Artwork, fashion and jewelry from Israel will be on display in Merchants Square for a few days in March.
Binns is creating and hosting Israeli Art and Fashion Culture Week the week of March 12, according to Binns owner Thomas Smith. The celebration of Israeli culture and artwork is intended to bring the peoples of the two countries together in celebration of empathy and understanding.
“It’s about sharing and collaborating, and the opportunity for two very different communities to learn about each other’s art,” Smith said. “The value that it’s offering the community here is an understanding of what is Israeli culture and art.”
One hundred ten paintings created by Matter of Color, a 120-member group of Israeli artists, will be on display in Merchants Square between Wednesday, March 14 and Friday, March 16.
Eighty of the artists with Matter of Color will also be present for the display. Matter of Color members have been painting together multiple times per week for more than 20 years, and during that time they have traveled on several international missions to support children, according to their website.
There will be no admission fee to view the art, which will also be available for purchase in an online auction. The proceeds of the auction will go toward Minds in Motion, an outreach program for school children run by the Richmond Ballet.
Minds in Motion and Matter of Color are participating in an exchange program called Art of Understanding. The exchange will see the two groups share letters, painting and dances over the course of a year, according to the Matter of Color website.
The exchange is supposed to promote understanding and empathy while both groups create various works of art together and learn from one another.
By folding Art of Understanding into Israeli Culture Week, Smith said he hopes to lend support both groups and their joint efforts.
“We’re trying to do things that really make tangible the efforts that both countries and citizens of Williamsburg and Tel Aviv are putting into the success of their program,” Smith said.
Smith added that more than $100,000 worth of Israeli-produced jewelry, clothing, handbags, shoes and more will be on display alongside the works of art.
Smith went before the city’s Economic Development Authority Wednesday afternoon to ask for up to $10,000 in financial backing from the city in order to rent a 40-by-90-foot tent in which to display the items and artwork in Merchants Square.
The EDA deferred his request until their next meeting in March. Smith said the event will go on, regardless of the city’s pending decision. Without the city’s support, however, the display of artwork may be inside of Binns rather than under a tent in Merchants Square.
He added that he has applied for a special event permit from the city, and is currently awaiting approval.
Smith said in an email to the EDA that he hopes the Israeli Culture week could draw thousands of visitors to the city and become an annual event.
The delegation visiting Williamsburg from Israel will be composed of people from all walks of life, including doctors, generals, professors and business executives. Smith believes their presence will provide a unique opportunity for area residents to expand their horizons.
“It’s an introduction to Israeli culture and life,” Smith said. “You’ll meet fascinating, very socially engaging citizens from Israel… It’s an opportunity for you to ask your own questions about what life in Israeli is about and discover how our values are so similar.”
