Creating in the Oasis Gallery Courtyard

After five years, the dream has come true: a perfect occasion for this year’s development of the Gallery

The Gallery has a hall for temporary exhibitions and a small ante-room for its permanent collection and displays of previous exhibitions. But it also has an additional space with rich potential: its entrance courtyard.

This courtyard provides us the opportunity to express our artistic vision and purpose, as mentioned in the Gallery’s introduction:

“Crossing borders, combine expressions, explore and discover styles, cultures and colors. The Oasis Art Gallery presents ways of life, thoughts and ideas that promote universal cosmic view includes all humanity.”

Two artists’ meetings

During two meetings, the Oasis Art Gallery courtyard has begun to express its creative potential while at the same time becoming a more attractive artistic space. The credit for this goes to a long list of artists:

Sculpture Day - October 27, 2020 :

Nihad Dabeet, Ahmad Canaan, Jamal Hasan, Hicmat Khres, Tom Smaly
and Aharon Adani made their artistic contributions.

Painting, Mosaic and Varied materials - November 12, 2020:

Moran Asraf, Assaf Rahat, Shurouq Egbariah, Aseel Egbariah, Suad Qasem Haj Yehia, Michal Mozis and Voltaire Shamshoum (who also assisted the other artists on both days).

I am in constant contact with all of the artists whom I selected for the project; most of them via Facebook. They have attended various art meetings held in various places and some have become fervid supporters of the Gallery. All of the artists agreed to do the work in return for a smaller remuneration than they would normally expect. We hosted them graciously and they gave from their hearts. Naturally, some of the artists are residents of our village and will continue to give, along with others who will join us.

We now have a place that does not close its doors, but remains open for everyone’s artistic enjoyment. What warmed the heart even more was our interaction with children from the school, who noticed the work in the Gallery Courtyard and expressed curiosity. As soon as the coronavirus period ends, we hope once again to invite classes from the school to visit.

The Artists and their Creations

Two artists worked on pieces that preserve Palestinian cultural memory.

Nihad Dabeet is from the city of Ramleh/Ramla, near WASNS. Dabeet excavated the natural limestone embankment that faces the Gallery, chiseling the outlines of ruined Palestinian homes.

Ahmad Canaan is from the Galilee village of Tamra. Canaan, using a different method, created a work that also recreated a Palestinian village scene.

Jamal Hasan is from Julis - a village in the northern Galilee. As Hasan came down the stairs into the Gallery courtyard, he noticed a stone that he liked, picked it up and began to turn it into an olive branch symbolizing hope.

Hicmat Khres is from the northern Galilee village of Maghar.
Khres brought with him a special stone and turned it into a dove of peace.

Tom Smaly is from Nirit, a community in the coastal plain area.
Smaly worked with metal wires and created a tree that looks up to the sky

We said that he had brought doumia – sakinah (stillness and tranquility) to the Gallery.

Moran Asraf is from Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv. Through the delicate use of steel wool and red paint, Asraf created on the Gallery wall an artistic reflection on murder and violence against women.*

Assaf Rahat is from Tel Aviv. In order to express what he chooses, Rahat usually employs special kinds of ink. A person rests with a book, a crow comes out of it and turns into a pigeon.

Shurouq Egbariah is from Kafr Qara, in the Wadi Ara region.

Shurouq was joined by her daughter Aseel Egbariah, who creates together with her. It was wonderful to watch mother and daughter working together in perfect harmony – with a variety of colors.

Suad Qasem Haj Yehia lives in Wahat al Salam Neve Shalom.

Since the establishment of the gallery, Suad has been volunteering at every opportunity to assist and support its development.

This time, Suad had the opportunity to further develop her mosaic Peace Wall, making it more meaningful and interesting to look at. She will add her final touches in the near future.

Michal Mozis is from Wahat al Salam Neve Shalom.
She is an expert in turning recycled things into artistic work. She has found the ideal location for her artistic work, and will create further touches using recycled materials.

Voltaire Shamshoum is from Wahat al Salam Neve Shalom
Besides his own artwork, he assisted all the other artists on both days. He himself worked on a small part of the rock and made an interesting development using materials that affect the color of the rock itself. Voltaire will continue to add his own touches on future occasions.

*On her Facebook profile, Moran Asraf wrote:

About two years ago, Dyana, the curator of the gallery in Neve Shalom, contacted me. In her pleasant and calming voice, she told me that she follows my works and loves them very much. She invited me to take part in a group exhibition that would deal with violence against women. Unfortunately at the time I was unable to do so, but it was clear to us that eventually and at the right time our paths would cross, and it would be amazing. And that moment came when she called and told me “Moran, I’m inviting a group of artists to create artworks in the gallery courtyard and I immediately thought of you. I would love you to come and take part in it, and create some piece that’s related to the subject that you are dealing with.” So now this day has come, a week before the world commemorates the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (November 25).

It’s wonderful to arrive in such a magical place, with all the fresh air, greenery and quiet that I need so much.

Dyana is amazing. She received us with an abundance of love, pampered us with food, and took into account everything we would need down to the last detail, including our livelihood as artists, in these difficult days. We came together, a group of amazing artists from all over the country. I am always moved by such encounters, but, during this time when the art world has been static for such a long time - at least in public spaces - it was wonderful to feel the open space, the freedom to move; to be able to create and fly, so lovingly, in such a burst of creativity.