Caron Tabb: On the Face Of It

A symbol of purity and holiness. A fluttering flag of surrender. A shroud. A blank slate. After two years marked by extraordinary suffering and pain - both personal and collective, in Israel and around the world - Caron Tabb brings the many Jewish and universal associations with the color white into her new multimedia art exhibition created for the Jerusalem Biennale, On the Face Of It. Tabb builds here upon the rich tradition of textile art in this monochromatic form as she explores poignant themes of memory, loss, identity, compassion, and spirituality. Referencing the significance of white in Jewish funerary and ritual customs, Tabb's art reflects the grief she has experienced due to the recent passing of her mother, the horrors of October 7, 2023, the desperate plight of the hostages and their families, the burgeoning social unrest and polarization in her adopted home of the United States, and the growing tide of hate toward her Jewish and Israeli communities. This series - consisting primarily of fiber installations and including new site-specific artworks created for the Biennale - utilizes raw, unfinished textiles, domestic fabrics and clothing, familial objects, handmade paper, and even the artist's own hair.