A new art exhibition – ‘Useful Art’- by artist Jennifer Bar Lev is scheduled to open at Raanana’s Municipal Gallery located at Yad Labanim.  Using a conceptual artistic style that involves connections between image and text, the meanings of words, mysticism and Jewish symbols, Bar Lev expresses the existence of a new form of modern Jewish art – an art form for which Judaism is a part of the picturesque text.  This art enables the divesting of the images of their familiar meanings and providing them with a new significance.

As a result of this artistic choice, the artist focuses on two central images in this exhibition:  an empty chair and the Star of David.  Bar Lev’s empty chair can be a warm household item, an intimate object, saturated with personal memories, an existential and metaphysical foundation, and also a bridge between the illusion and the concrete.  The chair is surrounded by an abstract background and it inspires a sense of detachment and a need to defend against the external reality.

In addition to questions of personal, cultural, Jewish, Israeli and Zionistic identity, the Star of David in Bar Lev’s work also raises questions related to power and control.  Through this imager Bar Lev arouses an emotional experience, and new suggestions for order; renewed contemplation and the creation of a line of communication with the viewer, in hopes of critique and response.

Curator:  Orna Fichman

The grand opening will be held on Saturday Night, 9.1.10, at 20:30 and attended by Mayor Nahum Hofree and Deputy Mayor Ronit Weintraub, director of the Culture, Youth and Leisure Division.

Gallery Hours:  Sundays-Thursdays 9:00 to 19:00; Fridays 9:00 to 12:30 and Saturdays 11:00 to 13:00.

In the photo:  Artist Jennifer Bar Lev’s work displayed at the exhibition.  Photo courtesy of the Raanana Municipality.