Bezalel art

July 1, 2010 by Jessica · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Art, Business, design, General, Israeliness, Life

Checking out the wares

If you’re moseying around Jerusalem this Friday or any Friday, check out the Bezalel Art Fair in downtown Jerusalem. A weekly fair that was established in the last year, the idea is for the fair to help revitalize and ‘brand’ Jerusalem’s center, working with the citizens and artists of the city, and honing in on the relocation of Hebrew University’s Bezalel art school downtown, which has brought a plethora of artist types into the center of the city. This weekly creative collection is aiming to be the largest in the country, featuring approximately 150 artists and creators, similar in nature to Tel Aviv’s popular Nachalat Binyamin fair that is held twice a week.

There’s a great combination of artists and works each week, ranging from drawings, textiles, wood and glass to photographers’ exhibits and the always-popular clothing items and accessories from local designers. There are also ‘social action’ stalls of various organizations, recruiting volunteers, signatures and resources.

Sprawled across the Bezalel pedestrian alley, the newly pedestrianized Shatz alley (both streets which are also home to some great cafes, wine stores and clothing boutiques), and Gan HaSus (the small park marked by a horse sculpture across from the Mashbir plaza which is often dominated by skateboarders), the fair has a lively, artsy air, with musicians seated throughout the venue and much to see and choose.

If it takes off, we can thank the Jerusalem municipality arts wing, as well as several other municipal departments and community centers for coming up with the endeavor. With current traffic of some 10,000 visitors on an average Friday, the organizers are hoping to offer a source of income to downtown’s struggling businesses and artists in the city’s center.

So head downtown, grab a cold drink and wander around the stalls. You’re sure to find an excuse for spending some hard-earned shekels.

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Tags: art fair, artists, Bezalel, downtown Jerusalem

A porcupine tree grows in Tel Aviv

July 1, 2010 by David · 1 Comment
Filed under: A New Reality, coexistence, General, Israeliness, Life, Music, Pop Culture

Steven Wilson, foreground, with Aviv Gefen - two lovers of Tel Aviv.

It’s not often that a pretty well-known rock star – or even a marginally well-known one – adopts Tel Aviv as his home away from home.

But that’s what Steven Wilson, the talented founder and front man for British progressive rockers Porcupine Tree has been doing the last few years.

Ever since the guitarist/songwriter forged a friendship with Israeli icon Aviv Gefen and began early last decade collaborating with him on the musical project Blackfield, Wilson began spending more time in Israel. In 2006, he even rented an apartment in Tel Aviv and took up residence, along with an Israeli girlfriend.

With a million projects between Porcupine Tree albums and tours, Blackfield and countless other collaborations, Wilson hasn’t spent much time here the last couple years, but is returning next week with Porcupine Tree for their first show here since 2001.

Speaking to him last week, Wilson told me what he loved about the country.

“To me, Israel is almost the antithesis of what I had grown up with. Being English, we’re polite and reserved, we don’t express our opinions, we’re very private people. Plus the weather is shit, and I’ve never been a big fan of English women. In Israel, I found it all opposite. It’s friendly, there are beautiful women,” said Wilson.

“There was a fire missing from my personality, an element missing, and when I started to spend more time in Israel, I became more forthright, more passionate and opinionated – in a good way and in a bad way. I think I was able to complete my personality by finding its Israeli side.”

Wilson said that once things calm down for him professionally, he plans on coming back to Tel Aviv for another extended stay, and he’s already at work with Gefen on another Blackfield album. Sounds like he deserves the keys to the city.

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