‘Rabbinic trips’: NY exhibit blends groovy psychedelic counterculture, Jewish tradition

A new exhibit in New York City, "Psychedelicatessen: A Powerful Dose of Art by Steve Marcus," blends 1960s and 1970s counterculture with Jewish themes. The free show, presented by the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research and the Center for Jewish History, runs through December and features 30 original works by artist Steve Marcus. Marcus's art, inspired by a possibly apocryphal story of a rabbi at Woodstock offering "P.O.T. - L.S.D." ("Put on tefillin. Let's start davening"), reflects his journey from a psychedelic youth to Jewish observance. The playful images include homages to Jewish practices and figures, all with a psychedelic twist, aiming to bring people together through art. As Marcus states, "Art and creativity should bring people together. Global hegemony is terrible - it's the differences that make the world a less boring place."