STYLE 1 MEDIA >>> FRIENDS OF BEZALEL ANNUAL GALA
Friends of Bezalel Annual Gala Delights Guests with Claymation Workshop
Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, 1941 Broadway, NY, NY | 01.24.2012 | by Merry Esparza
On January 24th, the Friends of Bezalel held their annual gala to support the prestigious
Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem. The event spotlighted the Academy's
first-class animation program, featuring a pre-dinner Claymation Workshop conducted by
Professor Rony Oren, Senior Animation Lecturer and former Head of Screen Based Arts at
Bezalel. Friends of Bezalel Vice President Sivia Loria received the inaugural
Blanche and Romie Shapiro Award for Outstanding Service to Bezalel.
(Left: Bezalel International Relations and Resource Development Director, Liv Sperber; Friends of
Bezalel Chairman,
Ilan Kaufthal; Friends of Bezalel Executive Director, Rebecca Tobin)
The evening began with an elegant cocktail reception in the expansive lobby at Alice Tully Hall
Guests then proceeded into the theater to view "Pickles Season," the imaginative animation work
by Ronen Zhurat (Bezalel '06). Friends of Bezalel Board Chairman,
Ilan Kaufthal introduced the evening program.
The gala honoree was Vice President and long-time Board Member, Sivia Loria, who received
the inaugural Blanche and Romie Shapiro Award for Outstanding Service to Bezalel.
Ms. Loria is a native New Yorker, an art dealer and collector with close ties to family and friends in Israel. She has been
a dedicated leader and supporter of the arts, education, and Israel. A passionate advocate for the Bezalel Academy,
she has the vision to appreciate the school as a source of cultural enrichment whose benefits are far-reaching.
Professor Hanan Kaminski, Head of Bezalel's Animation Track, addressed the audience
and introduced a creative montage of 2011 Bezalel animated films, expertly produced by marketing and visual effects company,
Gravity. A live auction followed, conducted by Sotheby's Senior Vice President and Director of Fine Arts sales,
Jennifer Roth. Guests bid on graphics equipment and tuition for Bezalel animation students.
Other offerings were Alex Katz's limited edition linocut, "Harbor,"
and an Yvel multicolor, natural sapphire necklace, modeled by Friends of Bezalel Executive Director,
Rebecca Tobin. Bathsheva Rifkin, President of Friends of Bezalel (NY), concluded the program.
In the dining hall, Professor Rony Oren delighted guests with his
Claymation Workshop. Each guest received a selection of colorful clays from which they modeled a clay character, as demonstrated by
Professor Oren. This interactive workshop added a unique and playful touch to the evening, engaging distinguished attendees including
Professor Kaminski and Pratt Institute President, Dr. Thomas Schutte. After the
workshop, guests enjoyed a wonderful and festive dinner.
The Friends of Bezalel gala was chaired by Nicole and
Raanan Agus; Angelica Berrie; Zviah Eldar; Linda and Ilan Kaufthal;
Sivia Loria; and Blanche and Romie Shapiro.
Sponsors were MDC Partners and Gravity.
The Friends of Bezalel's mission is to heighten awareness of the Academy, its graduates, and student accomplishments.
This support enables the Academy to provide scholarships, maintain state-of-the-art facilities and equipment; create programs
for recent immigrants; fund research and design projects; maintain exhibits and public events; and promote goodwill among
students in the region.
Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design houses 1,700 students and 410 faculty members.
Its departments include Fine Arts; Architecture and Environmental Design; Ceramic and Glass Design; Industrial Design, Jewelry and Fashion;
Photography; Visual Communications; Animation; Video and New Media; and History and Theory. The Academy offers undergraduate degrees in
Fine Arts and Design, and Masters Degree programs in Fine Arts and Industrial Design. For more than 100 years, the Academy has been instrumental
in raising the level of aesthetic values, design consciousness, and industrial skill in Israel.
For more information, please visit: Friends of Bezalel and
Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design.
