In the news!

Here are two links to web sites that have already started spreading the word about the Gwozdziec synagogue:

scroll down after clicking on the link to the guardians best news pictures of February first.

 http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2013/feb/01/picture-desk-live-the-best-news-pictures-of-the-day1


The second one is a Gazeta of Warsaw article with pictures.

 http://warszawa.gazeta.pl/warszawa/1,34862,13336147,Boski_namiot_w_muzeum__Dekoracje_olsniewaja__ZDJECIA_.html

No worries here is Olga's translation:

GORGEOUS TENT IN THE MUSEUM. THE DECORATIONS ARE DAZZLING

This construction is a masterpiece of timber framing and painted decorations dazzle with the richness of colors and patterns. The replica of the Gwoździec synagogue roof is the first assembled piece of the main exposition of the Museum of History of Polish Jews.

In the basement of the museum building in Muranów, called also "minus 208 level", one can hear drills whirring and hammers knocking. Team of several people is working on a wooden structure reminding a tent.

A complicated skeleton, made out of circa 400 elements, is hanging on massive chains and slinges, 1.6 m beneath the ground. From below, temporary beam cribbing provides the support. Thanks to that, without fear, one can stand underneath and see the ceiling, formed out of more than 300 hundred boards. It is hard to take eyes off the paintings- You can see mythical and real animals here, zodiac signs and floral motives. They all form a visual prayer and lead worshipers towards the East side, where Aron ha-kodesh altar was situated- explains Rick Brown, in charge of works.

TWO YEARS OF WORKING IN FIR

The idea to include this replica the synagogue roof in the gallery presenting old jewish towns was born long before works on the construction site have begun. Architects submitting their projects had to design special place for it. In order to fit such a big construction, 8 m tall, it was necessary to leave a hole in the ceiling between the basement and the ground floor- We are making a building inside a buidling- says Robert Supeł, director in charge of the main exposition.

In 2008, american organization called Handhouse Studio from Massachusetts, contacted the Museum. The Studio, run by Laura and Rick Brown, provides classes in reconstructing historical wooden objects. They have already prepared an exhibition about XVII and XVIII century synagogues from historical Poland. Browns proposed to make especially for the Museum, a replica of a roof of a wooden synagogue from Gwoździec, near Kołomyja (today- Ukrainian territories), which was built in the first half of XVII century. The roof reminded of a tent, hiding a two-level ceiling over the room of prayers. Paintings were made by two local artists: Izaak Bar with his son, Israel Liśnicki from Jaryczów, and later- Izaak Leb, son of Jehuda Hakohen from Jaryczów. - This ceiling was a breakthrough in the architecture of synagogues, also had it's decorative value- explains Robert Supeł.

The synagogue in Gwoźiec, just as other wooden synagogues, did not survive WW2. We know it only from the photographs and drawings. In order to reconstruct it's roof, Handshouse Studio called international gropu of art historians, architects, artists and timber framers. Under the

eyes of specialists, there were 200 Polish, American and Ukrainian students working on that, during two summer seasons. The construction was made in the skansen in Sanok, while the paintings- during workshops organised in the synagogues in various polish towns and cities. Everything was done with tools and techniques used in the XVII century. Even the same kind of wood was used for this- silver fir. All the project was funded by Australian-American donor Irene Pletka.

BEHIND THE FIRE-RESISTANT GLASS

The replica is slightly smaller than the original. In November it was brought to Warsaw, in pieces. The install in the building has started on 14th January. Apart from Handhouse Studio, Timber Framers Guild and polish company Stanko take part in the works. Until now, the frame of the roof and the ceiling have been installed. In February the frame will be covered with shingles, but only partly, in order to let the audience admire complicated combination of the beams. In the beginning of March, all the construction will be raised on the height of 2.5 m over the ground. It will be hung on 16 steel rods attached to the ceiling. Thanks to the hole between two levels, the top part of the rood will be seen from the ground floor. Just as a priceless exhibit- behind a barrier and fire resistant glass.

- The most difficult part was to transform black and white documentation into colour images. Each element required detailed process, investigation of the history of architecture, research on the ornaments from this particular  period and area- says Laura Brown.

Similar constructions were found by the team, in the church of Drohobycz for example. Colours of the decorations- with major part of blue, red and yellow- they found in works by painted named Isidor Kaufmann and antropologist named Alois Breyer, who one hundred years ago were documentating jewish towns in the eastern border of Poland.

In the basement of the Museum, other works take place as well. Assembly of steel construction for the main exhibition is about to finish. This multimedia exposition- as director Andrzej Cudak has recently announced- is going to be finished by the beginning of 2014. Top part of the building- starting from the ground floor- is already finished, in some parts even furnished.

The opening  for the public is announced for 19th April- it will be part of the celebration of 70th anniversary of the Ghetto Uprising.

Hugs!

O.

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