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Lot Essay
This work is registered in the archives of the Calder Foundation, New York, under application number A26556.
Theodor (Teddy) Kollek was born in 1911 in a small town near Budapest, Hungary, where his family led a comfortable life. He led a colorful career in the pre state years aiming to help the establish the infrastructure for Israel, and became the second in command in the Israeli embassy in Washington.
Upon Mr. Kollek's return to Israel he became an aid to David Ben Gurion, first prime minister of Israel. Among various project he was instrumental in setting up tourism to Israel, the radio broadcasting agency, and established almost single-handedly the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. From 1965-1996, he was president of the museum, and officially designated as its founder in 2000. With Ben Gurion's retirement in 1965, after a brief stint in commerce, Mr. Kollek was persuaded to run for the position of Mayor of Jerusalem, when he was first elected in December 1965. He was to remain its mayor for 28 years. In the post Six Day War period, Mr. Kollek made heroic efforts to rebuild the city.
Further than devotion to the Israel Museum, he was a patron of culture and set up theatres, museums, community centers, libraries, public sculpture and parks. Another project was city gardening. Perhaps the greatest contribution Mr. Kollek made to Jerusalem was the spirit of tolerance. His career as mayor of Jerusalem ended in 1993. Teddy Kollek passed away in 2007.
During Mr. Kollek's tenure, many artists and writers were drawn to the city, among them was Alexander Calder who visited and stayed at Mishkanot Shaananim, an artist's residence. Homage to Jerusalem was the last great outdoor sculpture created by Alexander Calder. His outdoor sculptures, which were created on a grand scale from bolted sheet steel grace public plazas in cities throughout the world. Homage to Jerusalem is a red-painted, multi-arched sculpture that frames the Judean Hills. He conceived the work on his visit to Jerusalem in 1975 and, after returning to his studio in France, chose the location and angle at which he wanted the sculpture erected. The sculpture has high arches through which one views the panorama of the city. The sculpture was completed after the artist's death in 1976.
Teddy Kollek, Mayor of Jerusalem, with Marc Chagall at the Israel Museum, 1965. David Rubinger \ Yedioth Ahronoth
Alexander Calder, Jerusalem Stabile, 1976. Calder Foundation, New York / Art Resource, NY
Theodor (Teddy) Kollek was born in 1911 in a small town near Budapest, Hungary, where his family led a comfortable life. He led a colorful career in the pre state years aiming to help the establish the infrastructure for Israel, and became the second in command in the Israeli embassy in Washington.
Upon Mr. Kollek's return to Israel he became an aid to David Ben Gurion, first prime minister of Israel. Among various project he was instrumental in setting up tourism to Israel, the radio broadcasting agency, and established almost single-handedly the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. From 1965-1996, he was president of the museum, and officially designated as its founder in 2000. With Ben Gurion's retirement in 1965, after a brief stint in commerce, Mr. Kollek was persuaded to run for the position of Mayor of Jerusalem, when he was first elected in December 1965. He was to remain its mayor for 28 years. In the post Six Day War period, Mr. Kollek made heroic efforts to rebuild the city.
Further than devotion to the Israel Museum, he was a patron of culture and set up theatres, museums, community centers, libraries, public sculpture and parks. Another project was city gardening. Perhaps the greatest contribution Mr. Kollek made to Jerusalem was the spirit of tolerance. His career as mayor of Jerusalem ended in 1993. Teddy Kollek passed away in 2007.
During Mr. Kollek's tenure, many artists and writers were drawn to the city, among them was Alexander Calder who visited and stayed at Mishkanot Shaananim, an artist's residence. Homage to Jerusalem was the last great outdoor sculpture created by Alexander Calder. His outdoor sculptures, which were created on a grand scale from bolted sheet steel grace public plazas in cities throughout the world. Homage to Jerusalem is a red-painted, multi-arched sculpture that frames the Judean Hills. He conceived the work on his visit to Jerusalem in 1975 and, after returning to his studio in France, chose the location and angle at which he wanted the sculpture erected. The sculpture has high arches through which one views the panorama of the city. The sculpture was completed after the artist's death in 1976.
Teddy Kollek, Mayor of Jerusalem, with Marc Chagall at the Israel Museum, 1965. David Rubinger \ Yedioth Ahronoth
Alexander Calder, Jerusalem Stabile, 1976. Calder Foundation, New York / Art Resource, NY