Watershed Moments: Visiting Works from the Jerusalem Biennale at Leichtag

by Patricia Frischer

I was lucky enough to meet with Ram Ozeri who is the founder of the Jerusalem Biennale now in its third year (in Biennale years, 6 year in real time!). After trying to start a gallery or a museum in Jerusalem he realized that what would work in Tel Aviv would need to be different in Jerusalem. He decided to offer Israelis who might never go to a contemporary art show a Jewish cultural motivation to open themselves up to art. The Biennale was born with a grant from Leichtag (which supports programs in North County SD and in Israel) and with mainly local artists the first year. It grew to include some American artists the second year and the third year with a theme of Watershed Moments, it has gone international The next will occur in Nov of 2019 (proposal are already in) with the title For Heaven's Sake. 

This is a small selection of the works on view of  this traveling sample exhibition  open until Dec 14 by appointment only at Leichtag  Foundation in Encinitas on Saxony Road. Please let Jenny Camhi know your preferred dates/times and she will be in touch to schedule.

Lili Almog presents this quite controversial patch of flesh to an audience that can be perceived to be conservative. In is shown in the context of historical nude figures but it still had to be fought for in the context of Jewish Orthodox Culture

Matan Ben Tulia describes a life outside of arduous study within traditional classrooms. 

Eliad Landau enlarges the knots of remembrance that are part of the Jewish tradition worn by males during religious ceremonies. 

Eliad Landau takes those same knotted strings and illustrates them in triplicate.

On the other hand, Tamar Paley has created a brand new possible tradition for women wearing those knots along with sacred text in adornment. 

Tamar Paley - detail of the above jewelry worn on the model.

Yehudis Barmatz moved toward a more religious life and in the process burned all her old work. However, this still from the video and the video itself is testimony to her ongoing involvement in the art process. 

Arik Weiss limited edition (100) Kiddush Cup which takes its inspiration from a syraform coffee cup. These are not for sale, but are a gift for those joining the Jerusalem Biennale Circle of Friends.