June 07

Smyrna Icon

Ezra Sarajinsky

Smyrna Icon sees Ezra Sarajinsky reworking the most frequently published image of Zevi. According to Gershom Scholem this monograph is the only possibly authentic portrait of the man. It was etched by a Christian in Smyrna (Turkey), who made it immediatly after having seen Zevi. Ezra is fascinated by the tension between the deep yearnings for a Messiah, and the earth shaking energy that can be unleashed when people feel it to be minutely imminent. "I have presented Zevi in Warholian pose in contemporary Brooklyn; the paint slashed over him is my identification with traditional Jewish rejection of Zevi as icon."

Ezra is an Assistant Editor for Zeek. More of his images can be viewed here.

More cover art:



Bara Sapir, Taxi

Xavier Nuez, Alleys & Fire Escapes, no. 50 - "Deliverance"

Marni Horwitz, Three Brothers, Christmas 2001

Jeremy Sparig, Alphabet City after Snow Storm

Jerry and Orrin Zucker, The Strange Trip

Nick Fox-Gieg, The Story of Enoch

Jack Feldstein, The Loser Who Won

Hilla Lulu Lin, Rising of the Sunset

Loren Ellis, The World Cares

Andy Alpern, Fisherman

Jenny Krasner, Power Play X

Zohar Nir-Amitin, unexisted things exist in my head

Ahron Weiner, Ad Infinitum #167

Melissa Shiff, The Medium is the Matzo

Lilian Broca, Queen Esther

Doug Fogelson, Deluge

Peter Azrak, untitled

Art. Lebedev, New Candles

Ron Pokrasso, Altered Tune With A Connection To St. Johns Place

Anonymous, Shofar Kid

Gene Feldman, Color Test

Patricia Albouhair-Taieb, Thou Shalt Not Take the Name of the Lord in Vain

Mina Dareshet, Ocean

Mindy Stricke, Self-portrait

Jesse Mintz-Roth, untitled

Lynne Marie, Movement

Bill Bragg, Defending the Post

Jay Michaelson, Nighttime road

Allyson Grey, Magic Square

Shirah Rachel Apple, Alef 2

David Katz, The Evil Bush Administration

Lauren Curtis, Flora meets Arcadia

John Hall, Untitled

Pamela Yates, Summer Sleeping

Paul Mindell, Greens, Jeans, and InBetweens

Jay Michaelson, Mayflowers

Bara Sapir, untitled

Bara Sapir, untitled

Jay Michaelson, Ice Tree

Jay Michaelson, untitled

Jay Michaelson, Eldorado Chanukah

Jose Campos, III, untitled

Jay Michaelson, Shofar Kitsch

Mica Scalin, Plates

Mica Scalin, Untitled

Jay Michaelson, Go in Peace

Mica Scalin, Hope

Mica Scalin, Plague Cookies

Jay Michaelson, The Park in Winter