Marlene Burns has been a professional artist for over 55 years, beginning with an apprenticeship in sanctuary art while earning two university degrees in fine art. Her career has included gallery affiliations and cultivating a clientele for contemporary art in residential and commercial spaces.

She is passionate about both painting and Hebrew education. For many years, she served as a lay leader and Hebrew tutor, specializing in Torah chanting. Interestingly enough, it was about a dozen years ago that she began combining her two passions in her Judaic series, which explores prayers, proverbs, psalms, festivals, and Devarim. Each painting in this series is accompanied by a text that reflects her personal perspective as both an artist and a Hebrew educator.

How does your Jewish art inform your identity?

In truth, it is Judaism that defines my identity, while my Judaic art serves as my means of communication. All forms of art should be recognized as valid expressions of how individuals process and interpret the world around them. To paraphrase writer Stephen King, artists view the world through a unique window and share what they see.

Judaism commands us to reread the Torah each year. On Simchat Torah, we chant the final verses of the Torah and immediately begin again with the opening verses. This annual cycle invites us to approach each parasha with fresh experiences and insights, uncovering new layers of meaning in the ancient text. These insights, along with established commentaries, serve as a basis for my work, constantly refreshing my perspective each year. The Torah is not just a historical document; it is Eitz Chaim, a tree of life—a living, dynamic text that guides us in navigating both the present and the future.

Describe the value of your sanctuary artwork to the Jewish community.

To address this, I must return to my professional roots in sanctuary art. Under the mentorship of a stained glass artist who specialized in both churches and synagogues, I learned the nuances of this sacred medium. The unique qualities of glass—it's limitation and potential- shape, line, color, movement, and light. Symbolism, both overt and subtle, plays a crucial role in creating depth, making sanctuary art more than decorative; it becomes a profound and lasting element of worship

Sanctuary art must inspire reflection, not just during a single encounter but for generations. In recent years, I met a pastor whose church featured windows I helped design in the late 1960s. He shared that the art had been a decisive factor in accepting his position and a source of inspiration throughout his 40-year tenure. This experience affirmed for me that art in sacred spaces must resonate deeply, offering substance and meaning.

This realization shaped my Judaic art, which is accompanied by text to serve as translations, teachings, and interpretations. By pairing art with words, I aim to amplify its message and reach. My Judaic pieces are also available as prints, helping to spread their inspiration and messages to a much wider audience.

Much of your art comes from prayers and blessings. What inspires the art you create for them?

I was raised in an observant home, where celebrating the holidays and participating in religious services was a natural part of life. As an adult, I deepened my involvement by teaching, tutoring, and leading lay services in the community. These activities required regular study to enhance what I offered, which became a wellspring of inspiration for my art. My first painting was inspired by a beautiful midrash I encountered about the Shema. At the time, I had no idea it would lead to an ongoing series, which now includes 44 paintings.

On a spiritual level, my truest inspiration comes from the Creator. Just as God endowed Bezalel with the spirit, wisdom, talent, and skills to construct the Mishkan in the desert (Exodus 31:1-3), I feel deeply blessed with divine inspiration. For me, the ultimate source of creativity is this connection with God. In those moments of creation, I experience, even in the smallest measure, what it means to be a creator myself.