The New Gallery - Thom Andriola - Houston, Texas Contemporary Fine Art

	Yigal Ozeri: The Montfort July 8 – August 31, 2006 Artist Reception July 8, 6:00-8:00 pm The Montfort fortress sits majestically, 180 meters above the Kziv River in the Western Galilee. The ruins, which overlook the route connecting Israel to Syria and Lebanon, are one of the most spectacular Crusader castles in Israel. The Teutonic Knights made this site into a major stronghold in the 13th century, though initially it was a rural feudal agricultural farm, established by the Templars. The Montfort, which is accessible only by foot, enjoys the benefit of a three-sided natural defense barrier, making its capture extremely difficult. After numerous attempts to conquer the fortress, the Mamluk Sultan Baybars breached the outer defense and gained access to the inner courtyard, via a tunnel. He destroyed a good portion of the fortress to ensure that the Crusaders would not return. Currently remaining are the ruins of watchtowers, a main hall, and a church. Yigal Ozeri first encountered The Montfort during one of his trips to the etching workshops at Kibbutz Cabri. After his initial visit to the fortress, Ozeri created a group of etchings of the ruins and surrounding scenery that served as the launching point for this new body of work. The paintings on paper and canvas that compromise The Montfort series depict an expansive vista of lavish foliage, rocky surfaces and hazy, sun-bleached skies. The artist’s eye moves across the landscape, zooming in and out to render the dramatic scenery with amazing detail. In some of the works, Ozeri’s gaze shifts back to frame the majestic castle within layers of blue and green. Other paintings present us with a close-up, bird’s eye view of the trees that blanket the mountain top. There is an inner serene and meditative quality to The Montfort series, which radically transforms, upon closer inspection, into a churning and teeming intensity. Thom Andriola Director New Gallery

Yigal Ozeri: The Montfort
July 8 – August 31, 2006
Artist Reception July 8, 6:00-8:00 pm

The Montfort fortress sits majestically, 180 meters above the Kziv River in the Western Galilee. The ruins, which overlook the route connecting Israel to Syria and Lebanon, are one of the most spectacular Crusader castles in Israel. The Teutonic Knights made this site into a major stronghold in the 13th century, though initially it was a rural feudal agricultural farm, established by the Templars. The Montfort, which is accessible only by foot, enjoys the benefit of a three-sided natural defense barrier, making its capture extremely difficult. After numerous attempts to conquer the fortress, the Mamluk Sultan Baybars breached the outer defense and gained access to the inner courtyard, via a tunnel. He destroyed a good portion of the fortress to ensure that the Crusaders would not return. Currently remaining are the ruins of watchtowers, a main hall, and a church.

Yigal Ozeri first encountered The Montfort during one of his trips to the etching workshops at Kibbutz Cabri. After his initial visit to the fortress, Ozeri created a group of etchings of the ruins and surrounding scenery that served as the launching point for this new body of work.

The paintings on paper and canvas that compromise The Montfort series depict an expansive vista of lavish foliage, rocky surfaces and hazy, sun-bleached skies. The artist’s eye moves across the landscape, zooming in and out to render the dramatic scenery with amazing detail. In some of the works, Ozeri’s gaze shifts back to frame the majestic castle within layers of blue and green. Other paintings present us with a close-up, bird’s eye view of the trees that blanket the mountain top. There is an inner serene and meditative quality to The Montfort series, which radically transforms, upon closer inspection, into a churning and teeming intensity.

Thom Andriola
Director
New Gallery