Graffiti overcomes Kassams in Sderot

April 28, 2010 - 8:11 AM by

Fixing a hole - one of the urban artists from Artists 4 Israel in Sderot. (Photo: Ron Friedman)

Residents of Sderot, who for years were under bombardment by Hamas-launched rockets, haven’t had much color in their lives. And even though the skies are generally (but not always) quiet now, the city’s bomb shelters which dot the landscape at every possible angle provide plenty indications that life there is very precarious.

That’s why an international group of graffiti artists under the Artists 4 Israel moniker have descended upon the southern city to brighten up the surroundings and give the residents of Sderot some color back in their lives.

“Unfortunately, people here have to live with bomb shelters. We’re here doing a little something to bring some color to something that’s here for an ugly reason,” said American graffiti artist Cycle, summing up to The Jerusalem Post the aim of the group’s “Murality Project’ mission to Israel.

The 25 urban artists from the United States, Spain, Mexico and Israel, including some of the top names in New York City urban art, have been decorating the city’s bomb shelters for a couple days already beautifying the bombarded city’s public bomb shelters.

“You can still feel the tension in the air. People aren’t at ease,” Texas graffiti artist Saul Schister told The Post.

“One of the artists was working with headphones on, listening to music, and a resident came up to him and yelled at him. He told him that it was dangerous because with the headphones on, he wouldn’t be able to hear the sirens,” said Schister. “I guess that for them, these bomb shelters on every street are a constant reminder that they live in a war zone.”

An Israeli artist who goes by the name of Psycho said that the experience was even special for him – because he wasn’t used to painting public buildings with the permission of the municipality.

“I used to paint illegally, but then I was caught by the police. Since then I’ve been doing commissioned work,” he said. “I don’t really care about the politics. For me it’s more about the art. But I know that the people here have had a rough time and if my work can help, I’m happy to do it. So far people’s reactions have been really positive. Some people have even asked if we can come paint their house.”

Tags: , , , • Category: A New Reality, Art, coexistence, design, General, Israeliness, Life, Social Justice 

Comments

One Comment on Graffiti overcomes Kassams in Sderot

  1. Hotels Nicosia on Fri, Mar 11th 2011 12:11 PM

    2. These bright images must ease the inhabitants’ lives

Leave a Comment





© 2012 ISRAELITY | Site by illuminea | Sitemap