An art exhibition in southern Israel brought together religious and secular artists to process the trauma of the October 7 Hamas-led massacre. Held at the Shafir Youth Center, the event was part of the Herzog Center for Promoting Inclusive Creativity's yearlong "Creating Space" initiative, curated by Israeli designer Zohar Yerom. Works spanned movement, poetry, painting, sculpture, and video art, with interactive installations including Avivit Shaked's "The Womb" and Avital Ora Fishwait's "The Birth Room." Audience members participated by writing pre-October 7 memories and painting images of healing.
The exhibition matters because it demonstrates how art can foster social resilience in a deeply divided society, uniting religious and secular, right- and left-wing artists after a national trauma. Organizers noted the emotional difficulty of returning to creative work post-October 7 but emphasized art's role in healing and building community. The event also launched a new network of artists in southern Israel, aiming to support shared life in the Negev region.