"Israel Fashion Art", Tel-Aviv Museum of Art, & Prof. Motty Omer.

"Israel Fashion Art" by Nurit Bat-Yaar book's jacket
Photo on left by Miri Davidovits. Author's portrait by Ron Kedmi.

Hi, the other day I was invited to the official openning of the Tel-Aviv Museum of Art's new extraordinary building in which eight diferent art exhibits opened simultaneously. It was quite a unique
experience architechtulary, artistically and socially. The museum's 6 new floors were overflowing
with art lovers of all ages and there were quite a number of fashionistas dressed in individualistic
looks expressing exciting personal styles.

Yet, in the midst of  all the excitement I couldn't help feeling sad that the person behind this initiative,
Prof. Motty Omer, General Manager and Chief curator of Tel-Aviv Museum Of Art wasn't there
to enjoy this great achievement of his. It was he who chose American architect Preston Scott to create this geometric structure regarded as part of the sercond wave of unique wow architecture after Farnk Gery's Bilbau's Guggenheim.

Unfortunately, Prof. Omer, passed away several months before the new structure was completed.
This was a very sad experience for me personally as well. About 3-4 months before Prof. Omer left for a better world - I met him at the opening of an art exhibit in one of the galleries of the old building. It was after my book "Israel Fashion Art"  "שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל" (Resling) came out and was sold in the Museum's lovely book and artifacts store.

Prof. Omer must have read the book and I can only assume that he was highly impressed by it, particularly by the chapters devoted to the love story between fashion and art and the dialogue between fashion and sculpture . Because, when he saw me at that opening at the gallery mentioned above - he told me: "It's about time we do something together". Since I very much wanted to curate a fashion exhibit as as continuation to the book, I replied: "בשמחה רבה" meaning "with great joy".

To emphasie his true intention Prof. Omer repeated his suggestion: "הגיע הזמן שנעשה משהו ביחד" and I,
in response, repeated my reply: "gladly, with great  joy". But, life apparently had other plans, as shortly afterword Prof. Omer had to be hospitalised, eventually leaving the mondane art world in order to perhaps meet in heaven art's greatest masters. May his soul rest in peace.

The new Tel-Aviv Museum structure inaugurated Nov.1,2011

Zuri Gueta of "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" Recipient of 2010 Andy Prize

Hi, Today I would like to share with you the story of Zuri Gueta. Gueta is featured in "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008

"שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל""

in the chapters devoted to textiles and to futuristic designs. Recently it has been announced that he is the 2010 recipient of the Andy Award for contemporary crafts founded by philanthrophist Charles Bronfman in the memory of his wife's love of the arts. The recipient of the Andy Award receives, among other things, an exhibition at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and two of his creations are purchased by the Tel Aviv Museum as well as by The Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
The picture enclosed here taken by Eshel Ezer which appears in the book's chapter about futuristic creations and technologies is of a unique lit dress designed by Zuri Gueta with Maya Arazi and Merav Levi in 1996 while they were still students at "Shenkar" college. It incorporates silicon, the futuristic material Zuri believes in. This exceptional material he is using to create avant-garde three dimensional fabrics, jewelry, accessories, and art works is highly innovative. No wonder they caught the eyes and aroused the curiosity of leading Paris designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier, "Dior," Armani" and many other leading designers who incorporated his textiles in their Haute Couture collections.

Zuri is one of several promising Shenkar students who caught my eye while they were still in college who more than fulfilled their promise being considered now stars in their respective fields of specialty.