Sam Philipe

Sam Philipe is an Israeli sculptor.[1] He is known for his sculptures of biblical and New Testament figures.[2]

Sam Philipe
Born
Jerusalem, Israel
Known forBiblical sculpture, jewelry

Biography

Shlomo (Sam) Philipe was born in Jerusalem to an old Jerusalem family. After serving in the Israel Defense Forces as a combat medic,[3] he spent a year in New York City restoring antique furniture and studying art.[4] When he returned to Israel, he earned a living sculpting animals in chocolate.[5]

Artistic career
Ark of the Covenant sculpture

Sam Philipe opened a studio in Jerusalem in 1989. In addition to sculpture, he began to design jewelry and Jewish ceremonial art.[6]

Philipe's sculptures have been presented to government leaders around the world as gifts from the Israeli government.[7] Philipe's statue "Jesus' blessing" was presented to Pope John Paul II on behalf of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. King Hussein of Jordan received a sculpture embodying Isaiah's prophecy of the lion and the lamb; George H.W. Bush, an elephant with the Star of David; and Princess Diana, a guardian angel. Yitzhak Rabin was presented with a sculpture depicting a paratrooper praying at the Western Wall.[8]

Outdoor sculptures by Philipe have been installed at various locations in Jerusalem, among them Ammunition Hill[9] and Yad Labanim Soldiers House near Sacher Park.[10] Many of his smaller sculptures, crafted from sterling silver and 24 karat gold, are mounted on polished stone bases using stones from the desert.[11] Philipe often uses blocks of Jerusalem stone or black basalt from the Galilee as pedestals for his work.[12]

"I Love You," Shalva campus, Jerusalem

In February 2011, his bronze sculpture "Binding of Isaac" was displayed at Mamilla Mall as part of its "Stories of the Bible" exhibit.[13]

"Mother and child," a sculpture by Philipe, is displayed at the Revi Karuna Memorial Museum in Alleppey, India.[14] His seven-foot bronze statue of the Prodigal son was installed in the museum courtyard in March 2012.[15]

"Reut" (Camaraderie in Arms) is a 10-foot bronze on Mount Scopus, overlooking the Judean Desert, depicting a combat medic embracing a wounded soldier. His inspiration for the work was an Israeli army doctor, Uri Freund, who was awarded the IDF medal of distinguished service for going out under heavy crossfire to rescue his wounded commander.[16]

To mark the 70th anniversary of the voyage of the SS Exodus, Philipe designed a memorial sculpture featuring a bronze relief of the Land of Israel. The monument was unveiled at Haifa Port in July 2017.[17]

Philipe's goal is to "reach God through art." He creates sculptures based on Bible themes in the belief that his work transports viewers back to ancient times and allows them to feel a connection to the Bible in their own life.[18]

See also

References
  1. Pave the Way Foundation Provides Help to Muslim, Christian and Jewish Mothers in Jerusalem
  2. Straight from Jerusalem
  3. "One-man tribute to the Israeli soldiers," Dov Yareh, In and About Jerusalem, Cohi productions, Jerusalem, 2011
  4. A rare early Sam Philipe
  5. "From chocolate animal carvings to gold and silver biblical sculpture," Witchita Chronicle, September 1999
  6. ETD Exclusive Travel Design: Sam Philipe
  7. "From chocolate animal carvings to gold and silver biblical sculpture," Witchita Chronicle, September 1999
  8. "Fund honored to host world-renowned Israeli Artist, United Methodist Church Connection, November 7, 2000
  9. Ammunition Hill site
  10. The Lion of Judah has joined the IDF
  11. Sculpture based on Scriptures
  12. "Sam Philipe: Reaching God through art," In and About Jerusalem, Cohi productions, Jerusalem, 2011
  13. Stories of the Bible in the heart of Jerusalem, [Hebrew], catalog by Tzipi Vital, curator
  14. Memorial of Love, RKK Memorial Museum, Alexis Leon, 2010
  15. Prodigal Son gift for Alappuzha museum
  16. "One-man tribute to the Israeli soldiers," Dov Yareh, In and About Jerusalem, Cohi productions, Jerusalem, 2011
  17. ICEJ joins ceremonies on 70th anniversary of refugee ship saga, Word from Jerusalem, 2017 p.11
  18. Sam Philipe: Reaching God Through Art, In and About Jerusalem, Cohi Productions, Jerusalem, 2017, p.61
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