14 . 02 . 2013

HaifaUpper Space – Lower Space

A Multi-Disciplinary Art Event

Opening : February , 14.2013

The “Turkish Market” in Haifa is located in the lower section of town. This commercial and residential project, built in the 2o’s of the last century, was considered modern and innovative in its time. It was located next to the sea, between two Palestinian neighborhoods.(The name raises associations to a different more exotic location, but in fact there is no clear basis for this name that was given in the 50’s.) At a certain stage that connected to the British colonial decision to built port in 1933 in this site, the neighborhood lost its importance and became a negligible area of the city, until it was almost entirely abandoned. Today it is undergoing

extensive renewal, in order to revitalize it .

In The Twenties

The Beach

The area reflects the disconnection between the different sectors of the city, not only in its physical dimensions, but in all aspects of life-including economic, social-cultural, and religious. Despite the sharp contrasts, there is a clear attempt in Haifa to establish a complex of relationships between the different populations more balanced situation compared to other situation in Israel. Yet one can sense the fragility of this balance.

The art event in the “Turkish Market” (and in alternative spaces,) is an initiative that seeks to revitalize the area by means of cultural activity, to help foster active relations between ‘upper ‘ and “lower’ Haifa. It will include works from different disciplines-installations, performance (live actions) and video art. Twenty to thirty artists, from Israel and abroad, including projects of several visiting curators will be participating,. These site-specific works will be created in the area within a specified timeframe.

Wad

i Nisn

as

Wadi Saalib

L O C A T I O N

The artists will be invited to respond to the place, to its history, its development and its renovation. The works will respond to the conflict

represented by the area-as a modern planned neighborhood between two Palestinian neighborhoods, to the abandonment and disruption of all there neighborhoods, to the abandonment and disruption of all three neighborhoods, and the need for repair and rebalancing. The artists will address these tensions in a direct or a metaphoric, symbolic manner. They will respond to the complex historic and contemporary context, to the physical and architectural elements, in an attempt to point towards a desirable solution, and at the same time to point out the daily reality. The event has as its ambition to be a catalyst of change, to internalize processes and phenomena that can be given a voice through artistic activity.

The fish and sea-food restaurant, ‘Gacco’

Paris Squarespace for performance

The East side

The West side

The option for display in “Shop ”And alternative spaces.

The entrance to the “Turkish Market”

Option for outdoor projects and performance

Shay Tan Band studio and gallery

Space that will be renovate for the event ( two basement floors).

Yaacov Chefetz.hefetz@bezeqint net

+54 246 5791

The opening : 14 . 02 . 2013

Haifa Municipality , The Culture Department.

Curator and initiator ; Yaacov Chefetz