About the Book:

Panim el Panim is a response to the Hebrew Bible undertaken by art therapy professor Debra Linesch and artist Evelyn Stettin. It is based in a commitment to scripture and a belief in the potential for imagery to explore ambiguity. 

Panim el Panim offers twelve weekly responses to Torah, beautiful works of art and inspired affirmations of the potential for Visual Midrash. As a companion on a journey of self-discovery, the imagery becomes a guide for mediation. Whatever your spiritual orientation or ideology, visual midrash lets the ear hear and the eye see the simple beauty of Torah.

 

Reviews:

"Linesch and Stettin reflect upon the infinity of questions, images, layers, metaphors and meanings that stir their hearts and, equally, their imaginations…The authors intend mystery. And they achieve it handsomely. Panim el Panim (Face to Face) is the encounter man can never have with God." – Mordechai Ben-dat, The Canadian Jewish Journal  

"A coherent collaboration of image and text, which not only examines the book of Genesis, but also seeks to uncover real-world lessons and advice from the biblical passages that are accessible to all sots of readers…the two working in concert function much like the Midrash does: illuminating the text, personalizing it, and adding a moral charge to readers and views to incorporate it into their lives." – Menachem Wecker, The Jewish Press

 About the Author:

Debra Linesch is a professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She is the author of Adolescent Art Therapy, Art Therapy with Families in Crisis and Celebrating Family Milestones by Making Art Together. She has been studying Torah with a group of adult learners at Temple Israel of Hollywood for many years where she has been exploring the creation of VISUAL MIDRASH. Her collaboration with Evelyn has grounded her commitment to the arts as a way to create meaning in all human experience.

About the Illustrator:

Evelyn Stettin is an artist living in Los Angeles. Her body of work for the past twenty years has centered around abstract imagery and gestural drawing, informed by psychological and spiritual themes. She has exhibited in group and solo shows in the Los Angeles area. Her collaboration with Debra has brought into sharp relief the profound opportunity of integrating Torah study with image making.