Andy Alpern
Andy Alpern is a Chicago born Israeli artist living in Tzfat in the Upper Galilee with his wife and son. He is a professional photographer who maintains a gallery and studio in Tzfat’s picturesque Artists’ Quarter.
Andy moved to Israel in 1997 and trained as a tour guide specializing in Israel Experience adventures. Combining guiding and photography, he created the first online virtual tour of Israel featuring 360-degree QuickTimeVR panoramas, still images, audio, video and text in an easy to navigate interface. Andy has
created Virtual Tours for the education, tourism and commercial markets. His clients include
Birthright Israel, United Jewish Communities, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism,
Mount Hermon Ski Resort and many businesses and institutions throughout Israel and the
world. A personal encounter or workshop with Eliyahu and his art at his gallery in Tzfat is a
memorable experience. Eliyahu’s work can also be experienced at Tziloom.com as well as
at select galleries, installations, and retailers throughout Israel and the United States.
Eliyahu’s specialties include panoramic photography where the images are often 360
degrees - capturing the reality which humans can not see with their own eyes. His subject
matter also includes light paintings, landscapes of nature, and life in Israel. Eliyahu prints his
work in a variety of media including giclee prints on canvas, photo paper and fine art paper,
transparent works framed in glass, and large installations in canvas and on wallpaper. The
newest project is the “Panoramic Sukkah”, a Sukkah whose interior wall is a 360 degree
image of Israel. He prints most of his work himself at his home studio with Ultrachrome K3
archival, pigment based inks. Eliyahu is also a trained Israeli tour guide with 10 years of
experience and has worked extensively with large and small groups in tourism and
education. Eliyahu is available for commissioned projects and images.
Upcoming and Past Exhibits:
-JCC Biennial Convention Miami Florida; 2008
-Broward County 60th Israel Festival, Florida; 2008
-Yeshiva University Museum; Fall, 2008
-Chicago Jewish Folk Festival, 2008
-Anshe Sphard Knesset Torah Yom Ha’atzmaut Special Exhibit
-Moriah Congregation Art Fair; 2006, 2008
-Tzfat Art Fair in NYC; 2006
-Israel Unwrapped, solo exhibtion; Chicago, NYC 2001-2008
-United Jewish Communities, General Assembly; 2004-5
-D.U.M.B.O. Art Fair, 2001-2003
Prominent Organizations and Persons which own Eliyahu’s art:
-Hillel, Columbia Unversity
-United Jewish Communities
-JCC, Toledo, Ohio
-Solomon Schechter Day Schools, Chicago
-Board of Jewish Education, Chicago
-Anshe Emet Hebrew Day School, Chicago
-Broward County Jewish Federation
-Moriah Congregation, Deerfield, IL
-Mt Hermon Ski Resort, Israel
-Matisyahu, Jewish Reggae Musician
Personal Information:
-Dual US/Israeli Citizen
-Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois (D.O.B. June 10, 1967)
-Education: Ida Crown Jewish Academy, Chicago (High School), Hebrew University,
University of Michigan (Class of 1989 – BA: Mid-East Studies), Northeastern Illinois University
-Lived in Chicago; Jerusalem; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Eugene, Oregon; Montrose, Colorado;
New York City; and the Galilee
-Extensive travel experience on four continents
-Self-Taught Photographer, Chef and Musician
