The Midrash, (the ancient rabbis’ “fan fiction” about the Bible, so to speak) provides back story to the Biblical text. The sages imagined that when the Sea parted for the Israelites, all the water in the world parted at that moment. At my Passover Seder in 2017, I looked around at the diverse group of people at our table, and was struck by how powerful and meaningful the story of the Exodus to people throughout the world. I was inspired to depict for our generation, the many Partings of the Sea. Most of these are in-progress photos.

The vast majority (over 2000) of the dolls are Guatemalan “worry dolls.” The dolls were purchased wholesale, and those pieces would not have been possible without the Guatemalan artists whose names I do not know. Some are thrift shop specials, and some I made myself. For many I have created clothes, hairstyles, headwear, props, and other adaptations.

The Immigration Debacle (in progress detail photos)