The halls of the Sandler Family Campus were lined with tables covered in red and white checked tablecloths on Wednesday, Oct. 19. It was not in preparation for an elaborate Italian dinner, but for the kickoff of three events with Neta Levi, Israel Today’s Israeli mixed media artist.
The Family Art Workshop was a frolicking drawing, cutting, tearing and gluing experience, in which families and individuals were able to create their own mixed media collages.
Levi offered advice and expertise as young and old rolled up their sleeves applying paint, glue and fabric pieces to their canvases using a traditional paintbrush method or digging into the lovely, gooey paint with their hands. The buzz of creativity and the laughter of community spirit filled the halls as 120 people enjoyed exploring their artistic talents together.
Leslie Siegel, who attended with her daughter Megan Zuckerman and her granddaughter, Chloe, says, ”As a mixed media artist, I was truly inspired by Levi’s beautiful work that I saw in the Leon Family Art Gallery. I encourage more hands on events like this in the future. The children had a terrific time and they all came out with masterpieces!”
With Levi’s joyful and inviting instructions, young people soon discovered their own passions. A HAT student, Ophir Newman, has now “acquired canvas and acrylic art supplies and is googling online painting classes to learn more,” says her mother, Michele Newman.
Under Levi’s artistic guidance, the UJFT Women’s Cabinet created their Hebrew name or their American name in Hebrew, drawing and painting the letters with watercolors using an artistic meditative technique called “Zentangle,” to create beautiful letters with structured patterns. Reflecting on her experience of the workshop, Mara Bates says, “It allowed you to connect to your name, in a spiritual way beyond the actual concentration of doodling in the lines.”
Outside on the campus grounds in the Sukkah, YAD’s momME time group had a moment of their own unfettered creativity. Levi helped them construct 3D pomegranate mobiles, symbols of abundance, while their children were engaged in the JCC babysitting service. Lauren Truslow, a YAD community member says, “it was so nice to just sit and be mindful of something you don’t get to do very often—to color and not do errands!”
Neta Levi’s visit was part of the Israel Today series, presented by Charles Barker Automotive. For more information, visit: JewishVA.org/IsraelToday or call 757-965- 6107. The Israel Today series is presented by the Community Relations Council of UJFT, SimonFamily JCC and community partners.