.... and breaking with it.

So the ketubah thing. I kept googling "abstract ketubah," and "simple ketubah," and "unusual ketubah," thinking new things would pop up every half hour. They didn't. Imagine that.

There are several ketubah artists who create works inspired by (or even using) Klee and Rothko. Yes, they're beautiful... because Klee's and Rothko's art is beautiful. Why would I want someone else's version of it, and why would I want it covered up with words? If you understand and appreciate this practice, please comment. I just don't get it. To me, it feels like the Picasso print I had on my wall in high school.

But the idea had both of us thinking, apparently. Or at least one of us. Suddenly, while I did yet another mopey-faced search, Tim burst out, "Dude [the closest we get to a pet name]! WHAT ABOUT PAUL???"

Me: Holy sh*t.

Tim: Yeah?

Me: That's amazing!

Tim: Yeah!

We're very verbal.

Delicacy in Everything

ink on canvas

46" x 46"

c. Paul Theriault

"Paul" is our friend and former Jamaica Plain neighbor Paul Theriault. He is, quite simply, the bomb. Paul, his superbly cool and talented wife Jess, and the belly that would soon be (Action) Jackson (no, not really. But Jackson) moved into the first floor apartment of our building, during our last year in Boston. They both work at Brookline Booksmith, which immediately made us love them.

Then we got to know them a little while sitting out on the porch on Halloween, and we loved them even more.

THEN we saw this kind of thing hanging around their house:

Wandering Angus (and detail)

wood panels and acrylic paint

approx. 9' x 16'

c. Paul Theriault

...and it was all about finding a way to get a piece of Paul's incredible work. (We did eventually manage to do that, and I *love* it.) On his website, most of the examples are of his gorgeous textural paintings. The things I really respond to, though, are the gritty and almost primitive sculptures he creates with wood and paint.

South Pacific/Norien

acrylic on canvas and wood and bandsaw blade

6'6" x 3'2"

c. Paul Theriault

We're in the very early stages of planning a ketubah with Paul (like, playing phone tag), but he is so nice and accommodating that I know he'll be amenable to working with our budget. More importantly, I have absolutely no doubt that whatever he creates, we'll both love, and it will be so meaningful to us. 

Register (Sneaky)

ink on paper and wood with rulers

30" x 28"

c. Paul Theriault

Tim and I are both thinking that it would be great to have something sculptural with the ketubah text integrated into it - maybe having it printed out and then decoupaged onto the wood. Of course, we don't want to break any rules here... just stray from tradition a bit. If you know anything about guidelines for creating a truly legal ketubah, let me know!

Are you having a friend or relative create something unique for your wedding day? Please share!