Living Art Gallery
Art in the Square
Two years ago, a young immigrant couple from Canada arrived in Tzfat and fell in love with Tzfat's Old City.
They were enchanted by Kikar HaMeginim, the central public square of the Old City. Once called "Kikar HaPachim" or "Coal Square", this area was, for hundreds of years, the center of Jewish life in the Old City, from where merchants (among them the coal merchants) sold their wares. After the War of Independence, the square was renamed "Kikar HaMeginim", Defender's Square, in honor of the Jewish solders who defended the Jewish Quarter during the struggle to liberate Tzfat, and their headquarters, which sat in the square.
For many years, Kikar HaMeginim has been one of the sleepier areas of the Old Jewish Quarter. A kiosk, a health food store (since closed) and a vegetarian café made up the little square, and few visitors bothered to stay for longer than it took to down an iced coffee or a quick sandwich.
Today, the square is growing. Guest Houses in the area have become popular, and new galleries are opening, drawing visitors to the Kikar.
One of these galleries is Living Art, opened by the Canadian couple who foresaw the opportunities and attractions of the little Kikar. They renovated two small storefronts exquisitely and now display a collection of Jewish and Israeli artists whose work, they feel, is compatible with this special corner of Tzfat.
Mystical, Haunting and Historic
Haim Sherf, an Israeli presently living in Canada, exhibits only in Tzfat at the Living Art Gallery. Haim lives in Montreal, and in his paintings of Jewish and Kabbalah subject matter, one feels his passion for the religion and the difficult history of the Jewish people. Haim's paintings are painted with a knife palette, and he mixes the oil paints with a dusty texture to create paintings which are light, airy and filled with deep meanings of Jewish mysticism and history.
Danon Jewelry offers factory discount prices at the Living Art Gallery with classic-style costume jewelry in a wide variety of styles and motifs. The jewelry is fashioned through a synthesis of ancient methods and state-of-the-art technology. They are made from pewter (tin alloy) or mazak (zinc alloy) and are plated in gold, silver or brass. In addition, Swarovski crystals, semi-precious stones and exquisite beads, glass, leather, etc are added to give the jewelry the special look which is associated with Danon's products.
Two other artists exhibit at the Living Art Gallery, Michael Caro, whose Judaica watercolors bring a breath of fresh light color to the works displayed, and the paintings of the gallery's curator, Idit Aharon, which depict Tzfat's Old City.
The gallery is open daily from 9:00a.m. to 18:00p.m., and can be contacted by calling Idit at (04)6827977.
