Zahva Ziv Amzlag • Chairman of the Association of Painters and Sculptors in Haifa

A visit to the "Wildflower" home with the free spirit

Right at the door of Zehava Ziv Amzalg's house you can experience the feeling of a large and charming photo gallery. At the threshold of a season, the following are accepted in a rich variety of oil paintings, acrylic paintings, artistic paintings and many handmade works. Zehava also invites you to her studio located in the courtyard of the house, where she creates and where you can also hold fascinating workshops, or try out art studies and painting classes.

In addition to all this, today Zehava is the chairman of the Association of Painters and Sculptors Haifa and the North, a voluntary position to which she is committed with all her might and with all her soul.

Here is the section that brings you fascinating Haifa characters in their residence, where the introduction is through the stories, the charges and the unique point of view by hosting in their residence. These are the people who make up the human mosaic of our city, those who live here, as the name of the section - "I also live here".

The Artisan House Association

The House of Artists Association (now known as Chagall), is a non-profit association, which was established in 1954 at the initiative of the Association of Painters and Sculptors in Israel, Haifa and the North, and is located in the House of Artists at 24 Zionion Blvd. in Haifa and is located in a rather unique building.

This Artisan House building was designed by the architect David Whitman and has two floors and two exhibition halls. It has an entrance hall and a hall on the first floor, a staircase leading to a hall on the second floor as well as double toilets, a kitchen and a warehouse for storing the many works. Also, the building is surrounded by a sculpture garden.

Since the founding of the "Hebrew Artists' Association" in October 1920, the association has set its goal "to develop and spread among the people the arts, the craft of art and the taste and beauty in the Hebrew spirit". In Haifa, in 1957 in the presence of the artist Marc Chagall himself, his name was awarded to this art house.

So who is Zhava Ziv Amzlag?

Zehava Ziv Amzlag, who is currently the chairman of the Association of Painters and Sculptors Haifa and the North, was born in Haifa in 1963. When she was about 3 years old, her parents bought a house in the "Workers' Housing" neighborhood in Kiryat Haim and since then her life has been integrated into this area.

Her parents immigrated from Morocco and each of them had life stories related to Zionism and Judaism. Zehava describes a childhood in which the father, a religious Zionist, worked for 40 years "from the beginning of the heat until the end of the soul", in the military industry. Therefore, the presence of the mother, a secular housewife, was the dominant figure in their residence. Zehava has 3 sisters and one brother and she is the youngest in the group.

The mother ruled this family unit with a firm hand

The fresh food that was cooked every day was served to the children and eaten at the appropriate place and time, all this in the cleanest manner in which the clothes must not be soiled, which must be without any stain or blemish. Just as assignments should not be postponed until tomorrow, any work should be finished immediately after it is given.  

Looking back, Zehava actually sees the harsh form of education in a positive light and even notes that it formed a good foundation for the rest of her life.

The connection between gold and art

Her affinity for art began at preschool age, when she built castles in the sandbox and was not fit to enter the kindergarten class, but continued to create shapes, using leaves and branches she found in the yard. The rebelliousness of the artist's soul that was in the little girl led to the reaction of the kindergarteners, which corresponded to that period.

Zahva remembers that for such acts she was isolated in a side room and for a long time played there with a bulb-shaped toy similar to a red telephone, talking and imagining many strange long conversations. Rather positively, she remembers the patting of her head by the assistant kindergarten teacher who supported her very much, this was none other than the later known as the late international reporter Helena Amram.

The girl is golden

During her studies at the "Gordon" elementary school in Kiryat Haim, she was a good student and a talented athlete. But most of all she excelled as a person in charge of the "Decoration Committee" of the Sifrit House.

She always had permission to enter the teachers' room, where she spread the many and wide plaques on the tables of the teachers' room for the purpose of decorating the school corridors and other decorating tasks.

Tested, accepted but..

Zehava began her school years at the high school in Kiryat Haim. At the end of the 10th grade, the rebellion of puberty found Zehava, a wild flower with an artistic and free spirit, traveling from Kiryat Haim to Haifa to "Vicho High School" (then located in the Rothschild/Bnei Zion Hospital area) to be tested and enrolled in this high school, and this without her knowledge her parents.

Tested, accepted but.. not registered. Because the mother did not agree that her young daughter would travel on two buses to the unknown side of the big city. Or then - the rebellion of youth broke out fearlessly. With the courage and heroism typical of this age, the girl decided that "if she doesn't study at the art school, then she won't study at all." It so happened that the 11th grader found herself, over the course of several years, working at "Elisha" hospital in the operating rooms in the sterilization department.

Zahava's son whom she raised on her own

"In one of the evenings" she was invited by her best friend to travel to Ayelet. The two spent some time pleasantly in the southern city, but when the time came to return, Zehava decided to stay in Eilat. There, Elam met Hamudot, a young man who owned a ship for tourist trips, and a huge love blossomed between them. The fate of this "Heart and Fire" was to be extinguished, but the sweet fruit is her son Omri (born in '85) whom she raised on her own in Kiryat Haim.

"A beautiful and noble wild mare"

At the same time as raising a small child and working split in several places: Zhava had time to learn the goldsmith's trade in "Amal" Kiryat Ata. In addition, she studied at the "Western Galilee College" and holds the title of "Senior Certified Art Instructor" on behalf of the Ministry of Education.

Furthermore, the one who dropped out of school when she was young, completed the hours of "plowing the study bench" during 3 full years at the "Galile College" studying photography, sculpture and drawing. As well as: certificate studies in art therapy and examination of children's paintings on behalf of the Ministry of Education. Indeed, in retrospect it turns out that she has accumulated many years of study which implies that she can be defined in a figurative language as "a beautiful and noble wild mare".

Zehava's lover - Mordechai (Mordi)

In 89, Zehava met Mordi (Mordechai), they married and had a son, Amit (born in 94). Together they spoil five grandchildren (Omari's three children and Yipit, and two daughters Amit and Lina).

Zahava has no free time because every possible hour during the 25 hours of the day (yes, she does have an extra hour) is dedicated to painting, sculpting, creating and art.

Association of Painters and Sculptors in Haifa and the North Branch

In 96, Zehava was accepted as a full member of the Association of Painters and Sculptors in the Haifa and North branch. At the same time, she never stopped working and teaching in different places. In addition to teaching at a school in Tiberias, she worked as a freelancer in therapeutic clubs of Wicho, in cooperation with the municipality of Haifa (3 clubs in Haifa and 5 in Kiryat Ata).

Over the course of 4 years, she supported girls in need at the club in Kiryat Haim on behalf of the Haifa municipality, this is at the same time as her work at the "Battle Foundation" which deals with involvement in education, while developing unique study programs.

Today, Zehava is active in the "Mendel Community Center" in Kiryat Yam, where she teaches youth in two drawing classes: beginners and advanced.

The home of Zehava and Mordi

9 years ago, Mordi and Zhava bought their current home. It was an old and neglected house, so it underwent a fundamental change and improvement. A significant part of the renovation work was done by Zehava's hands - with a little help from professionals. For example, the flooring was done by a skilled Chinese guy, the plumbing work was helped by a family member, etc. She herself dismantled all the windows, shutters and shutters, and painted the She arranged and built the walls of the house and the bricks of the portico by herself.

Homage to architect Antoni Gaudi

Furthermore, after returning from a trip to Barcelona where she was loaded with many architectural, sculptural and painting experiences, she built a bench in the courtyard of the house as a homage to the architect Antoni Gaudí. Also, the walls of the foyer, the courtyard and the outdoor studio were decorated with ceramic tiles in the Spanish modernista style.

Catalan modernism is also called modernista, and is a Catalan variation of the style of architecture and plastic art during the Ar Nebo period. The largest concentration of buildings in this style is found in the Ischampela area in Barcelona, ​​and is particularly characteristic of the works of Gaudi and Montaner (who was Gaudi's teacher and one of Barcelona's great architects).

Zehava's dream - Masada Street in Haifa

Despite this, Zahava has a dream to move and live in the city of Haifa itself, in the Masada Street area.

Amzlag says:

Haifa in my heart, with full confidence Haifa is the most picturesque city in the world. Everywhere you look in Haifa you can see a picture. There is nothing in this city that is not beautiful for painting, even a broken window is an excellent representation for drawing, therefore everywhere and in every neighborhood you see a frame of a picture and all that is left to do is look and paint.

In her dream to renovate an old house there... but Mordi feels most comfortable by the sea. Both love the ability to hear the sounds of the beach in the summer right at home, as well as the clicks of the candy games and the instructions of the lifeguard on the beach.

A combination of practical and emotional

Therefore, to every nook and cranny, gold is connected both from the practical side on the one hand and from the emotional side on the other. She especially likes the place where she often sits and this is the location of the "pink armchair", which was torn and of course reupholstered.

In the corner of the studio, which is inside the house, she often creates, especially in the winter season. But during the heat and summer season, she often works in the sculpture corner near the yard.

"Everything is temporary"

Zahava testifies to herself that she is not attached to objects since she believes that everything is temporary. Ladida everything can change like life itself, so can the objects.

That's why she likes to look at objects that show time. For example, a rusty iron lamp hangs from the ceiling of the interior studio.

Zhava becomes sad and says:

It is an object that lost time and came to the world anew.

This is exactly how Ladida is the old meat grinder that is on display as a reminder of times past.

In addition, she has in her possession a "treasure box" with unique copper carvings. This box, which is not related to any time: past, present or future, you can always put something in it: a special note, a drawing given by a student and souvenir items that are "really, really important"...

Zehava's Art Library - Helen Rucker

From the corner of the library, Zahava very quickly pulls out three art books that are very close to her heart. The first of them is a catalog of a dear friend and colleague: Helen Roker.

Helen is a sculptor, painter and engraver who began practicing art in the seventies, and since then has become one of the most prominent artists in Haifa. Her works have been shown both in solo exhibitions and in many group exhibitions in Israel and around the world.

"Stormy Days"/ Ruthie Segal

The story of her close friend Ruti Segal, "Stormy Days", is actually a fancy album of paintings and contains many color paintings. Ruthie was born in Kiryat Motzkin and has a bachelor's degree in art, as well as a curator at the kibbutzim seminary. Segal trained with international artists and is an entrepreneur and curator of unique exhibitions.

Yosef Zaritsky

...and the last, but most lovable, is the book of Yosef Zaritsky, who is, for her, the most important Israeli artist. Zaritsky was one of the greatest painters in Israel, and even one of the promoters of modern art in the country both during the Yishuv period and after the establishment of the state.

The painter Zaritsky was one of the founders of the "New Horizons" group, which wanted to encourage the influence of international art on the visual arts in Israel. Zaritsky's works have a unique local style in the genre of abstract art, which he sought to promote through that group. In 1959 Zaritsky won the Israel Prize for Painting.

From the future of gold

The desires of the future, according to Zehava Ziv Amzlag, are on two levels that are most personal to her. First of all is the health issue. Zehava wishes for a better political and personal future, with an emphasis on complete health, since, about five months ago, she underwent major head surgery and even had a "glorious tumor" removed from her head.

With the help of a balm full of a golden object to continue to promote culture and art in the city of Haifa. She says that in the past year there have been many tours of the Marc Chagall Artist House, the home of the Association of Painters and Sculptors Haifa and the North, from all sorts of places in Israel.

Furthermore, due to the times of the war, the crowd of residents who were evacuated from their homes to Haifa come to many exhibitions. She adds and says that this is a very high-quality audience with an impressive knowledge of both art in general and Israeli art in particular.

Zahva's vision - art for preschoolers

The vision is watched by Ziv Amzalag, exposure to art from an early age. According to her, already at a young age it is possible to connect to the creative imagination, to the desires of art builders and to the creation of a healthier "I" that integrates the whole variety of arts. When it depends on her, she recommends, for example, teaching painting from 2nd grade onwards at an academic and understandable level: landscape drawing, still life, etc.

Therapy through art

Zahva Ziv Amzlag is an "artisan catcher" and through the Artisan Association she provides creators with the ability to develop, create and grow. She is a follower of the subject of art therapy, when the treatment is through visual art and is one of the health professions and is dedicated to providing mental assistance using artistic creation and expression processes.

Therefore, she made sure to volunteer in organizations that needed it, such as: Anush, battered women, and more.

Promotion of artisan activities in Haifa

As the chairman of the Association of Painters and Sculptors Haifa and the North-Amazalg, I wish for a more respectable budget that will allow the renovation of the building and thus it will be possible to promote additional activities, as well as to advertise and support the promotion of the artists and arts in our city of Haifa.