Artists who have moved to Israel are finding opportunities through Jerusalem community groups that help them exhibit, build professional relationships and reach audiences. As the Jerusalem Biennale brings contemporary art to venues across the city this fall, language barriers and unfamiliar exhibition processes can make participation difficult for immigrants, including those who had established careers abroad.
The new Baka Artists’ Community held its inaugural group exhibition on November 1 at the Greater Baka Community Center. Dr. Anat Chaskalovic, a ceramic artist who spent 20 years in Paris, developed the initiative with Arielle Scemama, the center’s longtime coordinator of immigrant programs. Since June, Chaskalovic has been bringing artists together and arranging activities, providing translation in English and French. Members include immigrants from the United States, France and Brazil, as well as Israeli artists.
Chaskalovic selected 10 artists for the first exhibition, which explored landscapes through varied media and approaches. Works included Tamra Walker’s photograph of a Dead Sea sunset, Matan Sacofsky’s depiction of Jerusalem neighborhood architecture and Sarah Rose’s colorful collage. Held in a multipurpose room converted from the center’s former library, the event attracted enough relatives, friends and other visitors to fill the space.
The exhibition lasted one evening and tested the venue’s suitability for future shows. Limited wall space meant artists used tables and easels, then took their work home afterward. Exhibitor Rikki Rose Horowitz described participants encouraging one another and helping with displays. For Rose, the event was her first public presentation of her work. Chaskalovic hopes members will also offer workshops and talks, exchange contacts and benefit from mentoring by established Israeli artists. A second exhibition is planned for December 13, focusing on Hebrew letters, sacred language and connections to Judaism.
Another network, Jerusalem Artists Circle, was founded by painter and art teacher Leorah Parker, who moved to Israel in 2010 after running a gallery and studio in Old Town Manassas, Virginia. The free, informal group includes 700 artists, photographers and art lovers, with participation extending beyond Jerusalem. Parker has organized exhibitions, lectures, artist gatherings and cultural visits, helping members show their work at venues including the Jerusalem Theatre and Jerusalem Cinematheque.
Over the summer, Parker organized A Common Thread at the Jerusalem Theatre, featuring her work alongside Jay Avilev, Jack Pillemer, Estelle Reingold and Carol Racklin-Siegel. Their involvement in the circle connected artists working in different styles and media. Parker said navigating the local art scene requires persistence and expressed interest in connecting with the new Baka group.
At Givat Ram, French-born dancer and cultural producer Hanna Partouche founded At Li Bama to create artistic opportunities for women following Jewish religious law. The organization brings together theater, dance, music and visual art, and has a professional theater rehearsal room in the former National Library building at Hebrew University. Fine art exhibitions, coordinated with photographer Esther Lasry, represent a relatively recent expansion.
Partouche sees opportunities for audiences to discover different art forms through the organization and for artists to collaborate across disciplines. Professional meetings address pricing, event promotion, copyright and building contacts. At Li Bama is also working to strengthen ties with cultural and municipal institutions, supporting women’s professional and creative development within their religious way of life.
