Jerusalem Biennale in New York
November 9 – December 5, 2023
Opening: Thursday, November 9 at 5 - 7 pm; Program at 6 pm
RSVP is required.
The Jerusalem Biennale, scheduled to open on November 9 in Israel, has been postponed due to the war. Instead, it will open some of its scheduled exhibitions internationally on November 9 in the home cities of its artists and curators, including Rome, London, Buenos Aires, Los Angeles, and New York, where the Heller Museum will showcase selections from two exhibitions, in partnership with the Jewish Art Salon and American Sephardi Federation:
Artists: Siona Benjamin, Goldie Gross, Ronit Levin Delgado, Joan Roth, Chelsea Steinberg Gay, Yona Verwer. Curator: Hadas Glazer (Tel Aviv).
Yona Verwer, Living Waters-Turtle Eats Plastic
Artist: Archie Rand. Curator: Samantha Baskind
ACTIVATE features the work of six NY artists, whose divergent art practices together investigate the complexities of life as a woman today. Exploring physical and political power, this show centers systemic, holistic, female-driven change. Each in their own way, the artists explore the multifaceted expressions of feminine power amidst complex and fraught socio-political dynamics tied to bodies and heritage, intimacy and otherness, sex and religion. From performance to documentation, some of the artworks depict women’s activisms, while others are the activators themselves. Through the use and exploration of feminine symbols such as Lilith, Women of the Wall, Statue of Liberty, and Jewish themes of Tikkun HaYam (heal the oceans), Kol Isha, and the current Israeli hostage crisis, the artists both activate and reactivate the themes and space.
THE SEVENTEEN: The women featured in the loosely painted, electrically charged canvases are the well-recognized and lesser known biblical figures. They are a continuation of Archive Rand’s forty-year artistic enterprise, exploring the Bible and Jewish texts in serialized paintings conceptually informed by twentieth-century culture. His work can be found in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Art Institute of Chicago, and Bibliothèque Nationale de France, among many others.
About the Jewish Art Salon: The Jewish Art Salon (JAS) is a global network for Jewish visual art. Established in 2008 and based in New York City, the JAS, a 501.c.3 nonprofit institution, has over 400 members and over 2,000 participants. JAS is a hub of contemporary artists and art professionals. It provides important programs and resources for their members and the general public, and develops lasting partnerships with the international art community, and other faith communities. It connects artists, curators, and the public through programs that emphasize long-term dialogue and conversation.
About the Heller Museum: The Heller Museum on the New York campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion showcases the creativity of contemporary artists of all faiths who explore and comment on culture, history, and current social issues. The Museum features exhibitions and programs that interpret core Jewish values, texts, and beliefs and that foster a deeper public education regarding Jewish heritage.
Jerusalem Biennale in New York in the Media:
Heller Museum
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
One West Fourth Street, New York
Admission: Free
Hours: Mondays-Thursday, 9 am – 6:30 pm
Tours/Information: 212-824-2218; hellermuseum@huc.edu