The Sculpture Garden in Moshav Amirim – Upper Galilee – North

From the Israel Museum Collection – In the Natural Woodland of Amirim.

A 5-minute drive from Or Bereshit Cabins in Amirim in the North

The garden is located in the heart of the Amirim holiday village in the Upper Galilee in the North, with sculptures scattered and integrated into the natural woodland. The location of each sculpture was selected by a team that included architects, artists, and curators from the Israel Museum. The garden’s infrastructure was designed by architect Itamar Raioni.
Since the garden’s establishment, over the years, we have welcomed visitors in groups and as individuals. The garden also provides an additional dimension to the hospitality package for vacationers in the village of Amirim. The sculptures in the garden are all from the collection of the Israel Museum, which is currently one of the dozens of leading museums in the world, and the works are all by first-rate sculptors from around the globe, of international artistic caliber. Amirim is happy to be the host home for these sculptures, nurturing and preserving the garden as a treasure that blends into the natural treasures of the place.
The idea for establishing the sculpture garden in Amirim was born during preparations for Amirim’s 30th anniversary. Since there was no environmental sculpture site in the entire central Upper Galilee region where we are located, the Sculpture Site Committee decided to establish such a project in Amirim. To this day, it is the only place in the entire region offering environmental sculpture open to the public at any hour without an entrance fee.
Special thanks to artist Esther (Etty) Sharir from Amirim, the spirit behind the sculpture garden in Amirim, who initiated and has accompanied the project with devotion and love throughout the years.

1. The Artist: Hugo Robus, American, 1885-1964
Sculpture: The Annunciation
Location: The Sculpture Garden in Amirim in the North
USA, Bronze, 1928
American sculptor. He began his studies at the Cleveland School of Art and continued at the National Academy of Design in New York. He participated in important exhibitions and showed in prestigious museums, including the Brooklyn Museum of Art. He worked extensively in bronze.

2. The Artist: Chaim Gross, American, 1904-1991
Sculpture: Mother and Child
Location: The Sculpture Garden in Amirim in the North
USA, Bronze, 1956
American sculptor born in Austria who immigrated to the USA, where he studied at the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design. He served as president of the Sculptors Guild of America. His works are scattered in important exhibitions and museums worldwide. The sculpture “Mother and Child” stood for years in front of the maternity building at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem.

3. The Artist: Bernard (Tony) Rosenthal, American, 1914-2009
Sculpture: Urim and Thummim
Location: The Sculpture Garden in Amirim in the North
USA, Brass, 1960
International American sculptor whose sculptures are scattered around the world. He studied sculpture at the Art Institute of Chicago. Starting in the 1960s, he left figurative art in favor of abstract art. Most of his works in public spaces across America are in the monumental abstract sculpture style. He was engaged in sculpture for seven decades. The meaning of the name “Urim and Thummim” relates to the breastplate stones worn by the High Priest on his chest to receive counsel and answers.

4. The Artist: Bernhard Heiliger, German, 1915-1995
Sculpture: Vertical Motif
Location: The Sculpture Garden in Amirim in the North
Germany, Bronze, 1967
Highly regarded German sculptor; his works are displayed in many cities in Germany, primarily in Berlin. He received international recognition following the work in memory of political prisoners in 1953. He participated in important international exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale. He was a member of the Academy of Arts in Berlin. The sculpture “Vertical Motif” is part of a series of works from the artist’s geometric period. Some sculptures from the series are located in key positions in Germany, including the Reichstag, the German Parliament building in Berlin.

5. The Artist: Dina Recanati, Israeli, 1928
Sculpture: Woman
Location: The Sculpture Garden in Amirim in the North
USA, Bronze, 1963, Gift of the Artist 1966
The artist was born in Egypt. She married Raphael Recanati in Israel. She studied art history in England. Her works in Israel are displayed at the Israel Museum, the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Ben Gurion Airport, the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, and more. Her works are also shown in exhibitions and museums worldwide, including the Jewish Museum in New York.

6. The Artist: David Palombo, Israeli, 1920-1966
Sculpture: Sculpture
Location: The Sculpture Garden in Amirim in the North
Israel, Iron, 1966
The artist was born in Turkey and immigrated to Israel at age 3. He studied art at Bezalel and later taught there. He became famous mainly for his outdoor sculptures, the most famous of which are: the courtyard gates at the entrance to the Knesset (called the Palombo Gates), the gates to the Ohel Yizkor at Yad Vashem, and the Eternal Flame in memory of those fallen in Israel’s wars. A selection of his works can be found at the David Palombo House, located in his workshop on Mount Zion.

7. The Artist: John Wragg, English, 1937
Sculpture: Beacon
Location: The Sculpture Garden in Amirim in the North
England, Painted Steel, 1969
The artist was born in England and studied art there. He exhibited extensively in solo and group exhibitions across England, in Paris, throughout Europe, and in the United States. He participated in the Milan Biennale like the Sainsbury and was a member of the Royal Society of British Sculptors.

8. The Artist: Robert Adams, English, 1917-1984
Sculpture: Large Screen Form
Location: The Sculpture Garden in Amirim in the North
England, Painted Iron, 1962
The artist was born in England, studied art, and taught at the Central School of Art. He is considered one of the most famous abstract sculptors in Britain. His works are characterized by their large dimensions. His works are found in the most important museums in the world, and one of his works is placed at Heathrow Airport in London.

9. The Artist: Alberto Viani, Italian, 1906-1989
Sculpture: The Group
Location: The Sculpture Garden in Amirim in the North
Turin, Italy, Marble, 1949-1953
The artist worked mainly in Turin, Italy. He studied art at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Venice. His abstract style works are found in museums in Italy, at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and around the world. Founder and member of the Nuova Artistica artists’ association in Italy. He participated in the Venice Biennale and won the prize for young sculptors. He participated in important exhibitions, including the International Sculpture Exhibition in Pittsburgh, USA.

10. The Artist: Saul Baizerman, American, 1889-1957
Sculpture: Titan
Location: The Sculpture Garden in Amirim in the North
USA, Hammered Copper, 1950-1957
The artist was born in Russia where he began his art studies, and later moved to the United States. He became famous as an American sculptor who gained worldwide recognition mainly in the field of hammered copper sculpture. He settled in New York and later continued his art studies at the Beaux-Arts Institute. His works are found in exhibitions and museums across the USA and the world. The name of the sculpture Titan refers to the giant figures of the Titans from Greek mythology, who, according to it, were the rulers of the universe for generations.

11. The Artist: William Zorach, American, 1887-1966
Sculpture: Moses
Location: The Sculpture Garden in Amirim in the North
USA, Bronze, 1952
The artist was born in Lithuania, then part of the Russian Empire, and immigrated with his family to the USA. He studied art in New York. He moved to Paris where he met the artist Marguerite Thompson, whom he married upon his return to New York. He received recognition as one of the most important sculptors in America. His later works are in wood, stone, and bronze, with figures in a realistic style. The Moses sculpture is part of that style. His works can be found in famous museums like the Metropolitan Museum, in private collections, at universities, and more.

12. The Artist: Isaac Witkin, American, 1936-2006
Sculpture: Butterfly
Location: The Sculpture Garden in Amirim in the North
USA, Steel, 1973
The sculptor was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, but lived in America. He studied art in London. An international sculptor among the leaders of the new generation in the world of sculpture and New Art, he won first prize at the Paris Biennale in 1965. His works are known for their modern abstract style. He focused mainly on large metal works. He gained worldwide fame and received a Guggenheim Fellowship.

13. The Artist: André Volten, Dutch, 1925-2002
Sculpture: Structure
Location: The Sculpture Garden in Amirim in the North
Netherlands, Iron, 1963-1964
The artist is considered one of the greatest sculptors in the Netherlands. He is known mainly for his monumental stainless steel works. He spent a large part of his career producing public works commissioned by government bodies, architects, and urban planners. In his artistic concept, sculpture integrates into the public space, with mutual inspiration from architecture while preserving the environment. His works are found in leading collections and museums.

14. The Artist: Étienne Hajdú, Romanian, 1907-1996
Sculpture: Anita
Location: The Sculpture Garden in Amirim in the North
Romania, Bronze, 1964
The artist was born in Romania and studied art in Budapest and Paris. He focused mainly on abstract sculpture. He was featured in a group exhibition of 22 selected artists from Europe held in the USA. He also exhibited at the Hannover Museum in Germany, the National Museum of Modern Art in Paris, and other important museums around the world.

15. The Artist: Koren der Harootian, Armenian, 1909-1992
Sculpture: Rebellious Slave
Location: The Sculpture Garden in Amirim in the North
Armenia, Green Marble, 1947
The artist studied in Armenia and moved to the USA in 1921, where he studied art and began his sculpture work. In his works, he dealt with classical, religious, and philosophical themes. He created a bronze sculptural monument to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. He exhibited in some of the most important exhibitions and museums in the world, including the Metropolitan in the United States. Most of his works were executed in marble and bronze.

16. The Artist: Dina Recanati, Israeli, 1928
Sculpture: Crown
Location: The Sculpture Garden in Amirim in the North
USA, Bronze, 1969
The artist was born in Cairo, Egypt. She married Raphael Recanati in Israel. She studied art history in England. Her works in Israel are displayed at the Israel Museum, the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Ben Gurion Airport, the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, and more. Her works are also shown in exhibitions and museums worldwide, including the Jewish Museum in New York.

17. The Artist: Sorel Etrog, Romanian, 1933
Sculpture: Capriccio
Location: The Sculpture Garden in Amirim in the North
Romania, Bronze, 1961-1963
The sculptor was born in Romania and immigrated to Israel in 1950. His first exhibition was shown in Tel Aviv in 1958, following which he was invited to the Brooklyn Museum of Art in New York, followed by a solo exhibition at the Moos Gallery in Toronto, Canada. He received Canadian citizenship and was one of three artists who represented Canada at the Venice Biennale. His works are displayed in exhibitions and museums worldwide, including the Olympic Park in Seoul, Korea. The name of the sculpture Capriccio refers to a lively, free musical work with a virtuoso character.

18. The Artist: Moshe Oved, English, 1885-1958
Sculpture: Eagle
Location: The Sculpture Garden in Amirim in the North
Bronze
Polish-born Jew. In addition to being a sculptor, he was also known as a jewelry creator and Yiddish writer. He immigrated to England in 1903, where he developed his sculptural work. He worked extensively on Jewish motifs, which was expressed in the Jewish Ritual series of sculptures he created. The Eagle is part of his works in the figurative style.

19. The Artist: Fritz Wotruba, Austrian, 1907-1975
Sculpture: Falling Woman
Location: The Sculpture Garden in Amirim in the North
Austria, Limestone, 1944
The sculptor was born in Vienna, Austria. He is considered one of the most esteemed 20th-century artists in the field of sculpture in Austria. His works are partly in a figurative style, while the later ones combine abstract and geometric elements. His largest work was the design of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Vienna, though he passed away before its completion.

20. The Artist: Émile Gilioli, French, 1911-1977
Sculpture: I Will Build My House on a Rock
Location: The Sculpture Garden in Amirim in the North
France, Bronze, on a marble base
The artist was born in Paris to an Italian family. He is considered one of the most important and leading sculptors in the field of abstract sculpture in France in particular and Europe in general. His works are displayed in the most prestigious museums in the world, including the Rodin Museum in Paris, the Centre Pompidou (which houses the world’s largest and most important museum of modern art), the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and others. His works are characterized by his large-scale outdoor sculptures. In 2004, a museum with a library combined with a permanent exhibition was established in his memory in Saint-Martin-de-la-Lieue, France.

21. The Artist: Ettore Colla, Italian, 1899-1968
Sculpture: Moses
Location: The Sculpture Garden in Amirim in the North
Turin, Italy, Iron, 1957
The artist was born in Parma, Italy. He studied art in Naples and Rome, moved to Paris, and met important sculptors with whom he worked and exhibited, including the renowned sculptor Bourdelle. After returning to Rome, he focused on sculpture in an abstract geometric style. In his works, he used iron welding extensively, utilizing old machine parts. He gained international recognition, partly due to the 10-meter high work he presented at the Spoleto Festival. He exhibited at the Venice Biennale and the Guggenheim in New York. His works are displayed in the most important museums in the world.

We invite you to visit the sculpture garden in Amirim

Shalom and Debbie

Or Bereshit Cabins in Amirim