Living with Art: THE ILANA GOOR MUSEUM
"A voyage from past to present"
The museum is located in a structure which once served as a seaside inn
for pilgrims seeking shelter on their way to Jerusalem. You gaze forward,
into the spacious atrium as you enter the museum. Two hundred and fifty
years ago, this house served as a first stop for pilgrims who entered the
Holy Land.
Today, in the shining, restored citadel of ancient Jaffa in Israel, the
city's
first Jewish hostel has been transfigured by the vision of one artist into
a
sanctuary of a different kind. Ilana Goor, internationally renowned artist,
designer and sculptress, has created in this space an odyssey of the soaring
spirit. A museum.
The museum serves today as the artist' s home, and you are invited to
explore the chambers she has set before you. Thanks to reconstruction
efforts initiated by Ilana Goor and her husband Leonard Lowengrub, the
museum offers you arches, internal vaulting, rooms and ancient stones all
of which expose the Jewish hostel which was built at the beginning of the
18th century.
During the years, the owners of the building have, of course, changed
and
while the Turks ruled this country the basement served as a soap factory
where now you can still ascend into the large stove, which appears like
a
well, but actually served to melt and combine the natural oils and herb
from which the soap was made.
Gracing the rooms unfolding before you, are Ilana Goor's life works:
sculptures, jewelry, furniture created from wood and glass, bronze and
iron; collection of etchings, paintings, castings and carvings she has
gathered from around the globe; and in the future, exhibitions by the
promising younger generation.
Although the objects on display were carefully chosen, the mantra of
"please touch" is floating in the air. Ilana Goor feels she found
a treasure
and wants to share it with everyone, each visitor can feel at home, spend
within these treasures a whole afternoon, relaxing and browsing through
art books in the "muse room"; having a chat with other visitors
in the guest
room or play with the Bassets on the porch.
The "muse room" also has a Raushenberg, a Kenneth Noland and a
Marcel Janko piece hanging on the wall in which the Museum is very
proud of.
Downstairs, a series of assemblages attract the eye. Threshers and plows
arranged together in new compositions of earth, and golden sheep. The art
critics all agree about the quality of this earth series of Goor's works
as
showing the warmth, depth and influence of myths on Ilana Goor's works.
Goor's special attraction to primitive and African art can be noticed in
this
series and in the vast collection of still smoke scented pumpkin and
monkey skull once used for pagan ceremonies and in a few very
expressive masks she collects.
Upstairs, a dining room that seems like some knights in shining armor have
just finished their delicious dinner there, a 200 year old German piano,
bronze birds resting on an Arab stone fountain, and Damascus closets full
of ethnic authentic sculptures, Art Deco candlestick holders and a blue
dragon.
Handles are handled here with great respect, collected from all over and
recreated unfolding a different story behind each of them.
Pause on the porch facing the sea, overlooking the four thousand year old
Jaffa port. Here, fascinated by the view of the deep blue swelling waves
you can enjoy a drink or snack offered in the museum cafe.
At the museum Shop on the lower level you will find a variety of jewelry,
cutlery, candlestick holders and furniture designed by Ilana Goor.
