Caplan Rawley: Spoiled Rotten

Spoiled Rotten, Caplan Rawley, Sylvia (2007)

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Caplan Rawley: A Head of His Time

A Head of His Time, Caplan Rawley, Sylvia.

Caplan Rawley: Four Mezuzah Cases

Four Mezuzah Cases, clay, glaze, acrylics, 2”-6”h
Artist: Caplan Rawley, Sylvia (2012)

A mezuzah is parchment inscribed with Hebrew verses from the Torah and contained in a decorative case. 

Mezuzah cases are often attached to the door frame of Jewish homes.

At Talk About Artists, we're interested in five approaches to evaluating art.

How might we express one or more of those approaches when we're talking with someone about these mezuzah cases?
   
Let's imagine these mezuzah cases are affixed to doors that face one another across a courtyard we've entered.

Reflecting the moral point of view that art should inspire good behavior, I could say about the case in the lower middle portion of the photo:

"I'm sure that mezuzah could inspire righteousness, but that palm tree mezuzah looks like it's all about lazy days."

Is my comment accurate? Does it reflect the artist's intention?

Maybe, maybe not. It does, however, reflect a legitimate approach to evaluating art that's worth talking about.