2004-09-16
"Art of The Land" - Festival in Tel Aviv Rieding Power Station
The third "Art of The Land " festival opens in Tel Aviv 65 years old power station on October 3rd. This is an unusual festival in the sense that it is open for three evenings only in spite of the fact that it exhibits some 40 contemporary artists and that numerous works are being created especially for this festival...
The station built in the international style but is not attributed to any single architect is one of several built by the founder of Israel Electric Corp., Pinchas Ruttenberg, in the period between two world wars.
Not only he had the economic and industrial vision but he also insisted that the station be built by leading international architects of the time and the results are impressive power stations all over the country.
The festival is taking place in the original building which is inactive however all the machinery is still there and it provides unusual background for contemporary art.
The original artwork is presented in the building and surrounding courtyard within the fence and includes major video presentation in the open air.
In the immediate area surrounding the station outside the fence commercial galleries are open for business as well as food stalls. One of the major attractions of the commercial area is the children's corner organized by the Herzelia Museum of Art education department.
The festival is organized by the newspaper Haaretz (it is words play because Haarez in Hebrew means The Land) and private events firms The Intelect Group with the Israel Museum, The Herzelia Museum of Art and the Ein Harod Museum of Art.
The artistic Director is former Assistant to the Mayor for Cultural Affairs Mrs. Nava Dissentshik who is also former Director of the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.
It is supported by the city and the Ministry of Culture and private sponsors.
Despite its short opening hours it was attended last year by some 100,000 visitors- whole families mostly and young people. Thus it accomplishes its main purpose which is to take the art out to the open and expose it to people which will not usually attend contemporary art exhibitions. It is the combination of site, sounds and installation that does the trick..
Not only he had the economic and industrial vision but he also insisted that the station be built by leading international architects of the time and the results are impressive power stations all over the country.
The festival is taking place in the original building which is inactive however all the machinery is still there and it provides unusual background for contemporary art.
The original artwork is presented in the building and surrounding courtyard within the fence and includes major video presentation in the open air.
In the immediate area surrounding the station outside the fence commercial galleries are open for business as well as food stalls. One of the major attractions of the commercial area is the children's corner organized by the Herzelia Museum of Art education department.
The festival is organized by the newspaper Haaretz (it is words play because Haarez in Hebrew means The Land) and private events firms The Intelect Group with the Israel Museum, The Herzelia Museum of Art and the Ein Harod Museum of Art.
The artistic Director is former Assistant to the Mayor for Cultural Affairs Mrs. Nava Dissentshik who is also former Director of the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.
It is supported by the city and the Ministry of Culture and private sponsors.
Despite its short opening hours it was attended last year by some 100,000 visitors- whole families mostly and young people. Thus it accomplishes its main purpose which is to take the art out to the open and expose it to people which will not usually attend contemporary art exhibitions. It is the combination of site, sounds and installation that does the trick..
An article by Ronnie Dissentshik, Correspondent, Tel Aviv
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