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Israel
Through Posters
The Traveling Exhibition
of Israeli Posters
Few countries of Israel's size can claim such a fine tradition of graphic
design, and nowhere does that tradition speak more boldly than in posters.
Since before the State was declared, posters have alerted, informed, and
encouraged her citizens.
Israeli graphic designers drew from the nation's rich past to address a
troubled and exciting present. They met the sword of war with the dove
of peace, the Soviet sickle with the Star of David. But designs used more
than just Jewish motifs. As the country itself developed, so did graphic
design, absorbing a wealth of styles and movements from both East and West.
Jewish refugees from Hitler brought the clean lines of the Bauhaus. The
heroic style of the Russian avant garde influenced posters for the Jewish
Brigade, the Civil Defense, and the Society of Jewish Prisoners. Later
posters like "Let My People Go" employed the language of the
bold Swiss school.
The '60s brought a spirit of freedom and experiment, backed by technological
advances with far-reaching consequences. As television entered more Israeli
homes, the saturation power of televised message led to a greater emphasis
on the poster as artform. The advent of the computer in the '80s gave graphic
artists a tool of great powerbut sealed, as well, the end of the era of
simple images, messages, and values.
These are more than just pictures. They are historical documents, and some,
such as the posters from the 1930s, are extremely rare. Their changing
vocabulary of image speaks volumes about the traumas and joys of Israel
and her citizens.
Joel Segel
Reprinted by permission
of Art New England magazine
The Collector
Gad Almaliah has collected Israeli posters since 1960. He was president
of Israel's Graphic Designers Association for twelve years, and has received
numerous awards for international design excellence. He has designed many
of Israel's postage stamps, including the 1994 stamp celebrating the 150th
anniversary of B'nai B'rith. Today Almaliah is president of the Design
Lab, a graphic design firm in Boston. He teaches poster design at the School
of Visual Arts in New York City and is a professor at the Fashion Institute
of Technology NYC.
Almaliah offers his collection to galleries free of charge. The collection
numbers 112 posters spanning 1932 to 1991.
For information Call Gad Almliah at 781.326.4777 |
Click
the pictures to enlarge
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