Yaacov Heller Explained

Yaacov Heller
Birth Name:Jack E. Heller
Birth Place:Cleveland, Ohio
Birth Date:[1]
Nationality:Israeli-American
Occupation:Sculptor, jewelry designer
Known For:Sculptures of Biblical themes

Yaacov Heller (born 1941) is an Israeli-American sculptor and jewelry designer based in Boca Raton, Florida,[2] who is known for his sculptures of Biblical themes.[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] In 2020, he was the recipient of 22nd Annual Opal Awards by The Rotary Club of Boca Raton.[8] [9]

Early life and artistic career

Heller was born in 1941 in Cleveland, Ohio, as Jack E. Heller into a traditional Jewish family.[10] [11] [12] He studied at the Cleveland Museum of Art and has served in the US Navy.[13] [14] [15] In 1965, he moved to California, and began to develop a wide range of custom-made gold jewelry.[16]

Heller quickly became friends with some of Hollywood's royalty, creating custom art for them – including earrings for Shelley Winters, paintings and sculptures for Sammy Davis Jr., and a special pendant for the hit show, "The Courtship of Eddie's Father." This pendant was commissioned to Heller by the show's producer, James Komack. Heller created 150 fourteen-karat gold pendants, which represented the "clasped hands logo" of the show. They were given as holiday gifts and worn by a "whos who" on the MGM lot, including Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis Presley, and Bill Bixby amongst many others.[17]

In 1972 he became a resident of Jerusalem, Israel, and was a member of Kibbutz Urim.[18] [19]

Since the 1970s, Heller has been commissioned to create silver and bronze electroformed-cast representations of Biblical figures. These were given to world leaders including Gerald Ford, King Sobhuza II, Husni Mubarak, Anwar Sadat, and John Vorster.[20] [21] [22] [23]

According to The Boca Newspaper and the Sun Sentinel newspaper, Heller has created a wide range of Judaica statues and busts, and figural statuaries such as the Fiddler on the Roof, Count and Countess de Hoernle, and the Bust of Benjamin Ferencz.[24] [25]

In 2014, Heller was commissioned to create The Garden of Humanity, a memorial which recognizes the six major genocides of the 20th century.[26] [27] It was unveiled April 25, 2015.[28]

On September 7, 2020, the documentary Two Heads Are Better Than One: Making of the Ben Ferencz Bust,[29] starring Ferencz and sculptor Yaacov Heller, world premiered. It was produced by Eric Kline Productions and directed by Eric Kline.[30] [31]

On December 17, 2020, Benjamin Ferencz was decorated with the title of 'Distinguished Honorary Fellow of the ICC' and his bust, created by Heller, was unveiled to be housed permanently at the International Criminal Court in the Hague.[32]

Exhibitions

Notes and References

  1. Web site: King. Dale. 2016-07-01. Boca artist Yaacov Heller makes imprint on city. 2020-08-01. Boca Newspaper. en-US.
  2. News: Lieberman . Randall P. . Sculptor Yaacov Heller discusses new projects . 23 October 2020 . sun-sentinel.com.
  3. News: Davids triumph by YaacovHeller . 23 October 2020 . www.artnet.com.
  4. News: The Judgment of Solomon by YaacovHeller . 23 October 2020 . www.artnet.com.
  5. News: Possible Dinner to Include Major Art Show. 1. Jewish Press.
  6. News: David and Goliath by YaacovHeller . 23 October 2020 . www.artnet.com.
  7. December 1, 1981. Turning Biblical Heroes Into Metal Heroes. News View: The Israel Weekly News Magazine.
  8. Web site: Riddick. Bill. 22nd Annual Opal Awards. 2020-07-27. The Rotary Club of Boca Raton. en-US.
  9. News: Recognizing the Rotary Club of Boca Raton's Opal Award honorees Sue and Yaacov Heller . 23 October 2020 . www.congress.gov.
  10. Web site: Yaacov Heller Yaacov Heller 1941- artist The National Library of Israel . www.nli.org.il . The National Library of Israel . 23 October 2020 . en.
  11. News: August 25, 1981. The Gifts Prime Minister Begin will take with him to Egypt. Maariv.
  12. News: April 25, 1980. Hellers Works Can Be Found World Wide. Israelitisches Wochenblatt.
  13. News: A Walk to Remember • Boca Magazine . 23 October 2020 . Boca Magazine . 20 November 2014.
  14. News: May 7, 1976. Israeli Artist Sculpture Presented to Mr. Vorster. South African Jewish Times.
  15. News: December 16, 1978. Giant Killer in Jerusalem. The Cleveland Press.
  16. November 20, 2014. A Walk to Remember. Boca Magazine.
  17. Web site: From Jerusalem to South Florida Sculptor Yaacov Heller Brings Peace Through His Works . Krista . Martinelli . Around Wellington Magazine . 2020-07-27.
  18. Web site: Information Center for Israeli Art The Israel Museum, Jerusalem . 2023-05-16 . museum.imj.org.il.
  19. Web site: Yaacov Heller . 2023-05-16 . Foundation Fine Art . en-US.
  20. Web site: November 14, 2019. See Goliath Fall. The Texas District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
  21. Book: Israeli Gifts for the President and Mrs. Ford . 3 December 2020.
  22. News: September 9, 1981. Knesset speaker delivers gift fit for a king. Jerusalem Post.
  23. News: May 6, 1976. Statue big draw at show. The Star.
  24. Web site: Dale . King . Boca's icon of philanthropy Countess Henrietta de Hoernle, 103 . August 4, 2016 . 2020-07-27. Boca Newspaper. en-US.
  25. News: September 14, 2011. Countess' 99th birthday party set at Mizner Park. Sun Sentinel.
  26. Web site: Shatzman . Marci . Garden of Humanity gathering rallies community against hate . 2020-07-27 . Sun Sentinel.
  27. Web site: A Stroll In The Garden of Humanity. 2020-07-27. The Jerusalem Post.
  28. Web site: Shatzman. Marci. May 6, 2015. 'Never Again': Peace park dedicated in Boca. 2020-07-27. Sun Sentinel.
  29. Web site: Two Heads Are Better Than One: Making of the Ben Ferencz Bust. IMDB.
  30. Web site: 2021-03-09. Boca artist Yaacov Heller still creating masterworks at age 80. 2021-03-16. Boca Raton's Most Reliable News Source. en-US.
  31. Web site: September 7, 2020. Two Heads Are Better Than One World Premiere. YiddushFest.org.
  32. Web site: Benjamin B. Ferencz receives Distinguished Honorary Fellowship of the International Criminal Court. 2021-01-04. www.icc-cpi.int. en-GB.
  33. Web site: 2019 Exhibits. 2020-07-27. DePauw University. en.
  34. Web site: Israeli Gifts for the President and Mrs. Ford. Ford Library Museum.

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