The Virtuosia Festival features a host of street arts, from fire throwing to circus acts to music and theater.
By BARRY DAVIS
While some may view certain areas of cultural endeavor as the exclusive domain of the intellectual elite or the well-heeled, the forthcoming International Virtuosia Festival is of a definitively street-level ilk.
The annual two-day event, which will take place for the third year running at Liberty Bell Park on October 15 and 16 (4 p.m.-10 p.m.), offers an attractive mix of street arts acts, including the polished professional variety - both from Israel and abroad - and impromptu spots by locals.
The festival was established in 2006 to support the School of Street Arts established by the Jerusalem Municipality in French Hill. "The idea was for the festival to attract children from fourth-grade-age up to teenagers to the school, and to encourage them to take up juggling and other kinds of street arts," explains festival director and municipal Street Arts Department head Ofer Meliah. "I think it's healthy both for the body and the soul."
According to Meliah the idea fell on fertile ground, right across the board. "There are quite a few people living in Jerusalem who have taken up all kinds of street art. And quite a few Anglos have shown an interest, religious and secular. I don't why but it's a pleasing phenomenon. We also get people from all walks of life, hi-tech professionals, you name it. It seems all kinds of people find street arts fun."
Last year - "for budgetary reasons," says Meliah - the festival only featured local artists, but this time around, as with the inaugural festival, the Virtuosia program features a number of acts from abroad.
"We have Bernard Hazzan from France coming," says Meliah. "He's a truly amazing artist. And there's the Caucasian Circus group who do tightrope walking and all kinds of other spectacular things. We've also got fire artists who do incredible things with light and shadow, and there will be music and street theater too."
One slot that should be of particular interest is the actor-comedian husband and wife team of British-born Julian and Rolanda Chagrin.
Virtuosia artistic director Yedidya Amram says there is an ulterior motive behind the festival concept. "The idea was to bring unconventional artistic activities to Jerusalem. People in Tel Aviv and elsewhere around the country may look upon Jerusalem as a very conventional place but that is simply not true. Tel Aviv, for example, has nothing like the Hutzot Hayotzer annual arts and crafts fair."
As the brains behind an impressive portfolio of "alternative" events, including the annual Adloyada Purim parade, Amram has the street cred to support his postulation.
"We always look to break new ground with the Virtuosia Festival," says Amram. "The pyromania act at this year's festival, for example, features two artists who use a lot of hi-tech gizmos to enhance their fire stunts. And there's Batsheva dancer Innes Lorca, who comes from a more conventional artistic background, who will perform with a street actor called Shahar Kamai, and an intriguing teaming up of a clown called Jerome with a crazy juggler. It's these unexpected synergies that, I believe, offer added value and keep the audiences entertained and guessing."
Given the peripatetic history of the Jewish people, one wonders if we are naturals for this kind of entertainment. "The Jews actually invented the carnival," says Amram. "The word tahalucha [parade] appears in the Book of Isaiah. I think the Brazilians, with their Rio carnival, have got a lot to thank us for.
"There were lots of artists involved in the ohel moed [Tabernacle], too," he adds. "I think, as a people, we have the pedigree to be among the world's best street artists."
Amram says we have plenty to be proud of when it comes to contemporary street arts, too. "You can see lots of Israeli street artists around Europe, especially in Spain. And they are very good. Some of them come back here and pass on their experience to other Israeli street artists. And, don't forget, the street arts cover a wide range of areas - like the plastic arts, theater, circus, dance and music. With our multi-ethnic roots here that gives us another advantage."
Over 70 artists will demonstrate their skills at Virtuosia. "Artists will pop up all over the park at different times - although we will orchestrate their appearances," Amram explains. "We will direct audiences accordingly. Sometimes the audience enjoys a show so much that the people just stay where they are even though the show has ended. So we occasionally have to move them along to the next act."
With as many as 30 artists performing simultaneously at various spots around Liberty Bell Park, the public will have plenty to choose from over the two days. "There will be lots of interaction between the artists and the public," Amram adds. "The essence of street arts is based on interaction and dialogue between performers and audiences, and on an intimate ambiance."
Meliah says he is keen to emphasize the festival's accessibility and user-friendly ethos. "Last year we had around 4,700 people at the festival from all over the country, and we are expecting a lot more this year," he says. "There will be an open stage where anyone can just walk in and do their piece. And we also wanted to make sure the festival is affordable to everyone."
The latter appears to have been adequately addressed. Admission is NIS 20, and only NIS 10 for Jerusalem resident card holders. Residents' cards can be taken out on the spot, at a cost of NIS 18, and offer reductions on various cultural events and utilities around the city.
For more information, visit: www.jerusalem.muni.il
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