Abigail Klein Leichman
September 24, 2015, Updated September 27, 2015

Seven venues in the capital city are hosting 10 exhibitions of nearly 200 Israeli and international professional artists in the second Jerusalem Biennale for Contemporary Jewish Art, today (September 24) through November 5.

“The Jerusalem Biennale for Contemporary Jewish Art provides a stage for professional artists who refer in their artwork to Jewish thought, spirit, tradition or experience,” said Jerusalem Biennale Founder Rami Ozeri.

One NIS 45 ticket grants access to all Biennale 2015 exhibitions, which are in walking distance of one another at the Tower of David Museum, The First Station (HaTachana), Heichal Shlomo, Van Leer Institute, Achim Hasid Center, Hebrew Union College-Skirball Museum and the Worldwide North Africa Jewish Heritage Center.

The Tower of David Museum hosts the main exhibition, “Jerusalem.Passages,” showcasing five large-scale projects by leading Israeli and international artists.

One of these is Motti Mizrahi’s “Engagement,” for which he created a huge wedding gown suspended by helium balloons, strapped down by ropes to keep the bottom of the dress about 4 feet above ground. On the last day of the Biennale, the dress will be set free to float over the Old City.

Motti Mizrahi's suspended dress installation at the Tower of David Museum for Biennale 2015.  Photo by Ricky Rachman
Motti Mizrahi’s suspended dress installation at the Tower of David Museum for Biennale 2015. Photo by Ricky Rachman

For an extra NIS 15, attendees can sign up for a guided tour of the Biennale in English, mornings and afternoons during the intermediate days of Sukkot (September 29 to October 2). For times and registration, click here.

Curators and artists span the continuum of Jewish identity from secular to ultra-Orthodox, and even some non-Jewish artists.

Six exhibitions are from Jerusalem-based groups and/or curators, including well-known Israeli artists such as Sigalit Landau, Dov Abramson, Maya Zack, Ynin Shillo, Andi Arnovitz, Ken Goldman and Ruth Schreiber. There is a special tribute exhibition by Bezalel artists in memory of the late Zelig Segal.

Biennale 2015 will host the inaugural exhibition of a nine-year project, Women of the Book, and the inaugural installation and performance “Present=Presence” by American-Israeli artist Alana Ruben-Free in collaboration with Israeli artist David Gerstein.

A work by Yehudis Barmatz from “The Art of Motherhood” curated by Nurit Sirkis Bank.
A work by Yehudis Barmatz from “The Art of Motherhood” curated by Nurit Sirkis Bank.

The other four exhibitions showcase the work of Jewish and non-Jewish artists from New York, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires and Barcelona.

“The first Jerusalem Biennale in 2013 created an exciting buzz in the contemporary Jewish art world and, as a result, we were inundated with submissions of the highest quality from Israel and around the world,” said Ozeri.

“Lilith Lair” triptych by Siona Benjamin. Image courtesy the artist and Flomenhaft Gallery New York
“Lilith Lair” triptych by Siona Benjamin. Image courtesy the artist and Flomenhaft Gallery New York

 

During the Biennale, visitors will get half-price admission to the Bible Lands Museum.

For more information, click here. 

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