The Jewish Culture Fest will offer a special art show celebrating Israel's 75th year and featuring local artists.
As part of this curated show, 75 works of art will be selected, reflecting this year’s 75th anniversary of Israel’s statehood.
Submissions are open to the public. Participants are invited to reflect on their relationship to Israel from the Diaspora. Artists are asked to create 12x12 inch pieces of art using Israeli newspapers as the medium. All work will be for sale at the Jewish Culture Fest, separate from the many artist’s booths that will be part of the event.
Two workshops will take place this summer to learn more about working with newspapers as a medium. The workshops will be held on July 13 at InterUrban ArtHouse and on Aug. 9 in the MAC Room at the Jewish Community Center. Both will be held from 7-9 p.m., and light refreshments will be offered. More information can be found at thejkc.org/Israeliart. Participation in workshops is not mandatory to submit art to this juried exhibition.
“Israel is a very news-obsessed culture, and I specifically selected newspapers across the political spectrum,” said Sherri Jacobs, founder of Heartland Art Therapy and co-chair for this year’s Israel Experiences at the Jewish Culture Fest. “Most of the newspapers we are using were published during this year’s Yom Ha’atzmaut, which allows us to reflect on this unique moment in our long Jewish History.”
Newspaper art is often painted, sewn, woven, sculpted, cut, folded, or torn as a creative way to elevate the everyday object. Capturing this moment in time using Israeli newspapers offers layers of metaphor and meaning, according to Jacobs.
“My hope is that this topic goes beyond the political,” she said. "Incorporating an everyday object and elevating it into an art medium celebrates the mundane and can transform it into a thing of wonder. This theme of using a Hebrew newspaper celebrates a language that was extinct for 2,000 years and brought back to life in the past century."
Those interested in participating in one of the workshops can visit thejkc.org/israeliart to register or contact Jacobs at for details on submitting their artwork. The deadline for submissions is Aug. 15. Applicants will be notified by Aug. 20 of their acceptance. Final pieces must be submitted by Sept. 12.
Artists will receive 90% of the proceeds from the sale of their work, and the remaining 10% will cover expenses related to the show. Those who are interested in participating in the show but are unable to attend a workshop can contact Jacobs to get Israeli newspapers.
This year’s Jewish Culture Fest will be held on Oct. 15, with Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City committed as presenting sponsor.
Sponsorship and partner opportunities are available for Jewish Culture Fest. Those interested can contact Cindy Bodker at .
