During the winter of 2020, I explored the Jewish ritual of the Mikvah, which can most simply be explained as a ritual bath or body of living water. The Mikvah, an ancient ritual that has existed for over 2,000 years, is traditionally utilized in order to sanctify and cleanse mind and spirit at different points throughout a Jewish individual's life, such as before marriage and after menstruating. Additionally, the Mikvah is the final step in the Jewish conversion or affirmation. More recently, the ritual of the Mikvah has been reclaimed by many as an opportunity to explore and increase spirituality and healing, and thus is now utilized in progressive spheres in a variety of different and new ways. While the Mikvah is often seen as a space mostly for women, new and innovative uses of the Mikvah include marking and/or celebrating big life transitions (e.g. graduation, entering parenthood, divorce, mourning the loss of a loved one, healing from abuse, and recovering from an illness).

More specifically, I explored the sense of intimacy, spirituality, and vulnerability that occurs when one is immersed in the waters of the Mikvah. Not all experiences are the same, but during immersion many individuals feel embraced, accepted by, and indistinguishable from the natural waters. It is this sense of profound embrace by the water and connection to the divine that interests me most. Through my artwork, I hope to portray the melding together of the body, soul, and water that occurs during immersion, and the healing powers that reclaiming this millenniums-old ritual holds.