During the weeks preceding the High Holidays, Psalm 27 is recited daily, moving between fear and trust, concealment and longing. On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, the medieval piyyut Achot K’tanah gives voice to vulnerability while invoking renewal: “May the old year end with its curses, and the new year begin with blessing.”
A book of piyyutim (sacred poetry) for the High Holy Days printed in Ladino (the language of the Sefardi Jews) passed down through the family of mixed-media visual artist Sandra Mayo inspired her and Cantor Vera Broekhuysen to co-create a multimedia art piece, “Tu Corazón” (“Your Heart”), which pairs Psalm 27 with the Ladino Achot K’tanah (“Little Sister”), exploring the movements of cultural memory and sacred words across generations and exile.
On this Elul afternoon, Sandra and Cantor Vera will share their story of creating the artwork together, Cantor Vera will teach her original melody for the song, and Sandra will teach movements of Sephardic dance that helped shape this piece.
In “Tu Corazón,” a veiled female figure gestures in a posture inspired by Sephardic expressive traditions in which the body becomes a vessel for emotion and prayer. One hand rises while the other partially covers the mouth, suggesting both revelation and restraint. Across the body appears a tattoo with the word corazón (heart), written in Ladino using Rashi script, the typographic form through which Sephardic communities preserved sacred and poetic texts in exile.
“Tu Corazón” is also part of a “Psalm 27: Dialogue Between Text and Art,” a group exhibition presented by Hebrew College opening on Sept. 9.
+ More... - Less...105 Hudson Rd
Sudbury, MA 01776
CJP provides the above links concerning third-party events for your convenience only. CJP has no control over the content of the linked-to websites or events they describe, and accepts no responsibility for the websites, including any advertising or products or services on or available from such sites, or for any loss or damage that may arise from your attending, or registering to attend, the described events. If you decide to access any of the third-party websites linked to below, you do so entirely at your own risk and subject to the terms and conditions of use for such websites and event attendance. CJP is not responsible or liable to you or any third party for the content or accuracy of any materials provided by any third parties. All statements and/or opinions expressed in the linked-to materials or at the described events, and all commentary, articles and other content provided at the third-party websites or at the events, are solely the opinions and the responsibility of the persons or entities operating the linked-to websites and events. The inclusion of any link on this website does not imply that CJP endorses the described event, or the linked-to website or its operator. MORE
