Call for Art – Envisioning the Dawn- JAS-Jerusalem Biennale 2026

JERUSALEM BIENNALE 2026 theme is   “DE PROFUNDIS”

The JEWISH ART SALON was invited to propose a group exhibition at the JERUSALEM BIENNALE 2026.

Our theme:

Envisioning the Dawn  (A Meditation on War and Peace)

Inspired by Psalm 130 (From the Depths)

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: APRIL 27, 2025

ABOUT the PROPOSAL

Exhibition Curators: Joel Silverstein, Richard McBee

THEME

The events of October 7 and the subsequent war represent a true turning point in the lives of the Jewish People, both in Israel and in Diaspora communities  across the globe. To describe or explain seems woefully inadequate to the depth and urgency of the situation. Historically Jews have turned to the 130^th Psalm to describe their sense of creation’s inscrutability in times of peace and war. This poem relies on the faith that God is the arbiter of all things. Yet in this case, the Psalm also demarcates  the realization of human limitation; defining a zone of  therapeutic expression and experience: horror, calm, anger, resignation, and longing for peace and spirituality. The Jewish Art Salon will accept 20 visual artists employing the 130th Psalm as a lens to understand and express their own thoughts  and feelings in these most challenging of times.

ELIGIBILITY: Primarily Jewish Art Salon members in good standing; we may consider 1 or 2 guest artists.

NUMBER OF ARTISTS to be selected: up to 20.

Type of ARTWORK: All 2-D works, all mediums, except fragile materials. Size: 24” X 24” Maximum (60 x 60 cm)

APPLICATION FEE: $25 (NON-REFUNDABLE)

ARTIST FEE to be paid by the artist upon acceptance: $400 Per artwork.

These fees are necessary to cover costs of administration, roundtrip international shipping, insurance and installation in Israel.  While the JAS will provide additional funds, the EXHIBITION IS CONTINGENT UPON J.A.S. OBTAINING INDEPENDENT AND GRANT FUNDING. Please note that this is a proposal; if we do not receive sufficient high quality art submissions we will withdraw our proposal from this year’s Biennale.

DEADLINE: Artist Proposals Due APRIL 27, 2025.

APPLY

EMAIL to jasmembership@gmail.com

In subject line: Your first and last name

Email no more than 7 images.

Must include: 

1. Short Description of Artwork. Maximum 250 words.
2. In same document provide Title, Size in inches, Medium, Date. Description must be a text file sent as an attachment.
   Applications with description in the email body will not be processed.
   Include: your city, state, country, phone number, and website URL or Instagram URL (http://…….). No PDFs.
   
3. The size given for works should be the framed size.
   Height must be given before width regardless of whether the work is a vertical or a horizontal.

       2)   Images: jpegs sized between 400 and 900 kb.
Save with your Last_Name_Title.jpeg  

Psalm 130

שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֑וֹת מִמַּעֲמַקִּ֖ים קְרָאתִ֣יךָ יְהֹוָֽה׃ 

A song of ascents.

Out of the depths I call You, O LORD. 

אֲדֹנָי֮ שִׁמְעָ֢ה בְק֫וֹלִ֥י תִּהְיֶ֣ינָה אׇ֭זְנֶיךָ קַשֻּׁב֑וֹת לְ֝ק֗וֹל תַּחֲנוּנָֽי׃ 

O Lord, listen to my cry;
let Your ears be attentive
to my plea for mercy. 

אִם־עֲוֺנ֥וֹת תִּשְׁמׇר־יָ֑הּ אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י מִ֣י יַעֲמֹֽד׃ 

If You keep account of sins, O LORD,
Lord, who will survive? 

כִּֽי־עִמְּךָ֥ הַסְּלִיחָ֑ה לְ֝מַ֗עַן תִּוָּרֵֽא׃ 

Yours is the power to forgive
so that You may be held in awe.

קִוִּ֣יתִי יְ֭הֹוָה קִוְּתָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֑י וְֽלִדְבָר֥וֹ הוֹחָֽלְתִּי׃ 

I look to the LORD;
I look to Him;
I await His word. 

נַפְשִׁ֥י לַאדֹנָ֑י מִשֹּׁמְרִ֥ים לַ֝בֹּ֗קֶר שֹׁמְרִ֥ים לַבֹּֽקֶר׃ 

I am more eager for the Lord
than watchmen for the morning,
watchmen for the morning.

יַחֵ֥ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֶל־יְ֫הֹוָ֥ה כִּֽי־עִם־יְהֹוָ֥ה הַחֶ֑סֶד וְהַרְבֵּ֖ה עִמּ֣וֹ פְדֽוּת׃ 

O Israel, wait for the LORD;
for with the LORD is steadfast love
and great power to redeem. 

וְ֭הוּא יִפְדֶּ֣ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מִ֝כֹּ֗ל עֲוֺנֹתָֽיו׃ {פ}

It is He who will redeem Israel from all their iniquities.

Statement by the Jerusalem Biennale

The theme of the seventh Jerusalem Biennale, De Profundis, prompts exploration of many and varied issues. Our point of departure is the need to gaze into our very hearts and souls. Such introspection is an essential step for therapy, rehabilitation, healing, and rebuilding. The descent into our depths invites  the meticulous excavating and dissecting of key issues, down to their roots, so as to uncover them layer by layer, employing the mental fortitude necessary to draw out revival from our emotional, sensory, and symbolic depths. This is an essential task, as revealing these layers reflects courageous and proactive engagement, both in thought and in action. Thus, like diamonds mined from deep within the earth, De Profundis also expresses a forward-looking gaze, hope and optimism. 

Naturally, all of this relates to the events of October 7th and the ensuing war, which sent shockwaves through Israel and the world. Like an earthquake, when a gaping hole opens in the earth’s surface, October 7th brought up pain, loss, brokenness, and disappointment, alongside solidarity, growth, and hope, all of which require both coping and processing. The assumptions that were upended, the truths that emerged, and the old order that was called into question, taught us that reality is dynamic, and demands organizing anew. Since October 7th, everything that lay underground took on chilling meanings. This is an invitation to propose a curatorial and artistic discussion of the concepts of above and below the surface, the exposed and the concealed, the concealed and that waiting to be revealed, that which is accessible and that which cannot be accessed.

In addition to these themes, yet directly related thereto, the title De Profundis prompts a discussion of the place and power of prayer. The words “Out of the Depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord” [Psalms 130:1] are about calling out to God for help, salvation, and rescue from moments of distress and danger, as well as expressing metaphorical anguish. This psalm, which is recited on Yom Kippur and in some communities every day of the Ten Days of Repentance, has been added to the regular liturgy in many congregations since Tishrei 5784 as a tangible expression of turbulent times and to offer the consolation that many find in prayer.