Arts & Entertainment

Metal Master

Israeli artist transforms hot iron into sculptural renditions of everyday life.

The emerging artist's early studies in jewelry design
were at the Jerusalem Technological Training Center. She
followed up while living for three years in Washington,
D.C., where her husband, Odet Ben-Ami, was assigned as
an Israeli journalist.
"I took courses at the Corcoran School of Art, and it all
just trapped me says the sculptor, whose special interests
include visiting museums, reading and swimming. "When
I went back to Israel, I did jewelry and sculpting.
"The techniques of working with iron came from a
silversmith, and I learned them well. Then, I learned from
welders, developed my own techniques and insisted on
doing things myself."
Although the process of working with iron is very
demanding physically, Ben-Ami does not mind because
she finds so much pleasure in what she is doing.
"I used to say that I was fighting the material, but now
we're cooperating;' says the sculptor, who also studied at
Tel Aviv University. "When you don't have men's power,
you have women's intuition. Also, when you don't have the
power, you have the willpower."
Ben-Ami, who has three adult children and one grand-
daughter, likes to tell the story about celebrating a birth-
day that was supposed to bring a gift of jewelry from her
husband. When she learned the price of the accessory, she
Orna Ben-Ami with her sculpture Open House, 1998, welded iron
decided to order a crane for her studio instead.
"My mother always asked why her delicate child was
welding:' the artist recalls. "One day, knowing that Jews in
Suzanne Chessler
near her home in Israel. "I do everything myself. I
Europe were given last names like their occupations, I
Special to the Jewish News
work straight with the iron, welding it and polish-
learned my mother's maiden name translated to the
ing it."
word 'steely
he works of an Israeli sculptor will make up the
The show was organized by International
"I think one of my grandparents must have
first exhibit honoring an international artist as
Arts & Artists in Washington, D.C. The non-
been a welder working with steel, and I told my
hosted by the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture
profit service organization works to increase
mother the genes were from her side of the
Museum at Saginaw Valley State University.
cross-cultural understanding and exposure to
family."
"The Softness of Iron: Welded Sculpture by Orna Ben-
the arts.
Ben-Ami looked forward to being in
Ami" will be on display through Sept. 19 and will show-
"The organization chooses one artist a
Michigan for the opening of the exhibit on
case 29 pieces that seem formed of materials very differ-
year from the whole world and shows their
June 12, when she was scheduled to give
ent from the strong iron from which they were made.
works across the United States and Canada;'
a lecture and attend a reception. The
Roots, for instance, takes the shape of a suitcase with
explains Ben-Ami, helped with some
artist was eager to learn more about
some plant stalks meant to symbolically tell the story of
administrative tasks by the staff of the Israel
Marshall Fredericks and his projects,
Israel, the Jewish people and the artist's own childhood. It Ministery of Foreign Affairs.
particularly the ones placed throughout
represents individuals moving from one place to another
"I sent material to the organization, and
Michigan.
Muslin, 200 2, welded iron
to establish a home.
they brought me up to the committee and
"I like getting the femininity, soft-
Open House appears as a blanket covering a person
chose my art. I had to move the sculptures to
ness and feelings from the special
on a bench. Created for an exhibition with the theme of
the United States, and they're taking care of everything:"
material that attracts me Ben-Ami says. "In Israel, it's
"open house the artist wanted to make a statement about
Ben-Ami, whose work has been shown through-
sometimes difficult to concentrate on art. We live in an area
homelessness. If there were a house open to this person,
out Israel, also has been part of exhibits in Paris and
where there is much to worry about because of the tension
he would not have to live out in the open.
Rome. She represented Israel in the United Nations'
in the north and south.
While Point has the form of a bended ballet slipper
Contemporary International Art Exhibition held in
"I always say to my husband that I want to be more
meant to convey the power of femininity and art, The
Geneva, Switzerland.
busy than he is. I want the art to fill our lives more than
Tearing looks like a cut shirt that is part of the Jewish tra-
Ben-Ami started sculpting jewelry as a hobby when
hard, problematic news!"
dition of mourning.
she was 40, while pursuing
The sculptor, through so many projects, is known for
a career as a reporter and
designing highly symbolic pieces that often convey con-
news editor in Israeli radio.
"The Softness of Iron: Welded Sculpture by Orna Ben-Ami" will be on display
trasts: war and peace, memory and forgetting, the private
She continued with her
through Sept.19 at the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum at Saginaw
and the collective.
hobby after a career change
Valley State University, 7400 Bay Road, University Center, in Saginaw.
"This is my seventh museum exhibition in the United
that placed her in the hotel
Hours are noon-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. Free admission; $2-$3 for tours.
States," says the 56-year-old Ben-Ami, who has a studio
business.
(989) 964-7125; www.sysu.edu .

T

June 18 • 2009

B9