Josh's Blog

The Renewed Israel Museum: A Vision in the Holy Land

I’ve spent the last 5 or so days in Jerusalem to attend the Israel Museum’s annual International Council. Over 520 people from 15 countries have flown here to attend it—the largest Council ever. The reason for the record turnout and all the excitement? In just a couple of months, on July 25th, the museum will reveal the results of a three-year, $100-million renewal project. The attendees of the Council represent major donors, sponsors, supporters and others who have played a critical role in this project. As part of the Council, I was honored to visit the museum a little early to witness the final stages of the construction and hear about the design features from the people who led it (for photos of everything, see my Twitter feed and photos on Twitpic).

The entire project was, in large part, the vision of James S. Snyder, the museum’s director since 1997. Under his astute insights and careful watch, and with the architectural expertise and sensitivity of Jamie Carpenter and the people at James Carpenter Design Associates in New York, the entire campus has been revamped. Not only have so many of the old buildings been completely redone, but new buildings have been brilliantly inserted into the campus and the architectural elevations in a way that both improves the flow of the visitors’ experience and enhances the original vision of the museum’s design by Alfred Mansfield in 1965. Things that weren’t possible 45 years ago but are now possible today were done. For example, the windows that allow Jerusalem’s special light to come into the galleries couldn’t be transparent back in the 60’s because the UV rays of the strong sun in Israel could have damaged the artwork. But today, thanks to advances in glass technology and multi-layered filters, new glass panes (and therefore, new lighting) give each gallery and the artwork within an elegant glow.

In addition to straightforward changes like the glass, the campus has been reorganized, consolidated (in some places) and expanded (in others) so that building functions are more logical and the flow across the campus more efficient. Everything has been streamlined, important for an encyclopedic museum that sits on 20+ acres. In honor of the renewal, two unique pieces were commissioned by the museum. The first is a spectacular 9-ton Anish Kapoor piece entitled “Turning the World Upside Down [Jerusalem]” that reflects the sky to the ground and the ground to the sky. Honestly, it’s mesmerizing to walk around it and watch the reflection change.

You’ll find the second commissioned piece at one end of the all-new “Route of Passage” tunnel carved into the very bedrock of the hill. It’s an installation by Olafur Eliasson called “Whenever the Rainbow Appears” and will greet people as they approach the museum galleries from below-ground. I wasn’t able to see the real piece (only a temporary placeholder), as it hasn’t been installed yet, but the effect should be pretty incredible—a 50’ by 8’ spectrum of colors celebrating the rainbow that signified the covenant between God and Abraham in the Bible.

And then there are all the other exhibits in the newly refurbished wings and galleries of the museum, including the Samuel and Saidye Bronfman Archaeology Wing (my favorite). Honestly, if you ever find yourself in Jerusalem or even anywhere near the Holy Land, you should give yourself a full day or two to walk around the Israel Museum. I’m hopeful I’ll be able to return in late July for the official grand unveiling.

Posted by ExplorerJosh on 05/11 at 05:31 PM

1. I stiil don’t know if tweet right but I really enjoyed your photo tour of the Isreal Museum. Archeologists have uncoverd a 14-Century aqueduct that supplied water to Jerusalem for almost 600yrs along a rout dating back to the time of jesus

   Posted by michelle on 05/11 at 07:52 PM

2. Thanks for sharing the pics on Twitter. It was great seeing the Israel Museum right there in my feed.

   Posted by Jeannie on 05/11 at 08:44 PM

3. Hi, Josh!

   Reading the daily Jornal do Brasil this morning we were informed that a group of 20 vips from Brasil have flown to Jerusalem for one week to take part at this event.

   Understand Mrs. Lily Safra, widow of Mr. Edmond J. Safra, whose Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic Foundation has contributed with U$12-million gift, could not attend. Article dated April 22, 2009:  http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=30396
            
   Hope you have enjoyed the program, and thanks for the tour of the Israel Museum.

   Doris

   Posted by Doris on 05/11 at 10:33 PM

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