|
|
|
INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED ARTS INSTITUTION PRESENTS FRANK GEHRY WITH HIGHEST HONOR |
|
October 25, 2007 |
|
For Immediate Release Media Contact: Amo Communications
Beth Amorosi, 917-208-7489
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED ARTS INSTITUTION PRESENTS FRANK GEHRY WITH HIGHEST HONOR Friends of Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Award the Jerusalem Prize for Arts & Letters at November 12 Gala in New York City
October 25, 2007, New York, NY – The Friends of Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Israel’s oldest institution of higher education, honors world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, with the Jerusalem Prize for Arts and Letters at its annual fundraising gala and art auction on November 12th. Thomas Krens, Director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, will present Mr. Gehry with the Academy’s most prestigious prize at the new Frank Gehry-designed IAC building in the heart of Chelsea. All proceeds from the benefit will help Bezalel to establish student scholarships, purchase state-of-the art equipment, develop tools that will enhance classroom and studio facilities, create special programs for recent immigrants, as well as to promote harmonious relationships among diverse groups of talented students in the region.
Founded in 1906, by Boris Schatz, a Russian-born artist and visionary, Bezalel was established in Jerusalem as a school that would nurture art and design in the Jewish Homeland. Schatz wanted to create a “Jewish national style of art” which would combine the European artistic currents of his time, Jewish illustration and textile design, and the local Middle-Eastern traditions, integrating them into a new national style. “We are thrilled to present one of the world’s greatest creative talents, Frank Gehry, with our highest honor,” said Jennifer Roth, Senior Vice-President of Sotheby’s Fine Arts and President of Friends of Bezalel. “The Bezalel Academy is especially grateful to our friends in New York City for helping us raise awareness of our institution and our artists” said Professor Arnon Zukerman President of the Academy. “We are particularly proud of the choice of Mr. Gehry as the recipient of the Jerusalem Prize for Arts and Letters as he embodies Bezalel’s values of creative innovation, commitment to excellence, and a legacy of inspiration to the next generation and beyond.”
As one of the most prominent institutions of arts education in the world, Bezalel is committed to preserving its longstanding tradition of fostering education, innovation and artistic creativity in Israel and throughout the world. In the spirit of this tradition, Bezalel honors Frank Gehry for his outstanding contributions to the arts and for his continued inspiration to emerging talents. “It is truly an honor for me to be recognized by Bezalel”, said Mr. Gehry. “Bezalel is not only one of the finest arts institutions in the world, but it also continues to demonstrate that creativity and the arts prevail with a spirit of hope and a sense of peace for people everywhere.” Past recipients of the Jerusalem Prize for Arts and Letters include Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Susan Soros, Helen Frankenthaler, I.M. Pei, Rosamond Bernier, Vartan Gregorian, and Tom Wolfe.
In addition to arts collectors, patrons, and philanthropists, special guests will include Moshe Safdie, one of the world’s most prominent architects, and Adi Nes, one of Israel's most renowned contemporary photographers. Alex Katz has generously donated a specially designed print as an inaugural Second Centennial Limited Edition. The Bezalel auction items - paintings, photographs, sculpture, and Judaica from artists including Yigal Ozeri, Nir Hod, and Laura Murlender will be available to the public from October 29-November 12 at http://www.bezalelfriends.org , and will be on exhibit and auctioned the night of the Gala.
ABOUT BEZALEL ACADEMY OF ART & DESIGN
The Academy holds an honored place as Israel’s oldest institution of higher education. The school has been instrumental in establishing the foundations for contemporary Israeli visual culture, and in sustaining a continuum of cutting-edge innovations in the fine arts. Today, the students and faculty of Bezalel are at the forefront of premier art and design worldwide. Currently there are 1700 students pursuing Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Architecture, Fine Arts, Visual Communication, Photography, Industrial Design, Ceramics, Glass, and Judaica. Graduates of Bezalel, including Michal Rovner, Adi Nes, and Ron Arad, have risen to critical acclaim in the international art and design world. For additional information on the Bezalel Academy, please visit www.bezalel.ac.il
###
|
|
|
Summary
World-renowned architect Frank Gehry honored by Israels oldest institution of higher education, the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design
|
