Pentimento XCI
Subtitle: open wide your hands or, the twelve tribes
Publisher: The author]
Published: 2005
Place of publication: [Dania Beach, Fla
Language: eng
Number of pages: 10
Subjects: Artists' books
Notes: Leaves are made of plastic. Title attached to a string.

"Hamsa: From the Semetic root meaning 'five' is a handshaped amulet worn to ward off the evil eye. This practice may have originated among the ancient Canaanite peoples (Philistines and Phoenicians), who would make the 'hand of Baal' (horns using the index finger or pinky over their heads to protect them from the evil eye. It is likely that Israelite traders carried this gesture (also used to mock a cockold), east and west to enter European, Indian and Chinese folklore. Representing the protective hand of God, hand amulets, devine might, protection, good luck; also as Yeminite filigree 'hamsa' pendant. Pentimento: It refers to the concept of re-appearances, hence the use of transparency and therefore visual multiplicity and indetermina[n]cy.... [The work is] based on the 'Hamsa' (five) the hands of Hashem (the Hebrew name of God), [which] is the image of the eye placed in the middle of the palm to ward off evil spirits. The text surrounding the hand images (ten of them), describes the history of writing on hands including quotes from history."--Artist's statement.