“Men of Steel and Women of Valor” is a new exhibition of papercuts by Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik that zooms from scripture to comics and back, incorporating pop culture pizzazz into an exploration of stories that have been told and retold for thousands of years — but never like this. The exhibition opens in Cleveland on September 6, 2019, at The Temple Museum of Jewish Art, Religion, and Culture.

At the heart of the exhibition is a series of large portraits made of cut-up comic books featuring Superman and Lois Lane, Daredevil and Elektra, the Fantastic Four — transformed into the biblical patriarchs and matriarchs, as well as modern figures. These portraits are a nod to the Jewish custom of inviting guests into one’s sukkah during the fall festival of Sukkot.

Brynjegard-Bialik’s work is emblematic of the 21st century’s mash-up culture, drawing parallels between comic book mythologies and religious traditions, delving into the stories that make us human.

This exhibition focuses heavily on Superman, created in Cleveland in the 1930s by two Jews, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster — portraits of whom are included in the show, made of cut-up Superman comics from the past 90
years.

The exhibition also includes portraits of Golda Meir, Israel’s first female prime minister, and Sally Priesand, America’s first female rabbi. The portraits share the walls with landscapes of Jerusalem, stories of fire and water and cloud, and explorations of the Mishnah — all made out of cut-up comic books. It’s a dynamic mash-up of old and new.

“Men of Steel and Women of Valor” will be open from September 6, 2019 through January 10, 2020, at The Temple Museum of Jewish Art, Religion and Culture at The Temple-Tifereth Israel in Cleveland, Ohio. The artist will be in the gallery for an opening weekend October 11-13, 2019.

The Temple Museum of Jewish Art, Religion, and Culture is located at The Temple-Tifereth Israel Jack and Lilyan Mandel Building at 26000 Shaker Boulevard in Beachwood, Ohio 44122-7199.