Generations etched in glass
Walt Disney Company presents prestigious award to Israeli glass artist for his unique Western Wall tunnels exhibit
Jeremy Langford, an Israeli sculptor and glass artist, received a prestigious award from the Walt Disney Organization Saturday for his work on a series of monumental glass sculptures for the new visitors’ center at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, known as The Generations Center.
Langford’s sculptors, commissioned by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, are some of the largest glass sculptors on display in the world today.
The prize awarded to Langford by Disney-affiliated Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) at their annual banquet, is widely considered the proverbial “Oscar” of museum design. TEA is an international non-profit association representing the world's leading creators, developers, designers and producers of themed experiences such as museums, zoos casinos and theme parks.
Light and sound show
The Generations Center at the Western Wall Tunnels was designed by architect Eliav Nachlieli, with Langford providing the eight glass sculptors for the site. Langford used more than 150 tons (152,407pounds) of glass in creating his glass sculptors, no simple feat considering the cramped, narrow tunnel which was to ultimately house them. To place the sculptures in the ancient tunnel chambers, it was necessary to sculpt them in place.
Visitors to the new Western Wall center can enjoy, in addition to Langford’s massive, breathtaking sculptors depicting various scenes from the bible as well as Jewish history through the ages, a dazzling light and sound show never before seen in Israel.
Jeremy Langford was born in London in 1956 to a renowned family of artists. His father was a television director, and his mother the famous actress Caroline Langford.
Langford has been creating glass works and sculptors in Israel and abroad for the past 30 years, and is widely regarded as an acclaimed international artist which has done much to further the arts in the Jewish world and in Israel in particular.
His works can also be found on display at Ben Gurion Airport as well as in the law faculty of Bar Ilan University.
