Schusterman Visiting Artist-in-Residence '09

photo by Sharon Giordano

Israeli artist-in-residence Elyasaf Kowner

Upcoming Classes & Programs

Interdisciplinary artist, Elyasaf Kowner lives and works in Tel Aviv. Since 2000 he has been a lecturer in leading academic institutions in Israel, teaching graphic design, art and photography. His works have been shown worldwide, beginning with the New York graffiti project E.K. Paris (1994). Since then he has exhibited at the World Wide Video Festival in Amsterdam, WRO Festival in Wroclaw, Poland and in Israel at the Tel Aviv Museum, Herzliya Museum, Israel Museum and Haifa Museum. In 2006 Elyasaf began playing and writing music for guitar. In 2008, he won the Creativity Encouragement Prize for the Visual Arts by the Israeli Ministry of Culture. That same year moved into Afiqua studio, a space for collaborative work and creative thought. As a Schusterman Visiting Artist, Elyasaf was in residency with the PJCC in September and October of 2009.

The Israeli artist-in-residence program was made possible by generous funds from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and additional support from the Koret-Taube Initiative on Jewish Peoplehood.

View video
(Courtesy of Foster City TV)
Elyasaf Kowner and his Spiritual Gym art installation.

Classes

PERSONAL MEMORY THROUGH IMAGE & TEXT

with Elyasaf Kowner

September 8 & 15
In this two-part workshop, participants were invited to bring up to three photos that are charged with personal unresolved memory. Students created new images that incorporated text. They also discussed works of art by Sophie Calle, David Tartakover and Thomas Hirschhorn.

ART FOR ALL AGES

September 23
Members of the group met Elyasaf Kowner and enjoyed an overview of his work as he discussed the current state of art in Israel.

OBSESSION WITH NATURE IN JEWISH FILM
& TEXT

Sukkot Dinner

October 6
Participants engaged their body, mind, and spirit as they joined with Rabbi Tamar Malino to study ancient texts about the holiday of Sukkot and nature while enjoying delicious dinner in our beautifully decorated Sukkah. This was followed by screenings and discussion of short video works by Shusterman visiting artist Elyasaf Kowner.

THE WRITING ON THE WALL

Stencil Graffiti Art Workshop:
Ages 11 - 15

October 7 & 14
Students joined Elyasaf Kowner in this interactive stencil graffiti arts workshop and discovered the freedom and outlet for expression in this visual art form.

OUTER AND INNER PACE

October 13
Video Works by Elyasaf Kowner

1 The Sun Burns in my Heart, 2:30 minutes, 2004-2009
2 Triumvirate, 2:00 min, 2003
3 Violent Emotion, 2:30 min, 2003
4 Diamond on the Beach, 7:30 min, 2001
5 Learning Pain from Trees, 3:00, 2005
6 The Handed Thread, 5:00, 2005
7 Le Rendez-vous, 7:00, 2004
8 Ya Syndrome, 5:23, 2008

The Sun Burns in my Heart by Elyasaf Kowner

EXPRESSING IDENTITY

ISRAELI EXPERIMENTAL FILM
October 20
Curated by Elyasaf Kowner

1 Give her some Aloe, Zamir Shatz, 3:38 minutes, 2004
2 Nurit Sharet, Identity, 6:30 minutes, 2003
3 Jachin Hirsch, Living Space, 5:53 minutes, 2009
4 Ho South, Zamir Shatz, 1:38 minutes, 2008
5 22D, Uri Frost, 11:00 minutes, 1995
6 Auto Didact, Michal Rivlin, 5:14 minutes, 2005
7 Until When?, Boaz Arad, 4:50 minutes, 2004

22D by Uri Frost

"SPIRITUAL GYM" ART OPENING & RECEPTION

October 27 • Fitness Center
Schusterman Israeli Visiting Artist, Elyasaf Kowner discussed the closing of his art installation which explores the PJCC's guiding principle of Shleimut, wholeness of body, mind and spirit. Works included portraits of PJCC center members and their quotes about the subject.

by Elyasaf Kowner