Art

Open Stage – A community exhibition of creators and artists from Kibbutz Kfar Masaryk

Curators and Producers: Efrat Peled-Sade and Lior Birk In the current period, since October 7th, and especially in the past few weeks, there has been a natural tendency towards introspection. People are drawing into their communities and homes. It is a time where, on the one hand, individuals are more isolated, and on the other hand, there are uplifting activities to strengthen community resilience. This resilience is evident in the determination to maintain the kibbutz routine as much as possible, and to continue traditions through holidays, culture, the communal dining hall, tourism, and more. It is, without a doubt, a year of testing. During this time, Lior and I chose to come together and create a moving exhibition of the creators and artists from Kfar Masaryk. We issued a call for participation, and we were delighted by the wonderful response. Even more so, we were deeply moved to discover the many talents living among us, in both poetry and visual arts. What connects them all is a profound sensitivity in their observations—particularly in reflecting on the recent difficult and complex period. This sensitivity is expressed in words, poems, and community activities, such as the mosaic project in memory of Yarden Bouskila, who fell in Nova on October 7th. Yarden’s parents made the brave decision to honor his light by creating a blossoming garden, incorporating unique mosaics crafted by the community. Another common thread among many of the artists is their love for nature and humanity. This is seen through Yael Nathaniel’s group of sculptures, “The Joyful Ones,” depicting plump women who exude confidence and a love for life and their bodies. Similarly, Ilan Zvoloni’s series of figures—crafted from bent metal wire with meticulous skill—add a splash of color and humor, creating miniature masterpieces that tell the story of the kibbutz. Esti Tsipser’s vibrant and colorful work is also featured, as she chose to exhibit only pieces created after the age of 90, proving that it’s not about age but about perspective. Her art reminds us that it’s never too late to create and fill our hearts with joy through art. The striking figures by Hedva Segal are inspired by the people of Acre, gazing out of windows or sitting in boats on the blue sea, each with a unique look either outward or inward, as if in a deep dream. Another fascinating theme is the artists’ connection with animals. Whether it’s through the work of Hofit Puchliski, Racheli Smueli, Elad Zvolony, Nadav Levy, Ida Sifer, Ron Cohen paraira, or Gabriela Doctors, these artists capture animals—birds, dogs, cats, horses—with great curiosity and affection. Their connection to the animals is felt deeply, expressed through photography, ceramics, ironwork, recycled materials, or wooden sculptures. Another theme is the traditional crafts like basket weaving by Rinat Barak and silk scarves by Ruti Ben-David. These remind us of the honorable place once held by crafts classes, which have slowly disappeared but are now experiencing a renewed appreciation. Internationally recognized artist Ruben Cukier, originally from Kibbutz Adamit and currently residing in Kfar Masaryk, creates surrealist paintings that provoke thought about the accelerated technological culture and its intersection with the human experience. Over the years, a tradition has developed around the kibbutz’s birthday: creating a communal artwork to adorn the kibbutz. Examples include the hourglass, the blessing tiles on the water tower, the mosaic of names on the gallery wall, and more. For this exhibition, opening on Rosh Hashanah, we created a communal “petal conversation” led by Einav Reiz, where each person who crafted a petal carried in their heart a prayer for the new year. With this intention, they created the pink petals together with other community members. May this be a good year, one that brings peace and genuine love between people. May we all return to a blessed routine, meaningful work, and growth in harmony. The participants in the “Open Stage” exhibition are: Ida Siper, Ilan Zvolony, Elad Zvolony, Esti Zipsar, Gabriela Doctors, Hedva Segal, Yael Natanel, Hofit Puchliski, Merav and Shimon Buskila, Nadav Levi, Ilit Sade, Naomi Zinger, Einav Reis, Ami Zinger, Ruben Cukier, Ron Cohen Paraira, Ruti Ben David, Racheli Smali, Rinat Barak, Noam lavi The exhibition will run until December 31, 2024 Where? The Secrets of the Kibbutz Wonder,  Kfar Masaryk To arrange a visit to the gallery call: 072-3971564