Let There Be Light This Holiday Season
Michelle Sider working with Kintsugi Master Showzi Tsukamoto
“In this upside-down world, I find solace in my art and faith, which provide me with a space to process and express my emotions.”
Artist Michelle Sider
(Editor’s Note: We asked many of our contributors to nominate stories about Christmas and Hanukkah this year, including our invitation to artist Michelle Sider to write a Hanukkah letter about her ongoing vocation to use the fine arts to help bring hope and meaning into our world. You can see some of the pictures she provided at the end of this letter. And to learn even more, please visit Michelle’s online home at MichelleSider.com.)
Greetings from my studio,
The concept of light has always been central to my glass mosaic work. Its physical qualities captivate me, but its symbolic power resonates even more deeply. Light, especially in times of darkness, speaks to resilience, healing, and hope. Recently, this symbolism has grown more poignant in my work, reflecting not only a fractured world but also its potential for renewal.
The global turmoil and alarming rise in antisemitism have left me searching for meaning. In this upside-down world, I find solace in my art and faith, which provide me with a space to process and express my emotions.
Recently, I have incorporated cracks filled with gold into my artwork; these fractures reflect the brokenness of our world. The golden seams are my interpretation of Kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending shattered pottery with radiant gold—a profound metaphor for transformation, where what is broken becomes more beautiful and resilient than before. This philosophy echoes my journey, a search for light—both physical and spiritual—casting hope and resilience into the shadows. I have found this symbolism rich and rewarding. This recent focus has inspired a new body of mixed-media works. in which I rework paintings from my past, destroying the original and rearranging pieces to express a new awareness.
By breaking and tearing apart previous works of art, I have given myself the freedom to create fresh, reimagined expressions of my past. This process of rearranging is both liberating and healing, offering an invigorating path toward newfound understanding and growth. My hope is that this series will document my journey as I move forward. And in so doing be a part of the healing process itself.
During a transformative visit to Japan, I had the privilege of studying Kintsugi with Master Showzi Tsukamoto. Beyond teaching the technique, he shared its philosophy and connection to the Japanese tea ceremony. These lessons have profoundly influenced my mosaics. By incorporating gold-filled cracks and fractures into my designs, I highlight life’s difficulties and darkness while celebrating the strength and beauty found in healing.
This dual symbolism feels especially powerful now.
It allows me to embrace and share hope, renewal, and restoration through my art—sentiments that resonate strongly during Hanukkah. In the Jewish faith, the menorah’s radiant light symbolizes resilience and the importance of spreading hope. In our family, each member lights their own menorah, and by the final night, our home glows with the warmth of many candles—a cherished reminder of connection and togetherness.
As the new year approaches, I’m eager to expand this sense of connection. My 2025 workshops begin with a trip to Israel in January, followed by sessions across the United States and Germany in the fall. In these workshops, I teach students how to create the illusion of light in their mosaics, empowering them to craft works that are both visually stunning and deeply expressive.
This holiday season, may we all seek and share light, finding beauty and strength even in life’s fractures.
Warm wishes,
Michelle Sider
