Religious
Welcome to the Dov Art Gallery. I hope you enjoy perusing my work. If you see something that you would like to have, please go to the "Purchase Dov Art" page where you can purchase prints and some originals. In most cases you will have to email me for pricing on originals
And The Spirit Of God Moved Upon The Face Of The Waters
"36"" x 24"" Acrylic on Canvas There is nothing gay about this painting, save that the artist is gay. The title is taken from Genesis 1:2b. We see the chaotic waters of primordial earth swirling below God. He too is swirling, but with power emanating from him in a blue aura. The sky is starless because at this point in the creation story, the stars had not yet been formed by the hand of God. The act of creation here is seen in two gestures -- the left hand, in the position of laying on of hands, the giving of the Holy Spirit, as it is The Holy Spirit in this biblical account who is depicted here. The right hand is in benediction, recognizing that all of Creation was a gift from God, a blessing."
Pieta
48" x 48" (Irregular) Acrylic on Wood. In the center is Jesus after the cross, held in the arms of Joseph of Arimethea. Around the piece are a number of figures from widely separated times. On the figure of Joseph, there is a pair of eye glasses. In the upper right hand corner of the piece, there is an airplane. On the left side of the piece, there is Matthew Shepherd, tied to a fence. Under the airplane, a roadside medieval ruin. In the lower left hand corner is the empty tomb. Behind the cross, is a Palestinian village. In the lower right is an emblematic representation of arrogance, who, although wearing a cross, is ignoring the man who gave the cross meaning. Behind all is the Garden of Gethsemane. The mixture of images from various times is meant to tell the viewer that the crucifixion was not a mere historical event, but a daily occurrence. It is timeless. Christ’s sacrifice is timeless, but also is our sin that necessitated it. Christ is crucified on a cross made of hatred, like Matthew Shepherd on the barbed wire fence. The overall shape of the piece is meant to be reminiscent of a gothic church window. The central models for this piece were both models who have appeared in numerous other pieces of mine. My son Andrew modeled for Matthew Shepherd. I had no particular model for the figure of arrogance, although I am told she strongly resembles a former relative of mine.
Rewards
28" x 36" x 1.75" apx. (irregular) Acrylic on Foamboard (sculpted painting). In a view of the afterlife, one sees an androgynous angel embracing a loving couple as they look upon a demon and a bible thumping hypocrite returning each other’s embrace. In this piece the artist has eschewed the dominant rectangular form of the bulk of Western Art in favor of an organic form dictated by the image.
Sacrifice
"16”x 24"" Acrylic on canvas Suspended over a blue planet, set against an eternal sky, a thinly veiled man sacrifices all."
Saint Sebastian, Considered
" 24"" x 18"" Acrylic on Canvas Saint Sebastian was a late Third Century martyr of the Christian Church. He was a soldier who earned various promotions under Emperor Diocletian of Rome, while Sebastian remained closeted as a Christian. When Sebastian came out as a Christian, Diocletian ordered him shot full of arrows. Sebastian, recovered from this and was ultimately clubbed to death. He was widely represented in Renaissance art as a nude gay man, shot full of arrows, even though this was not the ultimate cause of his death and there is no historical evidence that he was gay. However, the gay Renaissance artists were hard pressed for other opportunities to depict nude gay males in their art. On another level, I have selected this subject because of my belief that when a martyrdom is taking place, it is of great consequence for those of the same community as the martyr, but the society as a whole rolls merrily along, barely noticing the act of martyrdom. It can take centuries for the group strengthened and emboldened by the martyrdom to become the dominant culture, as in Sebastian's case. While I have little hope that gays will become the dominant Western culture, I do believe that the martyrdoms we continue to suffer in the present era, so lightly regarded by the straight community, will continue to strengthen us until that day comes when the straight community fully accepts us with the same nonchalance they assign to brown eyes. In this painting, the child with the kite represents straight society and Sebastian is the universal martyr."
And The Spirit Of God Moved Upon The Face Of The Waters
"36"" x 24"" Acrylic on Canvas There is nothing gay about this painting, save that the artist is gay. The title is taken from Genesis 1:2b. We see the chaotic waters of primordial earth swirling below God. He too is swirling, but with power emanating from him in a blue aura. The sky is starless because at this point in the creation story, the stars had not yet been formed by the hand of God. The act of creation here is seen in two gestures -- the left hand, in the position of laying on of hands, the giving of the Holy Spirit, as it is The Holy Spirit in this biblical account who is depicted here. The right hand is in benediction, recognizing that all of Creation was a gift from God, a blessing."
Pieta
48" x 48" (Irregular) Acrylic on Wood. In the center is Jesus after the cross, held in the arms of Joseph of Arimethea. Around the piece are a number of figures from widely separated times. On the figure of Joseph, there is a pair of eye glasses. In the upper right hand corner of the piece, there is an airplane. On the left side of the piece, there is Matthew Shepherd, tied to a fence. Under the airplane, a roadside medieval ruin. In the lower left hand corner is the empty tomb. Behind the cross, is a Palestinian village. In the lower right is an emblematic representation of arrogance, who, although wearing a cross, is ignoring the man who gave the cross meaning. Behind all is the Garden of Gethsemane. The mixture of images from various times is meant to tell the viewer that the crucifixion was not a mere historical event, but a daily occurrence. It is timeless. Christ’s sacrifice is timeless, but also is our sin that necessitated it. Christ is crucified on a cross made of hatred, like Matthew Shepherd on the barbed wire fence. The overall shape of the piece is meant to be reminiscent of a gothic church window. The central models for this piece were both models who have appeared in numerous other pieces of mine. My son Andrew modeled for Matthew Shepherd. I had no particular model for the figure of arrogance, although I am told she strongly resembles a former relative of mine.
Rewards
28" x 36" x 1.75" apx. (irregular) Acrylic on Foamboard (sculpted painting). In a view of the afterlife, one sees an androgynous angel embracing a loving couple as they look upon a demon and a bible thumping hypocrite returning each other’s embrace. In this piece the artist has eschewed the dominant rectangular form of the bulk of Western Art in favor of an organic form dictated by the image.
Sacrifice
"16”x 24"" Acrylic on canvas Suspended over a blue planet, set against an eternal sky, a thinly veiled man sacrifices all."
Saint Sebastian, Considered
" 24"" x 18"" Acrylic on Canvas Saint Sebastian was a late Third Century martyr of the Christian Church. He was a soldier who earned various promotions under Emperor Diocletian of Rome, while Sebastian remained closeted as a Christian. When Sebastian came out as a Christian, Diocletian ordered him shot full of arrows. Sebastian, recovered from this and was ultimately clubbed to death. He was widely represented in Renaissance art as a nude gay man, shot full of arrows, even though this was not the ultimate cause of his death and there is no historical evidence that he was gay. However, the gay Renaissance artists were hard pressed for other opportunities to depict nude gay males in their art. On another level, I have selected this subject because of my belief that when a martyrdom is taking place, it is of great consequence for those of the same community as the martyr, but the society as a whole rolls merrily along, barely noticing the act of martyrdom. It can take centuries for the group strengthened and emboldened by the martyrdom to become the dominant culture, as in Sebastian's case. While I have little hope that gays will become the dominant Western culture, I do believe that the martyrdoms we continue to suffer in the present era, so lightly regarded by the straight community, will continue to strengthen us until that day comes when the straight community fully accepts us with the same nonchalance they assign to brown eyes. In this painting, the child with the kite represents straight society and Sebastian is the universal martyr."
