What's Happening?
A new exhibition titled 'Thread of the Field' is being showcased at Beit Harishonim in Emek Hefer, featuring a collaboration between painter Michael Kovner and a group of contemporary weavers. This project, which spans two years, explores the intersection
of painting and textile art. The initiative began when multidisciplinary artist Gila Miller Lapidot was invited to translate one of Kovner's paintings into woven form. Under her leadership, the project expanded to include 16 weavers who engaged in a dialogue between artistic disciplines. The exhibition focuses on three of Kovner's paintings—'The Sea,' 'The Cowshed,' and 'The Hayloft'—which are inspired by memories of Kibbutz Ein Hahoresh. These paintings served as a starting point for the weavers, who reinterpreted the imagery using textile techniques rather than direct replication.
Why It's Important?
This exhibition highlights the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration in the arts, showcasing how traditional crafts like weaving can reinterpret and add new dimensions to established art forms like painting. By transforming brushstrokes into thread, the project shifts the visual language from pigment to fiber, exploring new variations in color, rhythm, and material. This not only broadens the scope of artistic expression but also emphasizes the cultural and historical significance of weaving as a form of storytelling and community building. The project underscores the value of collective artistic practice and the possibilities it opens for innovation and renewal in the art world.
What's Next?
The exhibition will be open to the public from January 16 through April 11, 2026, with gallery talks and opportunities for visitors to engage with the artists. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with one of the participating weavers present during weekend hours. This setup allows for ongoing interaction and dialogue between the artists and the public, potentially inspiring future collaborations and projects that further explore the intersection of different artistic disciplines.
