The 2025-2026 Tucson J Fine Art Gallery Season will end with a sparkling finale! From Thursday, April 9 to Sunday, May 17, Shards and Sparks: Fires of Creation will display a variety of juried glasswork along with artist Robert Feldman’s fire paintings.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Shards and Sparks: Fires of Creation is an exploration of transformation, fragmentation, and renewal through the elemental force of fire. Inspired by Lurianic Kabbalah’s mystical vision of shattered vessels and the cosmic sparks within, as well as the creation story of Parshat Bereshit, this exhibit brings together two dynamic art forms. Featuring the mesmerizing fire paintings of Robert Feldman alongside a juried selection of glassworks, Shards and Sparks captures the tension between destruction and creation—where what is broken can be remade, and where light emerges from the fractures.
ABOUT ROBERT FELDMAN
Robert Feldman’s work as a poet, musician, and painter originated while in his late teens in his hometown of Paterson, NJ. Later, he began experimenting with applying fire to augment and enrich his paintings during his years living in Bisbee and Tucson; it was during this period that he acquired skills as a stonecutter and silversmith as well. Subsequently, upon returning to NYC, Robert transitioned into designing sculptural jewelry for women, where his metalwork appeared in several prominent stores throughout the country, including Saks 5th Ave and Bergdorf Goodman, as well as being featured in Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue. Mr. Feldman holds an MA in English, Linguistics, and Languages from the University of Arizona.
Keep reading to learn more about Robert and his work, and join us for the show to explore a variety of artists and glasswork!
Can you share your creative process, both in the studio and in shaping the overall vision for the show?
When I paint (or write poetry), expressing color and cadence are primary. I love exploring “unchartered” techniques in applying paint, as well as other mediums, with the understanding that making art, like life, is a process: “there are no mistakes.” And as a former jewelry designer, I developed the ability to integrate fire, using a torch, to burn the various pigments and other applications used to embellish unique textures and color transitions that are possible only by applying a direct flame. Thus, it is with these notions and convictions that I look forward to sharing my perspectives and exhibiting and my “fire paintings” at the Tucson J.
What themes are you exploring in this show, and why are they important to you?
Confronting conventions, embracing experimentation, and celebrating abstract expressionism.
Who is your favorite artist or one you draw inspiration from?
Yves Klein, Wassily Kandinsky, along with the “New York School”, and of course the post-impressionist painters.
Is there a particular piece in the show that holds a meaningful story or memory for you?
Many do, but I suppose “Ocean of Winter” (because it is accompanied by its namesake epic poem I began writing at the same time).
How do you hope viewers feel after experiencing the show?
Inspired, intrigued, and perhaps fancying to own one of my paintings.
Why are you excited to share your work at the Tucson J?
First and foremost, because I am a Jewish man who has been an active member of the J since rehoming to Tucson— this is a blessing. Moreover, the opportunity to share my work with the Tucson Jewish community as well as the greater Tucson populace is truly an honor. Finally, I am well aware that the J is committed to serve as a hub for art and the creative experience via the Fine Art Gallery and the Jill Rosenzweig Memorial Sculpture Garden, not to mention all the rich and motivational programs and presentations it hosts. Yes, I am appreciative and jazzed to be part of this effort!