Design Jerusalem
Filed under: Art, Business, design, Food, General, History and Culture, Israeliness, Life
Many, but not all of the artists are recent or somewhat recent Bezalel graduates, which is fitting, given the location of the gallery on Bezalel, which is next to one of the school’s buildings downtown.
It’s really all about the redevelopment of downtown Jerusalem, which is important. Let’s keep these artist types here, them and their partners and kids, and make Jerusalem a living, breathing city.
For more information about Design Week events, which run through Friday, go to their website (see above).
Otherwise you can always support Jerusalem design at Designers in the City:
7 Bezalel Street
Sun., Mon., Wed., Thurs.: 10-2, 4-7
Tues., Fri.: 10-2
Narkis
Filed under: Art, design, General, History and Culture, Israeliness, Life

Israel's first tourism poster, by Narkis
Narkis was born in Romania and settled in Jerusalem in 1944 where he first studied painting before turning to graphics at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design. Like many successful people in this country, he first worked for the country’s largest employer, the army, and designed instruction books for the IDF. By 1955, he was out on his own, and for the next 50 years designed books, exhibitions, stamps, banknotes, coins, posters and emblems.
He specialized in designing fonts, and became the most prolific designer of Hebrew types in the 20th century. His book fonts, called Narkis, are the most commonly used in Israel. In fact, I used it today.
Bezalel art
Filed under: Art, Business, design, General, Israeliness, Life
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.
Foto Friday – Face, Body at Bezalel
Filed under: Art, design, Foto Friday, General, History and Culture, Life
Jerusalem’s Bezalel Academy of Art & Design will be holding a conference this coming Tuesday entitled “Face, Body”.
Bezalel is Israel’s oldest and most prestigious academy of art and design whose students in the arts, design and architecture become leaders in their fields in Israel and the world.
The conference, hosted by Bezalel’s photography department, will deal with the ways in which the face and body is presented in the plastic arts, in poetry, film and video, as well as in philosophy and science.
The long explanations put forth by the organizers: “The face and the body are material and likeness. The face and the body are both real and the presentation of the real or the similar that enables the existence of the self and the other (everyone is both self and other) in various spheres as well as in discourse about the matter. The face and the body can also be addressed in the context of space and time, power interactions, as concepts and perceptions, as a covering and as what is contained within the cover.”
In a word: verisimilitude.
Speakers include some of Israel’s leading art photographers and videographers, including department head Micha Kirshner, Reuven Kuperman, Simcha Shirman, Miki Kratsman, David Adika, Eyal Ben Dov, and videographer Alona Friedberg.
Click on the links to learn more about some of Israel’s premiere photographers. More information about the conference can be found on the Bezalel website.
Israeli Hallmark
Filed under: Art, Business, design, Holidays, Israeliness, Pop Culture
If you haven’t sent out those Rosh Hashana greetings yet — whether in card or email format, or, lo, facebook — never fear. A fantastic Jerusalem collage artist has created greeting cards that will negate all belated wishes, because they’re just so fun and clever.
Yael Bar, according to her bio, is a Jerusalemite who has never lived in Tel Aviv. (Another reason to like her.) After earning a first degree in the history of art and theater, she is now a recent graduate from Bezalel. I think she’s looking for a job, but in the meantime, is making these one-of-a-kind greeting cards that include all sorts of Israeli and non-Israeli personalities, from Shoshana Damari to Leonard Cohen.
Besides the Rosh Hashana editions, which I’m sending to my nearest and dearest, there are cards for all sorts of occasions, from Mazal Tovs and Chag Sameachs to her particular take on Israeli life, with collages lifted from recent newspaper articles, such as Divorce in Modi’in and prime ministers’ ranking.
My favorite Jerusalem gift store, Nisha, was selling the cards, but you can also contact Yael by email and order some of your own.

















