This February of 2015 the international artist Benjamin Swatez, together with the Israeli artist Shira Shvadron, conducted the Art Therapy in Israel.

Mr. Swatez exhibits his art work in four continents and has been teaching art therapy all around the globe for over a decade: India, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Los Angeles, DR Congo, Uganda, Bosnia etc.

Ms. Shvadron journeyed deep into the heart of Africa with one bag and a journal, sticking out her thumb and riding the winds of creative exploration. Throughout the continent her anthropological research lead to a broader understanding of "therapy" and she was determined to bring it home to Israel and spread liberating color over a time scattered with war, she joined Benjamin's project in Uganda, Mami Wata: Heal Africa through Art Project, during the month of March 2014. Over the period of 5 months the project worked directly with 800 former child soldiers, recently freed sex slaves and children born into captivity. Their artwork has been exhibited in Venezuela, Argentina, and Colombia with more exhibition on the horizon, sharing their voice of freedom with humanity.
 

OUR PROGRAM:

The Art Therapy Project in Israel will be collaborating with both Arab and Jewish children throughout Israel with the intention of developing conflict management communication, release trauma through creative therapy, and celebrate our similarities and differences through art. Several murals and hundreds of paintings will emerge from this project and this voice of freedom will be spread across the globe as the children paint their inner-liberation with the colors of love. 

 

The Project took place in a number of locations: 

- 05/02 - EcoME - A center located near Jericho, researches social and personal sustainability in a multicultural context, amidst a conflict area. There painted a joint  10X10 m floor painting, that will remain for the center and emphasis its important work. https://www.facebook.com/ecome15 

 

"Benjamin and Shira were visiting us in EcoME and. brought so much joy and inspiration (and a truck full of art materials!!!). We have had a beautiful day in EcoME - a place of meeting and learning together how to live in peace, at the west bank. A class of Israeli arabs and a group of Israeli teens before their army service have arrived. Benjamin wad leading us into a co-creation of a beautiful floor painting, created with the inspiration and collaboration of all. The kids and all of us were deeply touched by the joy that was shared in this day. Thank you so much Benjamin and Shira for making this happen!!!" - Noa Ilay-Shilo, Founder

- 07/02- 13/02 - Guest house JUHA - In Jisr A-Zarka, One of the poorest and loveliest village in Israel, We had a week long curriculum with the Youth of "Atid" Technological highschool and gathered both Jewish Youth from "Binyamina scouts and Arab youth from the technical highschool "Atid" for a joint class. There we taught drawing techniques, Painted on professional canvases and Painted a joint big mural on the Entrance bridge of the village. 
http://www.zarqabay.com/ 

- 17/02- 23/02 - Newe Shalom School - In the joint by Jewish and Arab Village Newe Shalom, We did A workshop with the kids of the school, their parents and the teachers. Finishing the week with a Mural on one of the school walls Joint together with the kids, Teachers, Parents and the artists.
http://wasns.org/ 


EXCITING FUTURE!

 

Exhibitions of the work that emerges from this project, and the retrospective paintings of Benjamin Swatez, have been secured for September 2015 in Bogota, Colombia and November 2015 in Lima, Peru. It is planned to exhibit the works as well in Boston and New York, USA. 

This project will also be documented by video and stills. The film will be submitted in International film Festivals.

 

Many children cannot verbalize their traumas, and yet, 1000 words can be expressed within a single painting.