In the Catholic church, a tabernacle is the box that holds the holy sacraments. In the Jewish faith, it is a portable shrine, a dwelling place for God on Earth. The painter Carrie Moyer and the sculptor Sheila Pepe—artists who are partners and collaborators—refer to their exhibition, “Tabernacles for Trying Times,” as “loaded, funny and even sweet.” The word beautiful also comes to mind. Moyer and Pepe have interwoven the various definitions of tabernacle to create looming, lacy, web-like fantasies of faith. The resulting “big tent” installation gives traditional values a modern twist. —E.C.

Carrie Moyer and Sheila Pepe: Tabernacles for Trying Times
Museum of Arts and Design
2 Columbus Cir, New York, NY 10019, USA
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