Studio Design 25

Portal: A Journey of Transformation and Renewal

Portal turns sculpture into a space for interaction and introspection. Standing 18 feet tall, this stainless steel work invites viewers to walk through its ascending, life-giving form, transforming movement into a profound journey of rebirth. Its polished, reflective surface and symbolic design evoke themes of creation, resilience, and transcendence, drawing the viewer into both personal and universal experiences. Portal is not merely a sculpture to be observed but a space to be entered and transformed—a bridge between trauma and renewal.

The 18-foot height, inspired by chai in Jewish tradition, symbolizes life. This intentional design imbues the work with duality: a solemn reminder of survival and an uplifting celebration of life’s continuation. Its curved form represents birth, strength, and the enduring power of the human spirit. Walking through Portal becomes a metaphorical journey from darkness to light, survival to renewal. The sculpture transforms the physical space into a vessel of spiritual and emotional ascension, where light, space, and form guide viewers toward hope and humanity.
As visitors step into Portal, the polished stainless steel surface reflects and distorts their image, symbolizing the fractures of identity, loss and memory left by trauma. Yet, the uplighting from the base of the sculpture projects a sense of upward energy, enveloping the viewer in ethereal light that amplifies the sculpture’s sense of ascent. This dynamic interaction between light and reflection integrates the viewer into the artwork, reinforcing the connection between personal transformation and collective resilience.

The open, curved contours of Portal echo the ultimate act of creation: birthing another human being. This form, rooted in the feminine, symbolizes both physical and spiritual creation. Through this Portal the birthing of compassion, tolerance, and unity glimmers with promise. It serves as a reminder that creation is not limited to life itself but extends to the cultivation of a world where we live for each other—a principle inherent in the rhythm and essence of nature. Just as nature thrives through interdependence, so too must humanity embrace this rule of mutual care and support to flourish.

The design also invites reflection on the cyclical nature of life and the strength required to rebuild after destruction. It is a physical manifestation of regeneration, a reminder that even in the wake of immense darkness, there is light, life, and the possibility of change. By walking through Portal, viewers are reminded that transformation is both an individual and shared experience, one that connects us all.

Transforming old patterns that no longer serve us—hatreds that destroy and divisions that wound—requires conscious action and reflection. Sometimes, it takes stepping through a threshold to shift perspective and fully embrace a new state of being: the gift of pure creation, the opportunity for re-evaluation, and the power of reinvention. Portal invites us to step into this space of transformation, where the act of passing through becomes a profound reminder of life’s fragility, resilience, and the eternal cycle of creation and destruction. Its pelvic, life-giving form offers a chance to reflect not only on personal journeys but also on our collective responsibility to nurture the gift of life itself.

This journey is timeless—a cycle woven into the fabric of human existence. Yet, with each renewal, we face the same question: When will we transcend patterns of harm, hatred and division to embrace compassion and unity? Walking through Portal is a call to reflect on how we choose to live—for ourselves, for each other, and for future generations.

In a world still grappling with intolerance, antisemitism, and division, Portal stands as a luminous beacon of hope, an alternative threshold. It compels us to step through, transforming an immediate sensory experience into a profound connection with history’s lessons—lessons that become our own, carrying the responsibility to act with compassion and purpose. This is both a reminder and a challenge—to treasure life, to build unity, and to ensure that the cycles of destruction are met with a greater commitment to creation, compassion, dialogue and hope. It offers not just a passage but a profound journey of transformation, urging us to treasure the light in every single one of us that we must carry forward.