Impressions of Israel by Peter Wortel
About this activity.
With his exhibition Impressions of Israel, artist Peter Wortel gives an artistic impression of the land of Israel and Jewish culture in word and image. What is special is that the impressions were created during a journey through Israel by Peter Wortel with his blind son Jaap. Part of the exhibition consists of thirty black and white woodcuts. It shows impressions of situations and places in Israel that vary from ultra-Orthodox Judaism to breathtaking landscapes. Visitors can read poems next to the woodcuts in which Peter Wortel describes the impressions in words.
In addition to the woodcuts and poems, the exhibition also includes wall reliefs that depict aspects of Jewish culture. These three-dimensional artworks are provided with explanations by the artist. Synagogue Groningen works together with Peter and Jaap Wortel to improve the accessibility of the presentation for visitors with a visual impairment. For example, Peter Wortel makes letters that visitors can feel. The tactile letters form the word shalom in both Hebrew and Dutch. Son Jaap Wortel tells in a recorded interview in the exhibition about his memories of the origin of the impressions in Israel. This project is being further developed, so that future exhibitions in Synagogue Groningen will also be more accessible for blind and partially sighted visitors.
Peter Wortel (Amsterdam, 1954) studied at the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam and at the Minerva Academy in Groningen. In addition to his studies, he worked as a carpenter and furniture maker. This artisanal approach can still be found in his artistic work. Themes in his work are Judaism, architecture, cities and industry. He mainly works with sculptures and relief printing. Peter Wortel has exhibited in Europe, the US, China, Australia and Russia. His works have been purchased by hospitals, banks, institutions and private collectors. Wortel lives and works alternately in the Netherlands (Sauwerd) and France.
In 2019, Peter Wortel's impressions were bundled in the multilingual book 'Dertig Impressies'. This is available in the shuffleboard shop of Synagoge Groningen.
Synagoge Groningen.
Maak kennis met de joodse cultuur en de geschiedenis van de joodse gemeenschap in Groningen! In onze prachtige in 1906 gebouwde synagoge kun je terecht voor rondleidingen, exposities en activiteiten. De permanente expositie vertelt op interactieve wijze over de eeuwenoude joodse tradities, maar ook over de betekenis daarvan in het heden. Scholen kunnen bij ons terecht voor verschillende educatieprogramma's.
Location.
Synagoge Groningen
Folkingestraat 60
9711 JZ Groningen
tel 050-3123151
www.synagogegroningen.nl/