Huppah of Ron Zhiss and Melissa Hayes, Charlotte, NC June 2001
This huppah cover incorporates a circular vine motif entwined with the Hashkiveinu in Hebrew lettering. In the center of the circle stands a "tree of life" made of the English translation of the prayer. Two linked gold rings incorporate a poem on the theme of the circle of family and love, and the green leaf shape in the middle list the names of the bride and groom and their wedding date.
White Family Heirloom Huppah
The White family wanted a huppah which could be used by three daughters for their weddings, then saved for future family weddings. The huppah is constructed to fit a frame 5'x5'x9', with the intention of decorating the "legs" of the huppah stand with floral greenery.
The couples' name and wedding dates are printed on white fig leaves which are placed on the front panel of the huppah, just above the entrance. A filmy curtain surround the inside of the huppah giving the illusion of an intimate room, while providing good visual access for family and guests.
The huppah itself is a stylized representation of a "Tree of Life" with fig leaves. Over 100 fig leaves were created from several types of reinforced silver fabric, enhanced with white and silver acrylic inks to delineate leaf veins and structure. The leaves were hand-shaped and set in position so that even in a low-light setting, the variations in the sheen of the fabrics would cause a natural glimmer effect among the leaves.
The ceiling of the huppah is decorated with translucent laminated white/silver paper leaves and collaged branches, with an appropriate verse painted onto the "bark" of the limb.
The front right side of the huppah employs a swath of grey/silver fabric to represent the trunk of the fig tree, giving the image of an old, graceful tree reaching a bough over the heads of the bridal couple.
Here are three photos of the White Huppah when it was set up for a wedding at Temple Beth El in Charlotte. The wedding occurred during Sukkot, and the Temple's Sukkah is visible behind (and above) the stand on which the White Huppah was draped.
The Martin-Mistretta Grape Vine Huppah
The Martin-Mistretta Huppah is patterned after the Seven Blessings Huppah. The traditional seven wedding blessings are painted in Hebrew. Surrounding the blessings is a large grape vine with 18 clusters of grapes, thus incorporating "Chai" into the design. The grape vine is approximately five feet in diameter.
The Seven Blessings Huppah
This is the first huppah I made. It incorporates the traditional seven wedding blessings, in English, painted with blue pearl fabric paint. Surrounding the wedding blessings is a border of Hebrew prayers and blessings, including the Sh'ma and the Shehecheyanu.
Finally -- this is a conceptual drawing for a huppah which has not been made.
