2. www.louisfarkovitz.com
Meet the Artist
Born in New York, New York in 1957
Louis Farkovitz worked in the
fine jewelry fashion industry for over
35 years. As a long term member of
the Product Development team for Kieselstein-Cord in New
York City, his execution of BKC designs have been displayed
in elite department stores and boutiques world wide. His own
personal designs number in the thousands and in addition to
fine jewelry he has developed an exquisite line of museum
quality Judaica, guitar embellishments and is currently
working on a fine jewelry merchandising project with
Broadway turned Country Entertainer Laura Bell Bundy.
3. www.louisfarkovitz.com
Child of Holocaust Survivors
๏ฎ Farkovitz is the youngest of three children born to Deszo and Esther Farkovits
who were coupled shortly after World War II, and is the first child of his family born
in the United States. Both of his parents were Holocaust Survivors from Hungary
who immigrated while pregnant with Farkovitz to New York City during the
Hungarian Revolution.
His father who had owned a trimming shop prior to the war had been married with
two children who were murdered by the Nazis. Deszo Farkovits survived the war
working in Serbian labor camps cutting down trees. Deszo was raised in Vatz,
Hungary outside of Budapest.
Esther, the daughter of a Chassidic Scholar renowned for his Talmudic expertise
worked in the family owned Kosher Inn located in Budapest prior to the war and
had never married. Taking care of her family after her mother died consumed all
of her time and energy. She survived the war in Holland using falsified
identification papers with the grace of the Dutch gentiles.
Living in New York presented many challenges to the family and their three
children. Emotional scars from their war experiences, the unlikely match except
for the circumstance of so many Hungarian Jews dying during the Holocaust and
the economic challenges they faced in the United States took their toll. Owners of
a trimming store in Brooklyn, Esther worked until her death in 1977. Deszo made
Aliya, married a third time and lived out his life in Israel dying in 1988.
Farkovitzโ sister Hindy now lives in Northern New Jersey and his brother Joseph
died in 1994. Louis Farkovitz continues to live and create his art in Brooklyn, New
York with his wife Liora and her three children from a prior marriage.
4. www.louisfarkovitz.com
Judaica
Ever since my apprenticeship as a Goldsmith, I loved creating fine
pieces of jewelry that people would enjoy. My designs and style kept
evolving, but I never felt that these pieces had any meaningful
significance. One day I acquired a small lot of silver spoons which I
intended to recycle and use the silver to craft new models. But I got
bored with the notion and stared at the spoons for a while. I decided to
create a Menorah just for the fun of a whimsical change of pace. I
displayed the raw vessels in my showcase, and ended up selling it to
one of my fellow jewelry exchange vendors.
It made me think about how he would utter words of prayer to Hashem,
a Brucha would be made upon it, songs would be sung, and holy
rituals would be preformed, joy and laughter would take place while the
glow of light from these spoons would burn. It occurred to me that
this is something significant and inspiring. This feeling extended to
the Mezzuzot I later created that are blessed when mounted, and
kissed when passed. These ritual artifacts are meaningful to me, they
are beautiful, fun to make, and will very likely outlive me, leaving a
legacy of post Holocaust, American Judaica. This contribution is
important to me, I hope my pieces will be a demonstration to Jewish
perseverance, spirit and beauty through faith in G-d and humanity.
~ Louis Farkovitz
6. www.louisfarkovitz.com
Oil Shabbat Lamps
One of the most beautiful Louis Farkovitz creations is a series of
oil lamps designed for Shabbat. The lamps are usually
designed to have one wick representing each family member.
Olive oil is poured into a shallow dish and cotton wicks absorb
the oil, shining the light of Shabbat for an extended period of
time. They are timeless and beautiful. Lamps range in price
between $360 and $1800.
Prices range from $350 and up. Custom orders available.
7. www.louisfarkovitz.com
The Remaining Wall
Louis Farkovitz considers โThe Remaining Wallโ
his personal masterpiece to date both in terms
of its artistic execution as well as its emotional
and cultural significance. This piece more than
any other has served as the inspiration to work
together with Holocaust Centers celebrating his
Jewish heritage and the survival of members of
his own family in Hungary, as well as a
memorial to those who were slaughtered.
The menorah contains the phrase โA Miracle
Happenedโ upon this replica of the Wailing Wall
in Jerusalem. Eight oil wells and a shammas
burn brightly throughout Channukah celebrating
the miracle of survival for the Jewish People.
Standing 18 inches high and 24 inches wide this
sterling silver piece took more than 350 hours to
construct over several years. Characterized as
a museum quality piece by then Assistant
Curator Scott Ruby of the Jewish Museum in
New York City more than five years ago when
he encouraged Mr. Farkovitz to show his work to
the world, its time to shine has finally come.
The piece is currently for sale.
