Under the Mountain, a festival of new public art will take place from July 30th – August 4th 2012, as part of the Jerusalem Season of Culture. The festival seeks to expand the idea of art, exploring the relationship between art and social action, taking art beyond the framework of objects created by artists, exhibited in traditional venues such as museums and galleries, and observed/received by the viewer; taking the “viewer” from a passive to an active role in the creation of art in the public sphere.
Some of the action is already underway at the Bezalel / Yaffo 23 Gallery exhibition: “The Summer: Experiments in Techniques of Awakening,” jointly curated by Omer Krieger, Under the Mountain Artistic Director, and Yaffo 23 – Dr. Roy Brand, Director and Chief Curator, Sagit Mezamer, Curator and Program director, Eyal Vexler, Gallery Manager and Production. The public is invited to wake up and take part in events, performances and workshops in a space designed by Michal Helfman. This awakening will culminate in a closing event on August 4th – a happy demonstration on the streets of Jerusalem (the exact location will be announced). Get ready to make your opinions known by participating in the workshops offered at the gallery: “Electronics for Demonstrations,” “Painting for Demonstrations,” and “Music for Demonstrations.”
Another aspect of the program that is already under way is “City Artist” – a program that introduces artists into local government. Several “artists in residence” have been placed in different departments in the Jerusalem Municipality since May, where they will create works that draw on their experiences there that will relate, connect and perhaps intervene with the work of the department.
Under the Mountain will enter the public sphere every evening on the London & Kirshenbaum news show at 18:50, with news broadcasts created by participating video artists Boaz Arad, Nir Evron, Nira Pereg and Elham Rokni.
The full schedule of Under the Mountain events is available in English on the Jerusalem Season of Culture site.
