in the absence of a proper mourning
Tal Beery, in the absence of a proper mourning (2021). Mixed media and sound installation. Jewish Museum of Maryland (Baltimore, MD). Photo courtesy of the artist.
On View through March 24, 2021 – May 18, 2021
“in the absence of proper mourning” from artist Tal Beery transforms our public facing facade into a site for collective mourning, an outdoor installation and online space to gather testimonials from Maryland residents who have had to say goodbye or memorialize their loved ones under conditions of social distancing.
In this uniquely challenging moment, one in which individuals are turning to art for sustenance and meaning even as the arts sector faces staggering financial challenges, the CANVAS Jewish arts and culture funding collaborative has mobilized Jewish artists, authors, artistic and cultural networks, and museums for “Dwelling in a Time of Plagues,” a Jewish creative response to the real-world plagues of our time.
The Jewish Museum of Maryland is staging the Baltimore city Dwelling installation as a way to respond to a dire community need: the creation of a public space for expressions of loss and grief. The installation is a gesture of collective care. It moves personal mourning from private places of isolation into the public arena.
This plague has forced us to rethink notions of intimacy and distance. So much of our most intimate moments, including birth and death, are now mediated through screens, which have become our windows or doorways into the worlds of others. As we approach Passover, it is worthwhile remember that doors are a central symbol of the holiday. Each year we open our doors to Elijah the Prophet as we do for the hungry and needy. But can we truly open our doors this year? Can we embrace those of us in our communities who are in need?
