CURRENT

France to knight Michal Rovner and Etgar Keret
July 12, 2010, Haaretz (By Maya Sela)
Two Israelis, the artist Michal Rovner and the writer Etgar Keret, are among this year's recipients of the Chevalier (Knight ) medallion of France's Order of Arts and Letters. The French Minister of Culture and Communications published the list of award recipients ahead of France's national holiday, Bastille Day, celebrated on July 14. Winners are recognized for the quality of their work and the close ties they have forged with the French public.

Annette Levy Willard, the cultural attache at the French embassy in Tel Aviv who congratulated the two, said they were "both artists with a deep commitment to a direct and demanding artistic language."…

Michal Rovner is a photographer and video artist who has had great success abroad. A graduate of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, she is also co-founder of the Camera Obscura School of Art. Rovner has received international acclaim and gained wide exposure at the 2003 Venice Biennale. In 2005 the French national gallery, Jeu de Paumes, in Paris hosted a solo exhibition of her works; in 2009, her works were displayed in Paris as part of the "White Night" event.

Rovner's pictures and installations place her creations "on the border" - both real and symbolic - between reality and imagination, between a still picture and a moving one, between a photograph and calligraphy and painting. She recently announced she would be designing the new album cover for the Israeli rock group, Knesiat Hasechel (The Church of Reason ).

For more information click here.

Bezalel filmmaker wins prize at 13th International Tel Aviv Student Film Festival
June 13, 2010, By Hannah Brown, The Jerusalem Post
The 13th International Tel Aviv Student Film Festival announced the winners of its competitions on Saturday night.
In the International Category, the winners were Fine, Thanks, from Slovakia; Gisberta, from Germany; Echo, from Poland; Germ, from India; and Bingo, from Holland. Two Israeli films were also among the prizewinners in the International Competition: Guided Tour, by Binyanmin Friedenberg of the Sam Spiegel Film School, and True Love Hotel by Alon Gash of the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design.

In the Israeli competition, the winners were Regila, by Asaf Saban of Beit Berel Film School, and Remember This, by Ilit Zechtzar of the Tel Aviv University Film School. The festival, which was run by the film students of Tel Aviv University and held mainly at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque, drew huge audiences. Read more.


A philosopher to run Bezalel's arts program
By Ellie Armon Azoulay and Avital Burg
Haaretz, June 7, 2010
"Dr. Raphael Zaguri-Orly has been chosen to head the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design's Master's in Fine Arts program, and will replace Prof. Nahum Tevet at the end of the academic year. Zaguri-Orly, a lecturer in the Master's program and in Philosophy in the academy's department of History and Theory since 2004, was elected ahead of well-known artists, several of whom teach in the department." Read more.
Bezalel students to design new Teva packaging
March 21, 2010
Teva Pharmaceuticals and the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem will join forces in a new venture that will see Bezalel students design the new Acamol Focus packaging for Teva…the students will compete and the winning design will become part of the pharmaceutical giant's brand artwork…Adi Stern, head of Bezalel’s Department of Visual Communication in Bezalel, added that the academy values its cooperation with the industry and "works with various bodies to develop new and innovative projects. Using Bezalel allows companies access to young, innovative and fresh designs." Read more.


Bezalel graduate received a third place price in the Designboom international competition
January 14, 2010
Bezalel congratulates Yoav Avinoam a graduate of the Industrial Design Department who received a third place prize in the Designboom International Competition out of 3131 projects.


A Gift of Artwork

Bezalel Artwork presented to German Chancellor Angela Merkel by Israeli President Shimon Peres during his visit to Berlin for International Holocaust Day

Bezalel Professor Vered Kaminski, Head of Jewelry and Accessories, designed a pin made of silver wire and Eilat stone for Chancellor Merkel. The gift was given to her during Shimon Peres' trip to Germany for International Holocaust Day in January 27, 2010. Additionally, Bezalel Professor Galya Rosenfeld of the Fashion and Jewlery Department designed a hexagonal modular textile work that will be displayed in the German Bundestag. Both creators were asked by the President to design gifts that would incorporate themes related to Israel.

Image Credit: Brooch designed by Bezalel Professor Vered Kaminski for German Chancellor Angela Merkel


GALA 2010 HONORING DONNA KARAN
This year's gala was held at the Urban Zen Center at the Stephan Weiss Studio on January 28th, 2010. Clothing, shoes and jewelry designed by Bezalel students and alumni adorned the walls in an exquisite display. The Mayor of Jerusalem, the Honorable Nir Barkat, welcomed guests via video message. The evening's Emcee was Amichai Lau-Lavie, Executive Director of Storahtelling, who explored the connection between the biblical character Bezalel, the first artist of the Jewish people, and today's thriving art school on Mt. Scopus. A highlight of the evening was when Bezalel fashion design student Maayan Hod spoke about Bezalel's importance to her as an aspiring artist. Maayan discussed the academy's role in the lives of its students and the school's relevance in Israel and around the world. The evening's honoree Donna Karan was introduced by Nir Hod who is a young Bezalel alumnus and a widely exhibited painter. The t-shirts and wine bottles that were given to guests at the end of the evening featured Nir Hod's "Butterflies" image. Ilan Kaufthal, Friends of Bezalel Chairman, presented Donna Karan with a menorah designed by Ezri Tarazi, head of Bezalel's Industrial Design Department.

The Board and Administration of Friends of Bezalel would like to thank all guests and contributors to the Friends of Bezalel Gala for an interesting and successful evening in support of Bezalel Academy. View gala photos.

Image Credit: Friends of Bezalel Chairman Ilan Kaufthal and Honoree Donna Karan ©2010 Stephanie Badini


BLANCHE AND ROMIE SHAPIRO, FOUNDERS OF THE FRIENDS OF BEZALEL, TURN 100
On July 23, 2009, the Hon. Nir Barkat, Mayor of Jerusalem joined the Friends of Bezalel in honoring Blanche and Romie Shapiro, the Founders of the Friends of Bezalel, on the occasion of their 100th Birthdays. Mayor Barkat presented the Shapiros with the following proclamation.

Dear Blanche and Romie,

In honor of your 100th birthdays the city of Jerusalem extends its deepest appreciation for your decades of support to the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design.

Your leadership has ensured Bezalel's special standing as Israel's top art and design academy.

Your generosity has contributed to Jerusalem's status as a center of creativity, art and culture.

Your commitment to Bezalel will enable the revitalization of Jerusalem's city center, enhancing it as an inspiration for Israel and for artists throughout the world.

Your tireless guidance of American Friends of Bezalel is an example to all those who see dedication to Jewish continuity, the arts, Jerusalem and Israel as a priority.

For over a century, Bezalel has been a very special feature of the landscape of Jerusalem. The city of Jerusalem salutes you for all of your accomplishments.

Mazal Tov on your 100th birthdays and I say with special meaning: Until 120.

Nir Barkat
Mayor of Jerusalem

The Friends of Bezalel warmly wishes Blanche and Romie Shapiro continued health and happiness on this momentous occasion and salutes the Shapiros for their enduring support and dedication to Israel’s foremost art academy.


FRIENDS OF BEZALEL WELCOMES REBECCA TOBIN
We are delighted to inform you that Rebecca Tobin is joining Friends of Bezalel as its new Executive Director on August 17, 2009. For five years prior to joining Friends of Bezalel, Rebecca was a Research Fellow at the Hudson Institute specializing in human rights and discrimination against Israel at the United Nations. She was also the Assistant Director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust from 2006-2009. Both positions included fundraising, event planning and creating and implementing media strategies. Before joining the Hudson Institute, Rebecca interned at the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships, as well as at the Anti-Defamation League. She holds a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Cornell University.

This autumn, you will be invited to a cocktail reception at the new Bezalel office, 370 Lexington Ave. to meet Rebecca and to hear about our upcoming programs.

In the meantime, please join us in welcoming Rebecca to the Friends of Bezalel family.

DERFNER JUDAICA MUSEUM
A new Judaica Museum opens in Riverdale. On display are 250 ritual objects from communities around the world. The first section is “Bezalel.” Check out the article in The Jewish Daily Forward.

MICHAL ROVNER
Veranda, August 2009
Be sure to check out the article on interior designer and contemporary art collector, Vicente Wolf, in the August issue of Veranda. A Michal Rovner photograph hangs on the wall in his Manhattan apartment.

Download the Bank Job article.
BEZALEL SUMMER PROGRAM Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Jerusalem is excited to announce the establishment of a new summer program in photography for international students.

During the summer of 2009 we will be offering two different month-long credit awarding workshops in our campus in Jerusalem, Israel. The two workshops are designed for artists, photographers, and advanced students who have completed at least two years of photography training.

Students in the workshops will be able to construct and execute projects spanning the myriad of subjects that Israel has to offer. The two workshops will host guest lectures by leading figures in the Israeli arena and will provide for the theoretical background of the students' work.

For more information please contact:
Maya Fridman
mayaf@bezalel.ac.il
972.2.5893358

GILAD RATMAN

Gilad Ratman, graduate of Bezalel's Fine Art department is now graduating from Columbia's MFA program. The premiere of his graduate work will be on exhibit at the Braverman Gallery in the Columbia University graduate exhibition.

MAYA VINITSKY

Be sure to visit Bezalel Industrial Design graduate, Maya Vinitsky’s Squeeze Cup at the Museum of Arts and Design. Squeeze Cup is one of 200 pieces in the exhibition "Object Factory: The Art of Industrial Ceramics" which focuses on the reinvention of normal, daily objects. The exhibit is on view through September 13th.

Image Credit: Ceramic, 3.12 x 4.31 x 3.56 inches


GRADUATE NEWS

We are proud to announce that the following fourth year students have been accepted to prestigious MFA programs next year:

Columbia University
Guy Ben Ari
Daniel Havif
Ariel Shlesinger

School of Visual Arts (SVA)
Sharona Eliassaf

Goldsmiths, University of London
Noam Edri

University of Glasgow
Elad Rosen