Art Guide
For each song in our playlist, we offer an example of contemporary Israeli visual art that connects with the themes and narrative of the lyrics. This adds another dimension to your exploration of each song while enriching your familiarity with Israeli art and culture.
Artwork: The Friends From Salamander Hill
Artist: Michal Bat-Or
The groundbreaking children’s book The Friends from Salamander Hill is artist/academic Michal Bat-Or’s response to the clash of cultures and narratives described in the song “The Big Story” by the Backyard.
The lushly illustrated book tells the story of two girls, one Palestinian, the other Israeli, who become best friends and confidants. This friendship is put to the test as they begin to realize the conflicts that exist between their respective family histories and the world around them.
Michal, an art therapist living and working in the multicultural milieu of Israel’s north, offers a compelling narrative meant to expose children to the complexities of the political situation by juxtaposing it with the natural simplicity of friendship and mutual respect.
The work is informed by the many layers of reality and experience she grew up with as the child of eastern and western refugee survivor parents who settled in areas that once housed another people.
Michal was inspired by the mix of cultures around her, as well as the stories she heard from her family and from others in her part of the country.
Michal’s illustrations perfectly reflect the book’s messages in the materials used— multiple layers of torn and reconstructed origami paper. The depth achieved mirrors that of the contrasting family histories, while the simplicity and dream-like quality perfectly suit the girls’ innocence and learning. The tearing and re-building is a metaphor for the lives of people on both sides of the conflict.
Much like the message in the song “The Big Story”, The Friends from Salamander Hill has no conclusive ending. It suggests that this is a story still being written, still open to a more or less positive conclusion. Both works are a call to action, with a deep understanding of the difficulties involved.
The Friends from Salamander Hill is written in Hebrew. Arabic and English translations are pending.
And Now You
- Do you think that it’s appropriate to expose children to topics such as the Holocaust, the exile of Palestinians, and the conflict between Jews and Arabs?
- How do you feel as an adult when you see Jewish and Palestinian narratives presented as equal examples of pain and suffering?
- What are some other ways we might introduce young people to the complex histories and narratives presented in this work?
- Is it correct to offer either a sense of optimism or despair when teaching/ discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? How do we navigate this polarity within ourselves?
Visual Art
Artwork: The Friends From Salamander Hill
Artist: Michal Bat-Or
The groundbreaking children’s book The Friends from Salamander Hill is artist/academic Michal Bat-Or’s response to the clash of cultures and narratives described in the song “The Big Story” by the Backyard.
The lushly illustrated book tells the story of two girls, one Palestinian, the other Israeli, who become best friends and confidants. This friendship is put to the test as they begin to realize the conflicts that exist between their respective family histories and the world around them.
Michal, an art therapist living and working in the multicultural milieu of Israel’s north, offers a compelling narrative meant to expose children to the complexities of the political situation by juxtaposing it with the natural simplicity of friendship and mutual respect.
The work is informed by the many layers of reality and experience she grew up with as the child of eastern and western refugee survivor parents who settled in areas that once housed another people.
Michal was inspired by the mix of cultures around her, as well as the stories she heard from her family and from others in her part of the country.
Michal’s illustrations perfectly reflect the book’s messages in the materials used— multiple layers of torn and reconstructed origami paper. The depth achieved mirrors that of the contrasting family histories, while the simplicity and dream-like quality perfectly suit the girls’ innocence and learning. The tearing and re-building is a metaphor for the lives of people on both sides of the conflict.
Much like the message in the song “The Big Story”, The Friends from Salamander Hill has no conclusive ending. It suggests that this is a story still being written, still open to a more or less positive conclusion. Both works are a call to action, with a deep understanding of the difficulties involved.
The Friends from Salamander Hill is written in Hebrew. Arabic and English translations are pending.
And Now You
- Do you think that it’s appropriate to expose children to topics such as the Holocaust, the exile of Palestinians, and the conflict between Jews and Arabs?
- How do you feel as an adult when you see Jewish and Palestinian narratives presented as equal examples of pain and suffering?
- What are some other ways we might introduce young people to the complex histories and narratives presented in this work?
- Is it correct to offer either a sense of optimism or despair when teaching/ discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? How do we navigate this polarity within ourselves?
