Unorthodox Menorah II by Joel Otterson, 1993, Mixed metal pipes, cast bronze, porcelain, and glass
"A key component of Joel Otterson's art is the relationship between an object's function and its symbolic purpose; this ideological stance makes Otterson an ideal candidate for creating Jewish ceremonial objects. But despite his interest in the symbolic, Otterson never made a ritual object until 1991, after he visited Israel and became aware of the power of the menorah form. Otterson discovered that this ancient form could be understood on many levels: it has deep religious meaning and is connected with the story of Hanukkah; it is a symbol of the State of Israel and an essential presence in many Israeli homes; and it is even a favorite souvenir for tourists. Touring the large and impressive collection of Hanukkah lamps in the Israel Museum inspired him to make a special Hanukkah lamp entitled Orthodox Menorah, which is in a private collection. The Jewish Museum commissioned this second version in 1993. Otterson's lamp builds on traditional forms but follows the artist's quirky style, which reclaims objects from their everyday existence and reuses them in visually arresting and innovative ways. One of the most striking elements of his lamp is the ornate armature of copper pipe fittings, which he welded together to form the menorah's branches. Copper pipes and soldering are a recurring theme in Otterson's work and recall the profession of both his father and brother, who were plumbers.
Otterson is a master of displacement-that is, juxtaposing unlikely elements to create surprising visual effects, such as the hypermasculine Hulk Hogan figure that crowns Unorthodox Menorah II. During his stay in Israel, Otterson noted that cartoon characters had invaded the realm of ceremonial objects. Bart Simpson, the Smurfs, and the Peanuts characters were regularly emblazoned on yarmulkes (skullcaps) worn by Jewish boys. The playfulness and charm of this idea inspired the artist to choose Hulk Hogan for this lamp. He reasoned, "If they can make a Bart Simpson yarmulke, I can make a Hulk Hogan menorah." The cast glass image of Hulk might at first seem completely incongruous, but traditional Hanukkah lamps often featured a victorious figure, such as the biblical Judith, to suggest the victory of the Jews over their oppressors. The artist updated this idea with an image of the famous television wrestler.
Along with its spreading copper arms and triumphant Hulk Hogan figure, Unorthodox Menorah II features what appears to be a vintage ceramic lamp as a decoration for the main shaft. The base is a cast creation that the artist made to suggest the garish flower-covered ceramic lamps popular in the 1940s and 50s. Otterson uses this object as if it were a precious memento or souvenir It is at once familiar and jarring but resonates with the story of an old lamp that kept on burning." (Berger, Maurice et al. MASTERWORKS OF THE JEWISH MUSEUM. New York: The Jewish Museum, 2004, p. 160.)