Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem – Names of Jerusalem

Sha’alu Shlom YerushalayimYa’akov Boussidan

As a homage to Jerusalem, the large-scale painting “Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem-Names of

Jerusalem” (13'1/2"x29'75'') has been commissioned from Israeli

Artist Ya'akov Boussidan by Ahavath Torah Congregation in Englewood, NJ .

Starting with the seventy known names of Jerusalem from traditional sources, Boussidan has revealed no less than 391 names given to the city by Jews, including contemporary poets and other enthusiasts and believers who have found their roots in Jerusalem.

An artistic and intellectual combination of calligraphy and painting, the artwork is inspired by Boussidan's latest livre d'artiste, "Jerusalem – Names in

Praise", on which he has worked for eight years .

The names of Jerusalem in "Sha'alu Shlom Yerushalayim” are

floating in space, endlessly expanding their circles into

new galaxies .

The colors are inspired by the Judean mountains in their changing lights, as reflected in Boussidan's studio in Tsur

Hadassah.

The donors, Linda and Ilan Kaufthal, have been closely involved in the work process on the painting through

regular contact with the artist and several studio visits .

Ya’akov Boussidan, a multi-

faceted artist, is prominent in the field

of artistic printing and calligraphy. Among

the books for which he is best known, the

Passover Haggadah, Song of Songs and

Jerusalem - Names in Praise have won prizes

worldwide, including the Israel

Museum Jesselson Prize, and

the Monte-Carlo Biennale Honorary Prize

for Prints. His works can be found at the

Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the

Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the Israel

Museum, Jerusalem, as well as in other

museums and private collections.

A special committee has been nominated by the synagogue to deal with the complex technical aspects of the artwork.

Shari Gluckstadt

in the artists’ studio

Debra Mo’ed George Feintuch

Paul Wimpfheimer

Lee Lasher in the artists’

studio

Ilan Kaufthal, Shari

Gluckstadt and Drew Parker

The Installation

The more rooted and complex the art is - the more universal its content (Y.B)

"... Boussidan devotes special attention to the Hebrew letter, which forms an organic part of his work. His original work is always executed with perfection; careful attention is given to every element including the quality of paper and printing.” - Jurors of the Jesselson Award

"… Boussidan knows well the world of aesthetics and magic …“ Yigal Zalmona, Chief Curator at-Large, the Israel Museum, Jerusalem

"..With him, the ancient art of calligraphy – in his case of Hebrew lettering – has acquired a new aesthetic vigour" Arturo Schwarz, Art Historian, from Ya’akov Boussidan: Modernity of the Classic, 2011

©Ya'akov Boussidan 2012www.boussidan-y.comyboussidan@gmail.com