Hi, I’m Lia Bruce, the body and salt behind SaltwareDesign. My professional path leads me through architecture studies at the Technion in Haifa, a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, and a master’s degree in Industrial Design at Bezalel Academy in Jerusalem. The combination of art, design, and eco living is expressed in my SaltwareDesign. My love affair with salt began as a child, inspired by my grandmother, who sewed salt into little cotton bags to be worn as protective amulets. As an artist I created installations with the raw material with a constant aspiration to give it a solid manifestation.
The groundbreaking technology that allowed her work to form the residual salt into such forms, textures, colors, and shapes is an integral part of her initiative of SaltwareDesign.
In 2015 Professor Daniel Mendler from the Institute of Chemistry at the Hebrew University answered a public call by the Israeli government for a practical solution to handle a vast amount of cooking salt that accumulates as a residue of the Dead Sea mining.
Professor Mendler and his team developed a sustainable technology that turns the salt into a robust, 100% green three dimensional object with no synthetic additives, durable to pressure and humidity, and manufactured in a very low energy consumption process.
As a designer,Bruce sought to merge salt’s scientific and technological challenges with its crucial significance in culture and found this life mission in the unique dead sea salts.
My interest in the mystical nature of salt grew as I collaborated with the Chemistry Institue at Hebrew university, which was looking for a way to reduce the environmental impact of salt mining in the Dead Sea. Combining creative impulse, engineering challenge, and my desire to heal our environment, I sought practical, innovative, and inspiring solutions. SaltwareDesign was born from this quest.
Judaica, a term used to describe the ritual objects and artifacts associated with Jewish religious practice and culture, holds a unique place in the hearts and homes of Jewish people around the world. These items, ranging from menorahs to challah boards, not only serve a functional role in religious observance but also embody the rich history and artistic traditions of the Jewish people. This article describes in short the history of Judaica.
The 19th and 20th centuries saw a transformation in Judaica items, influenced by the Enlightenment and modernist movements. Synagogues began to commission unique, artistically significant Judaica pieces. One such example is the Judaica collection at the Jewish Museum in New York, which includes contemporary Kiddush cups, mezuzahs, and Shabbat candlesticks crafted by renowned artists.
A notable modern piece is the Hanukkah Lamp by Ludwig Wolpert, a Bauhaus-influenced design reflecting simplicity and functional beauty. This period also saw the production of commemorative Judaica items, such as the silverware created by Jewish artisans who survived the Holocaust, embodying resilience and memory.
A contemporary and unique contribution to the world of Judaica design comes from SaltwareDesign, an Israeli designer’s studio that creates Judaica items using Dead Sea salt. This innovative approach merges traditional Jewish symbols with natural materials from a region of profound historical and religious significance.
Their collection includes candlesticks, Kiddush cups and menorahs crafted from pure Dead Sea salt, each piece showcasing the beauty of the mineral. These items not only serve a religious function but also act as Judaica art or designed pieces that celebrate the connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel.
The use of Dead Sea salt imbues these Judaica design items with a unique aesthetic and a deep symbolic resonance, reminding users of the ancient and enduring relationship between the Jewish faith and its historical roots. SaltwareDesign has an online Judaica store and its Judaica items are sold worldwide in Jewish museums stores.
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