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| Art I Heart |
Share the art you love from your walls,
a birthday card, what your child drew at school, that you saw in The National
Gallery in London...
1. Choose one piece of art that has a short personal story behind it. It could be something on your wall, something you've seen in a gallery and love, homedrawn, on a postcard, on a birthday card, something by Degas or something by your DS.
2. Take a photograph, scan or download a picture of your picture and post it along with the short story about why you are drawn to it, have it on your wall, bought it, or hate it. Don't forget to link back to the linky so your readers can see the other entries.
3. Link up (it's open till next Thursday, 4pm GMT), leave a comment, et voila!
Here's mine:
It's a print by Israeli artist Itzu Rimmer, who I only found out today studied in London at St Martins and Harrow Art College - not too far from where I grew up. Not a very good photo, as usual. You can clearly see the reflection of the camera in the glass (held up by my hand). Oh well. I could've taken the pictures down and done a better job but I didn't. You see it's one of three:
I was walking home from work one day and saw three other Itzu Rimmer prints mounted in a triple frame outside a gallery. My interest was piqued and I went in to find more. In the end I prefered to choose my own three prints that were framed seperately. I bought them there and then. Here are closer views of the other two (both with my relfection getting in the way):
However my favourite is the one on the right. Partly because I love the colours but also because of the view if depicts. My first visit to Israel was for my gap year - a year long stay on a kibbutz in the Beit She'an valley (south of Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee). Looking west toward the River Jordan and the Jordanian Hills, this was very similar to what we could see. It reminds me of being a 19yo and getting up at 4.30am to pick avocados or pomegranates, depending on the season.
Towards the end of our year the First Lebanese War (called Operation Peace in the Galil) broke out and all the young men, and many of the older men too, were called up to their army units. The kibbutz women took over the men's jobs and the gap-yearers were elevated to jobs with more responsibility to take over from the women. I was given a baby house to run and loved looking after five 2yos from 7am till 4pm every day. I'd worked with these toddlers before so I knew the ropes. I'd been the helper. Now there were no helpers, it was just me. 30 years later when I'm on my own with a 3yo, I can't believe I had the patience.
That is a beautiful picture, and I can totally see how it reminds you of Sde Eliyahu. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Trollmamma. I forgot to add the link to Itzu Rimmer but I've done it now - you can see much better copies of his paintings on the website.
DeleteI totally agree about the picture reminding you of the Beit Shean Valley (now known as Emek HaMaáyanot). I spent my gap year in Kibbutz Chamadia - just down the road from Sdeh Eliyau and in fact for a while worked in the regional olive export office in Sde Eliyahu once a week writing letters in English. Similar to your picture, above Chamadia there was a hill with just one row of trees at the top - and when the sun was behind the hill and all was silent with the air shimmering in the heat, and all we could see were the silhouttes, it used to remind me of old Cowboy and Indian films with the Indians lined up waiting to swoop down. It was very atmospheric and quite eerie. I also worked with five 1-2 year olds and was given unheard of responsibility for the afternoon shift - as you said, unheard of for a gap yearer that is. (Not because of the war - simply due to maternity leave - and the fact that the parents of 2 of the toddlers in my group happened to be the decision-makers with regard to all workers in the education department.)
ReplyDeleteLove the painting.....
Thanks Sherrie. Others have also commented (on fb) how it also reminds them of the Beit Shean Valley. I didn't know it was now called Emek HaMayanot btw. I'm glad it's not just me - maybe he actually painted this there.
DeleteGorgeous pictures, and fascinating memories. I love the style of his work...
ReplyDeleteIf you follow the link you'll see a slideshow of many more of his paintings and a biography. And yes, very good memories - those were the days *sighs*.
DeleteI really liked these prints .... bold but very thoughtful. I think my favourite one is also that one on the right. Love the colour, and how it reminds you of your first visit to Isreal. It really does give me a flavour of what you saw.
ReplyDeleteI also like the simplicity eventhough they are bold, as you say. Thanks for commenting.
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