.