Adama

During this period, which is turbulent on both a national and personal level, when the ground feels as if it is slipping beneath us, we chose to embark on a journey that would connect people. Over the course of three meetings, artists from two regions of Israel, separated by distance and at times ideology, met and connected and discussed the meaning of Adama; a word which encompasses land, soil and earth. The Adama Project brought together 12 artists from the Binyamin and Eshkol municipalities: Aya Chaya Altman, Nechemia Boaz, Nir Brand, Lisa Cain Hammerman, Yochi Dayan, Zohar Morag, Oshrat Regev, Jacques Safran, Lorraine Taari, Libi Yaar-Horowitz, Chani Cohen Zada and Eliya Zilberberg. The artists were encouraged to examine their connection to the ground we stand on, which is also the root of our conflicts. The project was born because as a nation, in times like these, unity is not just important—it’s essential for survival. It is imperative to find common ground, to dig in our roots, while also stretching out branches to connect. Though the populations of the two municipalities – one in Judea and Samaria and the other in the Gaza Envelope – may appear very different on the surface, we discovered many similarities: both are made up of rural communities, both include entire towns formed by relocated populations from the Sinai, Gush Katif, and Amonah. Both are also blessed with breathtaking landscapes that naturally attract artists and inspire creativity in the people who live there. Over the course of three in-person meetings in Jerusalem, Eshkol and Binyamin, the participating artists explored one another’s identities, perspectives, landscapes and points of intersection. They listened to ideas and emotions that sometimes contradicted their own. They ate together, rode together, laughed and cried together. They debated difficult topics—passionately, but respectfully. These twelve artists highlight the ability that artists have, not only to be empathetic and to see beyond stereotypes and understand the full complexity of another person, but also the skill to express those insights in ways that touch the wider public. Artists absorb—and artists also project. And then they created. Together, and apart, they shared inspiration, exchanged feedback, and gave shape to something new that could not have existed without this collaboration. The works in the exhibition include old and new pieces which are a visual dialogue between the artists that parallels the dialogue that happened in the meetings. These artists took the soil of our homeland and from it they cultivated something meaningful. Something that nourishes. Something that strengthens. Something that connects us all and provides a solid foundation for continuity and growth.