Yaacov Heller
| Yaacov Heller | |
|---|---|
 Yaacov Heller with Adam.jpg Yaacov Heller with his Adam (and Eve) sculpture | |
| Born | Jack E. Heller 1941 (age 82–83)[1] Cleveland, Ohio |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Israeli-American |
| 💼 Occupation | Sculptor, jewelry designer |
| Known for | Sculptures of Biblical themes |
| 🌐 Website | yaacovheller |
Yaacov Heller is an Israeli-American sculptor and jewelry designer based in Boca Raton, Florida.[2] Heller is better known for his sculptures of Biblical themes.[3][4][5][6] In 2020, he was the recipient of 22nd Annual Opal Awards by the The Rotary Club of Boca Raton.[7][8]
Early life and artistic career[edit]
Heller was born in 1941 in Cleveland, Ohio as Jack E. Heller into a traditional Jewish family.[9] Heller studied at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Heller has served in the US Navy.[10] In 1965, he moved to California, and began to develop a wide range of custom-made gold jewelry.[11]
Notably, Heller created one hundred and fifty 14 carat gold pendants which were presented as holiday gifts to the cast and crew along with notables on the MGM lot. Elvis Presley and Elizabeth Taylor were also recipients of the pendant.[12]
Since the 1970's, Heller has been commissioned to create silver and bronze electroformed-cast representations of Biblical figures. These were given to world leaders including Gerald Ford.[13][14][15]
According to The Boca Newspaper and the Sun Sentinel newspaper, Heller has created a wide range of Judaica statues and busts, figural statuary such as the Fiddler on the Roof, Count and Countess de Hoernle,[16][17]
In 2014, Heller was commissioned to create The Garden of Humanity, a memorial which recognizes the six major genocides of the 20th century.[18][19] It was unveiled April 25, 2015.[20]
On September 7, 2020, the documentary Two Heads Are Better Than One: Making of the Ben Ferencz Bust,[21] starring Ferencz and sculptor Yaacov Heller, world premiered. It was produced by Eric Kline Productions and directed by Eric Kline.[22]
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.[23]
Exhibitions[edit]
- A collection of Heller’s Biblical tableaus was displayed at the Peeler Art Center of DePauw University from April to May, 2015,[24]
- The original David and Goliath presented to Gerald Ford is now in the Gerald Ford Library Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan.[14]
Selected artworks[edit]
- Clasped Hands, (1966)
- David and Goliath, (1974)
- The Sacrifice of Isaac, (1972)
- The Death of Samson, (1975)[25]
- Elijah Rising to Heaven, (1976)[26]
- Fiddler on the Roof, (1989)[27]
- Flossy’s Fountain, (2003)[28]
- Count Adolph and Countess Henrietta de Hoernle, bronze, (2011)[29]
- Menorah, bronze, 15-feet high (2014), Congregation B’Nai Torah, South Boca Raton[30][31]
- The Garden of Humanity, (2015)[32]
- Bust of Benjamin Ferencz, (2019)[33]
References[edit]
- ↑ King, Dale (2016-07-01). "Boca artist Yaacov Heller makes imprint on city". Boca Newspaper. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
- ↑ Lieberman, Randall P. "Sculptor Yaacov Heller discusses new projects". sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ↑ "Davids triumph by YaacovHeller". www.artnet.com. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ↑ "The Judgment of Solomon by YaacovHeller". www.artnet.com. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ↑ "Possible Dinner to Include Major Art Show". Jewish Press. p. 1. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "David and Goliath by YaacovHeller". www.artnet.com. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ↑ Riddick, Bill. "22nd Annual Opal Awards". The Rotary Club of Boca Raton. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
- ↑ "RECOGNIZING THE ROTARY CLUB OF BOCA RATON'S OPAL AWARD HONOREES SUE AND YAACOV HELLER". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ↑ "Yaacov Heller | Yaacov Heller 1941- artist | The National Library of Israel". www.nli.org.il. The National Library of Israel. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ↑ "A Walk to Remember • Boca Magazine". Boca Magazine. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ↑ "A Walk to Remember". Boca Magazine. November 20, 2014.
- ↑ Martinelli, Krista. "From Jerusalem to South Florida Sculptor Yaacov Heller Brings Peace Through His Works". Around Wellington Magazine. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
- ↑ "See Goliath Fall". The Texas District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. November 14, 2019. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Israeli Gifts for the President and Mrs. Ford" (PDF). Ford Library Museum. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Isreali Gifts for the President and Mrs. Ford (PDF). Retrieved 3 December 2020. Search this book on
- ↑ King, Dale (August 4, 2016). "Boca's icon of philanthropy Countess Henrietta de Hoernle, 103". Boca Newspaper. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
- ↑ "Countess' 99th birthday party set at Mizner Park". Sun Sentinel. September 14, 2011. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Shatzman, Marci. "Garden of Humanity gathering rallies community against hate". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
- ↑ "A Stroll In The Garden of Humanity". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
- ↑ Shatzman, Marci (May 6, 2015). "'Never Again': Peace park dedicated in Boca". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2020-07-27. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Two Heads Are Better Than One: Making of the Ben Ferencz Bust". IMDB. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Two Heads Are Better Than One World Premiere". YiddushFest.org. September 7, 2020. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ https://www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/item.aspx?name=pr1555
- ↑ "2019 Exhibits". DePauw University. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
- ↑ "Heller Yaacov | Samson's Death | MutualArt". www.mutualart.com. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ↑ "Elijah Rising to Heaven - Aug 06, 2017 | J. Sugarman Auction Corp. in FL". LiveAuctioneers. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ↑ Fiddler on the Roof in Douglas Gardens. "From Jerusalem to South Florida Sculptor Yaacov Heller Brings Peace Through His Works". Around Wellington Magazine. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Flossy's Fountain, Mizner Park, Boca Raton, Florida - Fountains on Waymarking.com". www.waymarking.com. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
- ↑ "Count Adolph and Countess Henrietta de Hoernle - Boca Raton, FL - Statues of Historic Figures on Waymarking.com". www.waymarking.com. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ↑ "B'nai Torah Menorah". Yaacov Heller. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Synagogue to dedicate Yaacov Heller sculpture". Sun Sentinel. April 4, 2014. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Garden of Humanity Gathering Rallies Community Against Hate". Sun Sentinel. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Benjamin Ferencz Bust". Yaacov Heller. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
