Tel Aviv, Israel
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Tel Aviv, Israel by Shifra Tel Aviv-Jaffa has it all, from the ancient city of Jaffa, which is mentioned in the Bible, to the high rise buildings of the most modern parts of the city. There are busy roads full of traffic and quiet streets where you can wander past artisans at work. All this, in addition to a cosmopolitan lifestyle, and a multitude of cafes, restaurants, stores and parks, runs down to the Mediterranean Sea and beaches of golden sands. It should be no surprise, therefore, that with all this inspiration, the city is also home to a vibrant art life. Walking the length of Rothschild Boulevard, one of the oldest boulevards in Tel Aviv, you will benefit from the shade of the huge trees and can enjoy the numerous small art galleries that run on both sides of the boulevard. The galleries generally show contemporary art, mostly by local artists, so this is a great place to get a feel for the contemporary art of the city itself. Jaffa, on the other hand, its skyline decorated by crosses and minarets, boasts an archaeological museum housed in an eighteenth century building and galleries which display images from previous times. In addition, though, you can find some contemporary galleries, hidden within the winding white stone streets. Walking under a vine-covered gateway, you may suddenly come across an artist’s studio, with the artist at work inside, ready to welcome you in. Another area with a number of little galleries where you might come across the artists themselves is Neve Zedek, one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city. Unusually for Tel Aviv, most of the buildings are low rise, dating back to the time when Tel Aviv first began to expand as Jaffa became increasingly overcrowded. The result is a village-like, neighborly feel which has come to definite the area and which adds a special charm to the narrow streets. The Nahum Gutman Museum is located in this area, where you can see the sculptures, murals and mosaics of an artist who helped to develop a distinctively Israeli style of art, depicting the city just as it began to grow and following its progression over the years. The Tel Aviv Museum of Art is located in the modern part of the city. It is newly renovated and holds a great collection of international art, as well as hosting temporary exhibitions by contemporary local and international artists. This museum, as well as the Helena Rubinstein Pavilion, focuses on modern and contemporary art. Another museum, the Eretz Israel Mu- seum, is comprised of several exhibition pavilions, each of which is dedicated to a different cultural field or subject, including Archaeology, Judaica, Ethnography and the Applied Arts of the Land of Israel. It also plays host to craft shows, and is a great place to get a sense for the rich cultural heritage of the area. The architecture of Tel Aviv is also very interesting. Tel Aviv is covered by a UNESCO World Heritage Listing which describes it as the ‘White City,’ an outstanding example of the architecture of the Modern Movement. There are even Bauhaus tours you can go on to appreciate this aspect of the city, which is celebrated by a sculpture called “The White City” by world-renowned Israeli sculptor Dani Karavan, located on the outskirts of Tel Aviv. There is so much more art in this city than I could possibly list – from street art, for which Tel Aviv is known worldwide, to public art sculptures, to art festivals in the avenues to installations by the sea. I hope I have just whetted your appetite! 144 ARTisSpectrum | Volume 28 | artisspectrum.com.