Artists Quarter Safed
(→Real Estate) |
AvivaSpiegel (Talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | + | {{Infobox | |
| + | |title = Victor Halvani Gallery | ||
| + | |image = [[File:00000929 halvani gallery tzfat.jpg|215px|alt=Victor Halvani Gallery]] | ||
| + | |header1 = Hebrew: | ||
| + | |data2 = גלריה הלבני | ||
| + | |header3 = Pronunciation: | ||
| + | |data4 = Hal-va’ni | ||
| + | |header5 = Other Names: | ||
| + | |data6 = Tzfat Sculptor | ||
| + | |header7 = Description: | ||
| + | |data8 = A sculptor with a permanent exhibition in Tzfat.}} | ||
| − | + | Victor Halvani is one of [[Safed|Tzfat’s]] best-known sculptors. He has been working and exhibiting in the city since 1982. | |
| − | == | + | == Background == |
| − | + | Victor Halvani was born in Egypt and studied art at the Zamalek Academy of Art in Cairo. Following the threats to the Egyptian Jewish community after Israel declared its independence Halvani moved to Israel and studied at the Bezalel Academy of Art in Jerusalem. He taught art in the Israeli school system as well as the Art Teacher’s College and the Tel Aviv and Haifa University Schools of Occupational Therapy. Halvani studied for a graduate degree in sculpture at the Hammersmith College of Art in London under a scholarship from the Israeli Ministry of Education. In 1975 he moved to the Ein Hod Artists Village to create his sculptures where he served as the dean of the Ein Hod School of Fine Art. Halvani moved to Tzfat in 1982, establishing his gallery and becoming involved in the [[Galleries-and-Artists-of-Safed|artists community]] of the city. | |
| − | + | == Inspiration == | |
| + | Halvani’s work is influenced by Egyptian art as well as his knowledge of Jewish traditions and his studies of the Bible. His sculpture style has influenced many younger Israeli sculptors with its clean and precise lines, graceful movements and clear meanings. Halvani creates both small and large pieces and many of his sculptures are exhibited in outdoor gardens and public areas while others sit on table tops and shelves. Halvani works in bronze and stainless steel. | ||
| − | + | == Subjects == | |
| + | Halvani covers a wide range of subjects in his sculptures. Many of his works are influenced by Biblical stories such as his “David Playing Harp,”The Binding of Isaac”, “Lot’s Wife”, “Moses and the Princess of Egypt”, “Jacob’s Dream”,”Joshua With the Shofar”, and “Ruth and Naomi”. He has sculpted several versions of “Adam and Eve”, one of which graces the courtyard of [[General-Exhibition-Safed|Tzfat’s General Exhibition]]. His works also explore other universal themes such as “Hope,” “Motherhood”, “Maternity,” “Freedom”, and “The Dancer.” His futuristic “Space Family” sculptures are a nod to his fascination with space travel and space technology while his interest in wildlife can be seen in his “Flamingo”, “Deer” and “Gazelle” sculptures. | ||
| − | == | + | == Gallery == |
| − | + | Halvani’s gallery sits on the edge of the [[Artists-Quarter-Safed|Artist Quarter]] near the [[Khan of the White Donkey Safed|Khan of the White Donkey]]. Halvani has served as the president of the Safed Art Colony Association and assisted in the development of the Museum Gallery of the Safed Artists' Colony. | |
| − | + | {{Claim Page}} | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | {{ | + | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
{{Safed Artists and Galleries}} | {{Safed Artists and Galleries}} | ||
[[Category:Safed]] | [[Category:Safed]] | ||
| − | |||
[[Category:Jewish Art]] | [[Category:Jewish Art]] | ||
Latest revision as of 21:06, 11 February 2013
 | |
| Hebrew: | |
|---|---|
| קרית האומנים צפת | |
| Pronunciation: | |
| Kiry’yat Ha’Ooma-nim | |
| Other Names | |
| Artists Colony, Old Arab Quarter | |
| Description: | |
| Safed neighborhood where artists’ galleries are interspersed among residential homes.. |
The Artist Quarter neighborhood or Safed is near the Old City. Originally the Arab Quarter of the city it was taken over by the Jews after the War of Independence.
Contents |
[edit] Historical Overview
The Crusaders established their rule twice in Tzfat, once in 1099 and again in 1240. During the second reign, Jews and Arabs resettled the area. Each established its own neighborhood on the mountain slope below the Citadel -- the Jews to the north and the Arabs to the south. The two communities maintained their separate neighborhoods until the Safed War of Independence in 1948 when the Arabs fled in the face of Jewish victory.
In keeping with the Abandoned Areas Ordinance of 1948, the abandoned neighborhood came under the auspices of the Israeli Lands Authority Administration which sold properties to new immigrants arriving from Europe and North Africa. In addition, many artists, including some of Israel’s most celebrated artists, acquired properties and established their galleries in the quarter.
An Artists Quarter Association was created and well-known Israeli artists including David Gilboa, Moshe Kastel, Menachem Shemy, Moshe Raviv, Mordehai Levanon, Itzhak Frenkel, Ziona Tagar and Shimshon Holtzman set up a thriving Artists community which attracted tourists and art-lovers from around the world. The Artists Quarter became Israel’s “Bohemian Quarter” and its nightclubs attracted Israelis who drove to Tzfat from Tel Aviv to enjoy the ambiance.
[edit] Winds of Change
By the 1980s, the older artists were no longer opening their galleries, their children were not interested in maintaining the properties and young Israeli artists preferred to remain in the Tel Aviv/Jerusalem area. At the same time, new immigrants were arriving from English-speaking countries and were interested in buying and renovating the homes in the quaint old section of the town.
Slowly, the Artists Quarter took on a more religious, family character. Some of these new families also included artists however and they were interested in establishing art studios to showcase their own art.
[edit] The Artists Quarter Neighborhood
The Artists Quarter neighborhood today is a mixed neighborhood. There are still many artists who live, work and exhibit in the quarter, though most of the galleries are concentrated in and around the General Exhibition Hall of the Artists Quarter. Some young families have opened galleries next to their homes and their children play while their parents create their art and exhibit their works.
[edit] Religious Influences
Many of the new artists are observant Jews and they infuse their artwork with religious expression. In addition, several of the artists study Kabbalah and they incorporate Kabbalistic symbolism in their art. Some of these artists encourage groups of tourists to visit their galleries and hear lectures about Kabbalah and its connection to their art.
[edit] Real Estate
The demand for housing in the Artists Quarter continues to grow yearly. Together with the Old Jewish Quarter, its real estate is some of the highest-priced in northern Israel. Many residents and developers are building and adding additions onto existing homes and any empty plots are being developed. There are no problems with “tabu” properties in the Artists Quarter, as there are in the Old Jewish Quarter. Land deeds in the Artist Quarter date no further back than 1948 and real estate purchases are straightforward.
| |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||