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Characters in blue
Story and photos by BAILA LAZARUS
Visitors to Jerusalem's Tower of David Museum will be greeted this
year by the whimsical figurines of Israeli artist Ofra Zimbalista.
In Beyond the Blue, the title of the exhibit, 20 blue sculptures
sit, stand, run, fly, play instruments and climb on the ruins of
the museum. The characters each have a personality of their own
and seem to have been taken out of individual contexts from outside
the museum and thrown together, as if in an experimental community.
Placed together in this historical site, the statues go about their
busines, seemingly ignoring their surroundings. Thus, you have a
winged figure entitled "Esther" bounding happily along,
just a few feet from a cellist who's engrossed deeply in her art.
The juxtaposition of these modern, playful works of art, against
an historical backdrop that is usually cause for sombre reflection
may not be in everyone's taste. But, similar to Cristo's work, where
bridges and buildings are draped in huge swathes of fabric, one
may not liek it or even believe that it's art, but it's sure to
stir discussion about the subject.
Zimbalista graduated in 1975 from the Kalisher College of Fine Art
in Tel-Aviv. She lives and works in Kiryat Ono. A similar exhibit
by Zimbalista was installed two years ago in the Omer Industrial
Park. Smaller groups of her colorful people can be seen on rooftops
and balconies in Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem.
The Tower of David Museum of the History of Jerusalem is located
near the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem's Old City. Hours of opereation
are Sunday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; and
Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Call 072-2-6274111 or 02-6265333 for information.
Baila Lazarus is a freelance writer, photographer and illustrator
living in Vancouver, Canada. Her work can be seen at www.orchiddesigns.net.
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