Three New Exhibitions Explore Identity, Nature, and Healing Through Art

Three new art exhibitions opening across Israel this month delve into the connections between personal identity, memory, and the natural world. These shows feature artists exploring themes of heritage discovery, the integration of art into landscapes, and the transformative power of creativity.

At the Moshe Castel Museum, American artist Barbara Hines will present "Jerusalem in My Soul," opening October 16. Hines, who grew up in Australia unaware of her Jewish heritage, discovered her roots later in life, finding Jerusalem a profound source of inspiration. Her work incorporates Jerusalem soil into her pigments, linking her identity and family history to the land. The exhibition, curated by Hagai Sasson, highlights how discovering one's roots can reshape one's worldview. Hines, who studied in Sydney and New York, is having her first solo exhibition in Israel.

Opening October 23 at the Ramat Hanadiv Gardens, "Exhibition in the Bushes" will showcase sculptures by five artists, including Eden Bent, Zohar Guttman, Yaakov Dorchin, Dov Feigin, and Moshe Ruas. These works will be integrated into the gardens' landscape, interacting with changing light, weather, and seasons. Curated by Prof. Ido Bruno and Efrat Klipstein, the exhibition examines the relationship between humans and nature, using earth-based materials to create new meaning and explore human experience within a dynamic environment. This is the first in a planned series of art exhibitions at Ramat Hanadiv.

The Ashkila Gallery in Old Jaffa is currently hosting "Through the Living Heart," an exhibition of works by the late Israeli artist Ruth Dorit Jacobi, running until October 23. Jacobi, who passed away in 2015, viewed art as a spiritual mission to bring life and healing into the world. Her extensive body of work, represented by about 50 pieces in this exhibition curated by Itai Gabai, often features natural elements, spiritual symbols, and themes of transformation from pain to hope. Jacobi famously created her art outdoors, allowing natural elements to influence her process, using materials like fabrics, branches, and pigments to build textured layers.