Candids

Andrew does his best impersonation of that scene from Titanic




Psycho is the sleeping giant




GUEST eats his words



Sarah sees the world through an Israeli soldier's aviator glasses



All hail SUE



Noam and Debs practice their hospitality. Best shnitzel I ever ate!



AFK are so happy together

Artist Profile: Jared Levy

Jared Levy is a documentary filmmaker who currently resides in Brazil where he documents the Rain Forest as well as Sao Paulo's street art culture.

Behind the lens, he is a gifted artist. In front of it, he is a character and a friend who bonded with our graffiti artists as each share a creative impulse and love for beauty - both natural and man-made.

Press: Hello Israel and eJewishPhilanthropy

For Hello Israel, CLICK HERE


And, there is more...

FOR eJewishPhilantrhopy CLICK HERE!

A Day Without A Smile

The second day was hot. All of our projects were outdoors. We hadn't slept and we were dehydrated. We complained about not having enough water.

Then, we met a girl who had once come way too close to war. She studies in Ateret Esther now but before that, her home had been the random target of Hamas' violence when a rocket struck in the street before it. When she took us to her home for some cold water - her, taking care of us - and snacks after our long day of painting in the unforgiving sun, we walked past broken concrete and stared at shrapnel holes in the home's front door.

She is the one who painted the Hebrew saying on the right of this picture. It reads: A Day without a Smile is Not Worth Living.

All of a sudden, I need water a little less. I can drink of her courage.

Secrets

By now, everyone knows of the more famous projects we undertook in Sderot. You've heard about the Chabad House, the Police Station and the Army Base. Of course, you know about the bomb shelters. But, do you really think that is it?

On the second day of the trip, we realized that the media was going to take all the best pictures before the residents of Sderot had had the chance to fully appreciate all that had happened.

So, our artists were given another mission: find small, secluded, secretive spaces and create works of art that would not be discovered for months or years later. We have left these surprises as secret gifts to the people of Sderot who showed us so much love.

Here is Sarah Brega and MERK 13 accepting and accomplishing that mission.

Collaborator: Collaboration

Words are an imperfect science.

They have many different meanings and even more understandings.

When Artists 4 Israel speak of collaborators, we mean our painters and graffitists who work together, blending styles, sharing spirit and creating works of art that transcend their own abilities and reach towards the sky with beauty and brotherhood.

When those in Gaza speak of collaboration, theirs is a far more sinister definition. When anyone of their subjects work with, help or, even, treat an Israeli with common decency and respect, it is called "collaboration." The penalty is death.

On the second day of our tour, at the JNF Indoor Recreational Facility, we met a collaborator. We will protect her name. So, let us call her Liberty. Liberty lived near the Karni Crossing. Her parents had a nice home by the standards of Gaza and raised their daughter without much discussion of politics. When the terrorist overlords of Gaza, Hamas, tried to place a Qassam launching site in their home, they became very aware of politics very quickly. Liberty's parents crossed into Israel and made their way to Sderot. They cried "Amnesty!"

Israel protects her citizens, even if they have just arrived. Liberty's home is not nearly as big now. But, there are no rocket launching sites there. She is no longer a human shield. She no longer discusses politics. She plays with her friends, gossips about boys and has gotten quite good at fuseball.

Liberty is safe.

Day 2

We couldn't stage a better photo. An Israeli surfer, an Ethiopian and a soldier all stop and enjoy the painting. We paint to thank them for making Israel such a beautiful, diverse and welcoming country.



Thank you to the Jewish National Fund for letting us paint their interior walls. Ame72, Nom and C.J. Reilly III created this family-friendly underwater adventure.



FUSE AFK gives blessings.



Falafel, lamb, schwarma, salit and many more goodies.



At Ateret Esther, the girls' smiles were proof that we were doing the right thing.



And their laughter was further proof.



Keep smiling, beautiful girl.



Whether it was Ynet, Jerusalem Post, Associated Press or Reuters - the media was always around.



Always around.



At Ateret Esther, the girls taught us a new method of painting.



And, it made some great art!



Sarah Brega made strong connections with the children of Sderot. And some even stronger art.





Shalom means "peace"



Shira Etzion



The EAC boys take inspiration from the flowers and plants.






It is as if New York in the 1970s never left. The legend, Cycle, teaches the youngsters how it is done!



Belin and NY Legend, SUE WORKS, draw the attention of the crowd.



One of Belin's photo-realism pieces.