Voices from the Gaza border area
An art exhibition by approximately 75 artists from the Western Negev, at the Amiad Center in Tel Aviv, opens on September 14. The exhibition includes painting, photography, sculpture, installation art, and more.
Three years after October 7, the “Voices from the Gaza Envelope” exhibition will open at the Amiad Center—one of the most comprehensive and significant exhibitions dedicated to creators from the Western Negev.
The project was initiated by the Gershoni Foundation for Supporting Artists in Sha’ar HaNegev, in partnership with the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council and the community center, and under the auspices of the Tel Aviv–Jaffa Municipality. This partnership reflects a long-standing commitment to advancing art and culture in the region and strengthening the Western Negev’s creative community.
The exhibition brings together approximately 75 artists from the Western Negev, residents of the Sha’ar HaNegev, Eshkol, Sdot Negev, and Hof Ashkelon regional councils. They come from more than 20 kibbutzim and moshavim, including Kfar Aza, Be’eri, Nir Am, Nir Oz, Nirim, Erez, Or HaNer, Urim, Mefalsim, Dorot, Bror Hayil, Zikim, Netiv HaAsara, Sde Nitzan, Ein HaBesor, Yakhini, Gevulot, Magen, Yevul, Chen, and Sderot.
The exhibition presents works in a broad range of creative fields—painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, installation, and contemporary art, alongside performance, dance, music, and film—reflecting the richness of the vibrant creative activity in the region.
Alongside works by living artists, the exhibition also presents works by Aviv Atzili, Aliko Reichenshtein, Haim Peri, Roi Idan, and Yuval Raveh, who were murdered in the October 7 attack. The exhibition also honors the work of Dov Heller and Reuven Nachon, who passed away and left a significant mark on Israeli art and on artistic creation in the Western Negev.
“Voices from the Gaza Envelope” is much more than an art exhibition; it is a tribute to a creative community that chose to continue creating out of the devastation and loss left by the October 7 attack.
Three circles of creators meet in the exhibition: the founding generation; artists whose lives were cut short in the events of October 7; and the generation of artists who continue creating today, choosing life, creativity, and hope.
Throughout the exhibition, content events, artist meetings, dance and music performances, film screenings, guided tours, and workshops will be held, allowing visitors to meet the creators and deepen their acquaintance with the stories behind the works.
Most of the works displayed in the exhibition are for sale, enabling the public to support Western Negev artists directly and participate in the continuation of cultural activity in the region.
Exhibition Events
Monday | 14.9 | 19:00
Festive Opening
With the participation of:
- Ron Huldai—Mayor of Tel Aviv–Jaffa
- Yoram Nahum—CEO of the Jaffa Development Company
- Uri Epstein—Head of the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council
- Michal Uziyahu—Head of the Eshkol Regional Council
- Oded Plot—Chairman of the Gershoni Foundation
- Artists, cultural figures, and guests
Opening performance featuring musicians and singers from the Sha’ar HaNegev Conservatory: Guy Boim, Agam Haimovich, and Elad Doek, and dancer Shay Harmati from the Sha’ar HaNegev Dance Studio.
Thursday | 17.9
17:00 | “Flowers from the Negev”
Printmaking and creative workshops using flowers gathered in the Gaza Envelope, led by the Sha’ar HaNegev Workshop.
The workshop is suitable for the entire family. At the end, each participant will receive a printed bag decorated with Negev flowers.
Participation fee: 25 NIS
Advance registration: Link
Friday | 18.9 | 11:00–14:00
From: Presence
An interactive performance installation by Yonatan Hai Siegal.
The installation invites the audience to participate in a live artistic experience in which the body, movement, and human encounter become part of the artwork. Through an ongoing action, a space of listening, presence, and dialogue is created, examining the meaning of community, memory, and human encounter.
Saturday | 19.9 | 12:00
Gallery Talk
An open meeting with the exhibition’s artists about creative processes, life, and art in the Western Negev.
Wednesday | 23.9
19:00 | Guided tour
Advance registration required; exclusive to DigiTel members.
Registration link: Link
Thursday | 24.9 | 19:00
When Memory Becomes Words
A conversation with Aviva Siegel, a captivity survivor from Kfar Aza and author of The Important Thing Is to Wake Up to a New Morning, and journalist and author Amir Tibon, author of The Plow Line.
The meeting will address writing, testimony, and hope, accompanied by original music and songs by creator Goldie Feuerstein-Hess.
Moderator: Oded Plot
Admission is free. Registration: Link
Monday | 28.9 | 19:00
“Cinema and Rupture”—Expressing Loss Through Film
Film screenings and a discussion about confronting trauma and loss through cinematic creation.
With:
- Eran Yehezkel—one of the creators of the documentary film 7-10 Off Set
- Yonatan Domosh—creator of the animated film Red Snow
Moderator: Ronit Efragan
Admission is free. Registration: Link
Wednesday | 30.9
19:00 | Guided tour
Advance registration required; exclusive to DigiTel members.
Registration link: Link
20:00 | Dance performance
A performance by dancer Shaked Sonnenfeld and Chen Betzalel, Between and Between and Between, followed by a meeting with the exhibition’s artists.
Friday | 2.10 | 11:00–14:00
From: Presence
An interactive performance installation by Yonatan Hai Siegal.
Exhibition Hours
- Sunday–Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday: 10:30–16:00
- Wednesday–Thursday: 16:00–21:00
- Sukkot intermediate days: 10:30–20:00
Admission is free
(except for the “Flowers from the Gaza Envelope” workshop, which requires advance registration and payment).
The program is subject to change. For updated information, visit the exhibition website at choose-art.com or DigiTel My.
Curator: Iris Elhanani | Choose Art
Production of exhibition events: Culture Department, Sha’ar HaNegev Community Center
The program is subject to change.
Updated information is available on the exhibition website:
choose-art.com
Artists
Eyal Assouline, Ahuva Man, Ehud (Udi) Tzuri, Olga Antal-Katiev, Ossi Gefen, Orly Landver Tokolovsky, Orna Orian, Aya Foda, Esther Hailey Misistrano, Ariel Alboim, Ben Oz (Valentin Minkovich), Benjamin Cohen, Brit Einstein, Batya Shira Vaknin, Gabi Volkovitz, Gil Schwartzman, Gili Zivan, Gladys Fishbein, Gennady Tkosirev, Gefen Barkel Shapira, Dalia Rimer, Dan (Peppo) Martsifar, Daniel Ohana, Dafna Dishi, Dani Cherniss, Dov Heller (of blessed memory), Jacques Safran, Zohar Morag, Haim Peri (of blessed memory), Yuval Raveh (of blessed memory), Yona Levy Grossman, Yonatan Hai Siegal, Yelena Dan, Yaakov Carmi, Yossi Kotler, Lorraine Taari, Lee and Oded Amitai, Limor Max, Linor Gefen, Limor Klein-Tivoli, Liraz Anker-Levy, Lala Klush, Miri Levin, Mali Malon, Maayan Lavon, Miriam Patkin, Nava Gal, Nadine Bar-Noy, Noga Barak, Neta Geva, Natasha Timer, Nati Meir, Suzy Rusk Oshrov, Sapir Efraim, Ofra Wolf, Einav Halperin Sankar, Amit Harlap, Keren Frenkel, Reuven Nachon (of blessed memory), Ron Gang, Ronit Kadman, Ruth Savat, Ran Eckstein, Raz Merhav, Ran Elmalih, Shosh Segev Ofek, Shaked Sonnenfeld, Sharon Ken-Dor, Gladys Fishbein, Linor Gefen, and Ziva Yellin.
The exhibition also presents, in their memory, works by artists Aviv Atzili, Aliko Reichenshtein, Yuval Raveh, Roi Idan, and Haim Peri, who were murdered in the events of October 7.
After visiting the exhibition, we invite you to continue your journey to the Western Negev, visit the studios of the artists working in the region, get to know the creators, communities, and sources of inspiration up close, and continue supporting local creativity beyond the exhibition walls.
For information and registration: 050-9345829
Weekly events digest
The week's best events, in your inbox — free.
