Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s somber Memorial Day, when the country pays tribute to fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism, is immediately followed by Yom HaAtzmaut, the joyful celebration of Israel’s independence. This has always seemed like a hallmark of the Israeli experience: sorrow and joy, worry and celebration, all bound up together.
That feels especially true this year, after two months of war with Iran that has sent Israelis in and out of bomb shelters on a regular basis. For artists, the constant interruptions to daily life have had unique and slightly unusual consequences. Woodworker Judith Nusimovici of L’Atelier, for example, has been hesitant to glue anything.
“Ask any woodworker, glue-up is one of the most stressful moments in our field of work,” she explains. “You dry-fit everything, and it all comes together perfectly. Then the glue goes on, and suddenly nothing sits as it should. The clock is ticking: every minute counts to bring everything back into alignment before clamping, before the glue grabs and weeks of work are lost.”
“It’s not a moment you want to interrupt, certainly not with a siren that forces you to drop everything and run.”
L’Atelier is part of Makers of Israel, a curated online collective that features products from Israeli artists and artisans for purchase abroad. We spoke to the founders last year, and this week we checked in with a few of the artists to see what life has been like for them recently.
For Judith of L’Atelier, the uncertainty has meant opting for less ambitious projects. “It’s difficult to commit to large, time-sensitive work when you’re never quite sure you’ll be able to see it through uninterrupted. I focus more on Judaica, on smaller home objects, and on restoring heirloom pieces. Things that can be set down and picked up again if needed, or where, if a glue-up is interrupted by a missile alert, the loss of work won’t be as significant.”
“Living in Israel over the last three years has honestly felt like an emotional roller coaster,” artist Noa Baranes says. “There have been moments of deep sadness and loss, moments of pride and relief, and moments where life feels strangely normal in between it all.”
Noa’s studio happens to be located in her building’s bomb shelter. “During alerts, neighbors or people passing by would suddenly come into my workspace for safety. I often joke that I probably have the coolest bomb shelter around.”
“I’ve been trying to hold on to some kind of structure and routine” says ceramicist Dannah Levy of Clay By Dannah. “Luckily, the studio and ongoing orders kept me working throughout this time. That gave me a kind of anchor, something that kept me grounded and sane, even if everything takes much more time.”
Adding to the economic uncertainty for these artists is the fact that most airlines have suspended their flights to Israel, and a spring season typically filled with tourists has been eerily quiet.
“I continue working on my shop and my products, but purchases are few, and most physical stores are closed,” Hedva Klein of My Paper Tale says. “I keep creating for two reasons: I need something to occupy myself to get through this period as best as I can, and I hope that the situation will change, end, and that sales will return.”
Still, the Makers of Israel carry on. As L’Atelier’s Judith Nusimovici put it, “I put my headphones on, listen to Shlomo Artzi, and dive into my work. Surrounded by sawdust and pieces of furniture that have gone through decades if not centuries, I can almost forget everything. Then the sound of the alarm cuts through—sharp, immediate—and pulls you back into reality.”
GOLDA’s Makers of Israel Picks
Makers of Israel co-founder Harper Spero brought Noa’s hamsa print to our new office, where it now hangs proudly on our wall. I also love her We Will Bloom Again print, which happens to be on sale.
I love these ceramic planters, which come in four sizes and five different colors.
These mezuzahs are made from reclaimed and salvaged hardwoods from Dannah’s previous furniture projects, which means each one has its own unique variations.
These funky and beautiful necklaces are made from the pages of old books, with the help of a small press and a laser.
GOLDA Events
Tuesday, April 28 — New York City: GOLDA Mahjong Night is sold out, but you can sign up for the waitlist and be the first to find out about the next one here.
Thursday, April 30 — New York City: I’ll be moderating The Paley Center’s “Jewish Storytelling in the Podcast Era” event, featuring podcasters Noam Weissman (Wondering Jews), Margarita Lyadova (People Jew Wanna Know), and Jen Richler (Can We Talk). Register here.
Wednesday, May 27 — New York City: Join GOLDA at The Harmonie Club for a night of conversation with some of our favorite authors, plus shopping and a book signing. GOLDA readers can join Harmonie members and their guests by signing up here.
Stay GOLDA,
Stephanie