Sixteen faces. Sixteen stories etched in iron. You’re standing before La Souterraine Sculpture, a poignant work by Robert Smart. The sculpture isn’t about grand narratives or historical figures. It’s about the everyday lives of ordinary people. Each face, cast in iron, represents a resident of La Souterraine, a small village in France. Smart, who participated in an arts festival there, asked volunteers to have life casts made of their faces. He recorded their stories, their hopes, and dreams. He captured their essence in plaster, later immortalized in iron. These faces, young and old, male and female, bear a mixture of expressions – some stoic, some smiling, others lost in contemplation. They stand as a testament to the universality of the human experience, a silent echo of lives lived. La Souterraine Sculpture serves as a powerful reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places, even in the faces of those we pass on the street. Take a moment to look into their eyes, imagine their lives, and appreciate the beauty in the ordinary.
Congregation Or Torah
Rabbi Zvi Engel’s leadership guides Congregation Or Torah. This impressive Modern Orthodox Synagogue stands proudly in Skokie Illinois. It’s one