FAIRFIELD – “Sacred Encounters,” a pop-up installation featuring the Jewish-themed carvings of Harvey Paris will run from May 30 to June 2 at 222 Post Road in Fairfield. 

Paris, who has also served as president of Jewish Family Services in Fairfield for the past 35 years, is recognized as one of the nation’s premier carvers. He uses only a handheld knife to create his works of art. 

“Harvey has honed his skills and used his creative imagination to develop his own style of contemporary and unique Jewish carving. Equally exciting is his ability to transfer wood carving skills to leather, and now, to contemporary Christian design as well,” says Wayne Barton, father of chip carving in North America.

Included in his upcoming pop-up show is Paris’ latest work, “Abraham’s Gift,” a leather book featuring 14 carvings beginning with Creation, going through Adam and Eve, Abraham and Moses and concluding with Jesus and the Resurrection, and the Paris Carved Leather Scroll, a work highlighting the encounter at the Burning Bush and the Passover story. Three large wood carvings will also be displayed: “I (SAIAH) HAD A DREAM,” which has been called a “tour de force” by Laura Kruger, curator of New York’s Hebrew Union College Museum, “Revelation at Sinai” and the “Wisdom of King Solomon.”  

A Meet the Artist reception will be held Thursday, May 30, 7-9 p.m. Carving demonstrations will take place throughout the course of the pop-up. For information visit jewishcarving.com or Instagram@sacredencounters.