AIDA: association of israel's decorative arts

2019 Events & Highlights

January 2019: Art Palm Beach celebrates its 22nd Edition at the Palm Beach County Convention Center from January 16-20, 2019. Galleries from around the world will be exhibiting contemporary and emerging artists. Donna Schneier's booth will be exhibiting Israeli jewelers Nirit Dekel and Sharon Vaizer, and Isaac Levy will also have a presence at the show with Yvel.
January 2019: Click to read letter from Chris Taylor (Pilchuck Glass School), detailing his AIDA-sponsored trip to Israel.
February 2019: Click to read letter from Mia Hall (Executive Director of Penland School of Crafts), detailing her AIDA-sponsored trip to Israel.
February 2019: Click to read letter from Paul Sacaridiz (Director of Haystack Mountain School of Crafts), detailing his AIDA-sponsored trip to Israel.
July 2019: AIDA announces the names of the 22 Israeli artists to be featured at the Guest Artist Program at the 2019 Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show
July 2019: AIDA contributed support to the Benyamini Contemporary Ceramics Center's International Invitational Installation Residency for artist Walter McConnell. Click to read a letter from Marcelle Klein, describing the project in detail with accompanying images.
July 2019: Artist Highlight: Isaac Levy's luxury jewelry brand YVEL, will be participating in the Seattle Art Fair from August 1 to 4, at the Century Link Field Event Center.
July 2019: Netflix announces new series Blown Away, the first-ever TV competition series featuring the art of glassblowing. The Corning Museum of Glass was involved from concept to reality. AIDA has had a long and fruitful partnership with Corning, funded by Andy Bronfman's children.
August 2019: "Jewelers Speak Out: Stirring Voices from an Ancient Land", Metalsmith. Organized thematically, this article highlights twenty-seven artists whose visually captivating and thought-provoking works comprise an in-depth look at Israel's contemporary jewelry scene. By Ursula Ilse-Neuman.
August 2019: Artist Highlight: Maiyan Ben Yona received a scholarship from AIDA to participate in a residence at the Watershed Center for Ceramics. During her two weeks in Watershed, Maiyan started work on a new collection of pieces that will appear in an upcoming exhibition at Periscope Gallery in Tel-Aviv in February 2020.
December 2019: AIDA artists Itay Noy and Sharon Vaizer will present their new collections at the annual CraftBoston Holiday, a bustling shopping event held at the Hynes Convention Center from December 13-15, 2019.
December 2019: "AIDA IN ACTION", Metalsmith Tech. This month's issue includes a feature story that highlights AIDA's involvement in the 2019 Philadelphia Craft Show and describes the independence and professionalism now characteristic of Israeli artists, in part a testament to AIDA's stewardship and success. By Davira S. Taragin.
December 2019: Watch a short video highlighting the experiences of the Israeli artists who participated in the 2019 Philadelphia Craft Show.

2018 Events & Highlights

January 2018: Artist Highlight: Martha Rieger: Watch video of AIDA artist Martha Rieger’s process in creating her extraordinary large-scale ceramic ‘bubbles’ in collaboration with Wei Design Studio, using the Jingdezhen technique while in the porcelain capital of China. Click to watch video >
January 2018: New York Ceramics & Glass Fair. AIDA provided 2 for 1 admission and support for the fair, which brings together a carefully selected international group of 28 galleries offering all things "fired" - porcelain, pottery and glass, in a setting perfect for the exhibition and sale of important small objects. Our very own Martha Rieger, an Israeli ceramicist, exhibited at the show.
January 2018: Click to read letter from the Ceramic Artists Association of Isreal, detailing an AIDA-sponsored visit from clay artist Anders Reuhwald at their annual symposium at Tel Hai.
March 2018: The Norton Museum of Art presents the seventh annual BIJOUX!, a contemporary art jewelry show and exhibition by international artists, this year featuring six Israeli jewely designers: Nirit Dekel, Liat Ginzburg, Avital Coorsh, Inbar Shahak, Sara Shahak and Sharon Vaizer. AIDA will be covering the costs for travel and hotel accommodations for the jewelers from Israel participating in BIJOUX!
March 2018: AIDA provides travel grants and support for the artists featured in UNRESOLVED (ISSUES): New Glass from Israel - at Urban Glass featuring the work of Miri Admoni, Ghiora Aharoni, Alexandra Ben-Abba, Roi Carmeli, Li Chen, Nirit Dekel, Dafna Kaffeman, Shahaf Predilailo, and Gregori Zilber.
April 2018: Artist Highlight: Sara Shahak who just wrapped up an exhibition at BIJOUX!, is now showing her contemporary jewelry in Portugual and will soon take part in Athens Jewelry Week, May 23-30th.
April 2018: Artist Highlight: Johnathan Hopp, an Israeli ceramicist, has been recruited by ALFRED UNIVERSITY to teach next year. Alfred is a world renowned school with one of America's top ceramic programs.
April 2018: AIDA helps support historic exhibition Israel: 70 Years of Craft and Design, celebrating the art and innovation of the nation's diverse people through a rich range of objects of daily use. Coinciding with global recognition of Israel's 70 years of statehood, this project is the Museum's first opportunity in its 40-year history to feature the innovative work of Israel's designers and artists. Click to watch video >
April 2018: Artist Highlight: Ronit Baranga, an award-winning contemporary Israeli sculptor, announces new solo exhibition "Demons' Playground" at Booth Gallery in New York City.
October 2018: Read a letter and view images from artist Maayan Elyakim, AIDA scholarship recipient at Pilchuck Glass School
October 2018: Read a letter and view images from artist Li Chen Berlinksy, AIDA scholarship recipient at Corning's summer course
October 2018: Artist Highlight: Ayalya Serfaty's unique light-sculpture at the Mingei's exhbition "Israel: 70 Years of Craft & Design". Click to watch video >
December 2018: AIDA artist Inbar Shahak will be presenting her new jewelry collection at the annual CraftBoston Holiday, a bustling shopping event held at the Hynes Convention Center from December 14-16, 2018.
December 2018: Artist Highlight: Dafna Kaffeman has been selected to exhibit at The Corning Museum of Glass special exhibition NEW GLASS NOW, a global survey of contemporary glass representing 32 nationalities and 25 countries and the first exhibition of its kind organized by the Museum in 40 years. The show, which will be on view from May 12, 2019, through January 5, 2020, will include works ranging from large-scale installations and delicate miniatures to video and experiments in glass chemistry. Click to see images and watch video of Dafna in her studio >
December 2018: AIDA commits to bring 22 Israeli artists to exhibit and sell their work at next year's Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show (2019).

2017 Events & Highlights

February 2017: The Norton Museum of Art presents the sixth annual BIJOUX!, a contemporary art jewelry show and exhibition by international artists, this year featuring seven Israeli jewely designers from Israel: Nirit Dekel, Liat Ginzburg, Inbar Shahak, Sara Shahak, Sharon Vaizer, Orlyl Wexler, and Yasmin Vinograd. AIDA will be covering the costs for travel and hotel accommodations for the jewelers from Israel participating in BIJOUX!
March 2017: AIDA artist Inbar Shahak was curated into LOOT: MAD About Jewelry, a prestigious annual exhibition and sale featuring designs from more than 50 international jewelry artists, which opens to the public on April 4, 2017 at The Museum of Arts and Design in New York.
March 2017: BIJOUX! A Great Success. 7 AIDA artists collectively sold 295 pieces!. Gross sales from the AIDA artists came to approximately $100,000 (between 20 – 25% of the show’s gross sales). It was, by all measures, a great success!
July 2017: PRESS RELEASE: Scholarship Program for Qualified Israeli Artists Interested in Working in Glass Reaches Ten Year Mark. View Press Release >
August 2017: Read a letter to AIDA from artist Katerina Verguelis , AIDA Glass Program Grant Recipient
August 2017: Read a letter to AIDA from artist Lior Vagima , AIDA Glass Program Grant Recipient
October 2017: AIDA artists Nirit Dekel, Inbar Shahak, and Sharon Vaizer will be coming from Israel to exhibit and attend Art to Wear at The Pierre in New York, a contemporary jewelry event hosted by Donna Schneier Fine Arts, followed by SOFA Chicago, the premier gallery-presented art fair dedicated to three-dimensional art and design.
October 2017: Artist Update: ITAY NOY Award-winning designer with a family history of watchmaking, Itay produces thought-provoking, hand-finished timepieces that are unlike other watches on the market. Don't miss Mr. Noy's bespoke timepieces at these four upcoming U.S. exhibitions.
October 2017: The Benyamini Contemporary Ceramics Center, with support from AIDA, initiated an international, multicultural art event with a controversial subject, “Post-Colonialism?” Click to read more and watch a short video about this ambitious project >
October 2017: AIDA provides complimentary VIP admission for AIDA Supporters to support Israeli artist jewelers at SOFA Chicago 2017
November 2017: Artist Update: ITAY NOY's award-winning timepieces on display at the American Fine Craft Show, November 18-19, at the Brooklyn Museum!
November 2017: AIDA offers Art Basel VIP Access for AIDA supporters.
December 2017: AIDA offers FORM MIAMI VIP Access for AIDA supporters. FORM MIAMI is Miami's only art fair dedicated to the applied arts and sculpture objects.
December 2017: AIDA artists Itay Noy, Inbar Shahak and Anat Zamir at the 12th annual CraftBoston Holiday, a bustling shopping event held at the Hynes Convention Center from December 15-17
December 2017: Artist Update: Ayala Serfaty will be exhibiting new work with her New York gallery, Maison Gerard, at Design Miami from December 6-10th. Occurring alongside the Art Basel fair in Miami, this sister fair has become the premier venue for collecting, exhibiting, discussing and creating collectible design.

2016 Events & Highlights

January 2016: Irit Abba, an AIDA ceramic artist, was awarded the Israeli Ministry of Culture's prestigious Design Prize for 2015. She received it in recognition for her enduring innovative and contemporary work.
January 2016: Read a letter to AIDA from Susan Braunstein Henry J. Leir Curator at the Jewish Museum in the City of New York
February 2016: The Norton Museum of Art presents the fifth annual BIJOUX!, a contemporary art jewelry show and exhibition by international artists, this year featuring seven jewely designers from Israel: Nirit Dekel, Lia Elnatan, Liat Ginzburg, Shai Lahover, Inbar Shahak, Sara Shahak, Sharon Vaizer
February 2016: Click to read a letter from Elizabeth Argo, Philadelphia Museum of Art, detailing her experience on the AIDA Curatorial Trip 2015
March 2016: PRESS RELEASE: Ceramic Sculptor Kathy Butterly to Travel to Israel as Part of AIDA Program View Press Release >
May 2016: New York Times Article: Cooper-Hewitt Triennial Highlights Wrinkles Jewelry Collection by Bezalel Graduate Noa Zilberman. Click to read article >
May 2016: AIDA Curator Program 2016: announcement of five selected curators to take part in the second year of the AIDA Curator Program: Mel Buchanan, RosaMary Curator of Decorative Arts & Design; New Orleans Museum of Art, Jennifer Komar Olivarez, Curator of Decorative Arts & Design; Minneapolis Institute of Art, Marisa Pascucci, Curator of Collections, Boca Raton Museum of Art, Sarah Schleuning, Curator of Decorative Arts & Design, High Museum of Art, Diane Wright, Carolyn & Richard Barry Curator of Glass, Chyrsler Museum of Art
May 2016: Introduction to first of five curators AIDA is bringing to Israel to participate in the 2016 AIDA Curator Program: Mel Buchanan, RosaMary Curator of Decorative Arts & Design; New Orleans Museum of Art
June 2016: Introduction to second of five curators AIDA is bringing to Israel to participate in the 2016 AIDA Curator Program: Jennifer Komar Olivarez, Curator of Decorative Arts & Design; Minneapolis Institute of Art
June 2016: Introduction to third of five curators AIDA is bringing to Israel to participate in the 2016 AIDA Curator Program: Marisa Pascucci, Curator of Collections, Boca Raton Museum of Art
June 2016: Introduction to fourth of five curators AIDA is bringing to Israel to participate in the 2016 AIDA Curator Program: Sarah Schleuning, Curator of Decorative Arts & Design, High Museum of Art
June 2016: Introduction to last of five curators AIDA is bringing to Israel to participate in the 2016 AIDA Curator Program: Diane Wright, Carolyn & Richard Barry Curator of Glass, Chyrsler Museum of Art
June 2016: Two jewelers from Israel, Nirit Dekel and Liat Ginsburg, will be flying to New York to participate in the Art Hamptons show, courtesy of AIDA
July 2016: Click to read letter from Liv Sperber, Vice President for International Affairs, Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Jerusalem, about his experience with the curators AIDA brought over and the relationship that Bezalel has with AIDA.
August 2016: AIDA Artist Update: Mira Maylor - In 2013, Israeli artist Mira Maylor received a scholarship from AIDA to attend a summer course at the prestigious Pilchuck glass school. Since that summer, Mira's professional career has blossomed in the United States, and she has started to work with galleries in Michigan, San Francisco, and Chicago. View Update >
August 2016: Click to read letter from Marcelle Klein, Trustee and Director of the Benyamini Contemporary Ceramics Center, about the 2016 AIDA Curator Program
September 2016: AIDA Artist Update: Naama Bergman - Israeli artist Naama Bergman has solo show "Saturation Point" at Gallery Loupe
October 2015: AIDA provides complimentary VIP admission for AIDA Supporters to SOFA Chicago 2016
October 2016: PRESS RELEASE: AIDA Completes Fifth Cycle of Its Critical Travel Program for American Museum Curators View Press Release >

2015 Events & Highlights

February 2015: The Norton Museum of Art is presenting the fourth annual BIJOUX!, a contemporary art jewelry show and exhibition by international artists, featuring five jewely designers from Israel: Avital Coorsh, Nirit Dekel, Liat Ginzburg, Sara Shahak, and Inbar Shahak.
March 2015: Click to view article from American Craft Magazine, "Craft Metropolis", story by Davira S. Taragin featuring AIDA's director Aviva Ben-Sira
April 2015: AIDA Announces the winners of the 2015 Andy Bronfman - AIDA Awards at Corning scholarship/residencies: Netta Bacon, Nirit Dekel, Noa Fein, Eitan Ben-Moshe
May 2015: AIDA Announces the winners of the 2015 AIDA Awards at Pilchuck Glass School scholarship/residencies: Edit Kaplan Friedberg and Olga Rozin
May 2015: AIDA Curator Program 2015: announcement of five selected curators to take part in inagural program: Elisabeth Argo, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Susan Braunstein, Jewish Museum, New York, Anni Carlano, Mint Museum, Stefano Catalani, Bellevue Arts Museum, Jutta Page, Toledo Museum of Art
May 2015: Introduction to first of five curators AIDA is bringing to Israel to participate in the 2015 AIDA Curator Program: Elisabeth Argo, Philadelphia Museum of Art
May 2015: Introduction to second of five curators AIDA is bringing to Israel to participate in the 2015 AIDA Curator Program: Susan Braunstein, Jewish Museum, New York
June 2015: Introduction to third of five curators AIDA is bringing to Israel to participate in the 2015 AIDA Curator Program: Anni Carlano, Mint Museum
June 2015: Introduction to fourth of five curators AIDA is bringing to Israel to participate in the 2015 AIDA Curator Program: Stefano Catalani, Bellevue Arts Museum
June 2015: Introduction to last of five curators AIDA is bringing to Israel to participate in the 2015 AIDA Curator Program: Jutta Page, Toledo Museum of Art
June 2015: AIDA Artist Highlight: Boris Shpeizman's blue glass Shofar was presented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to actor Michael Douglas at the second annual Genesis Prize ceremony in Jerusalem on June 18th
July 2015: Three artists have been selected by a jury consisting of ceramists from Watershed and Givat Haviva, with input from AIDA's jury, to participate in the third biannual AIDAshed program in Israel: Elizabeth Kendal, Sequoi Miller, and Denise Pelletier
July 2015: AIDA Artist Highlight: Bennett Bean - click to watch video about ceramic artist Bennett Bean
August 2015: Daniella Ohad Smith is a professional in the world of design. Here’s what she has to say about Vered Kaminski, the 2015 Andy Prize recipient
August 2015: Read Daniella Ohad Smith's thoughts about Israeli artist Ayala Serfaty's light sclupture SOMA, 2015, the enormous light sculpture commissioned by the Corning Museum of Glass
September 2015: Glass: The Urban Glass Quarterly features article about Ayala Serfaty, entitled "Shared Intimacies"
September 2015: AIDA Artist Highlight: Netta Bacon. Click to read letter from Netta Bacon who received AIDA's Corning scholarship.
October 2015: AIDA provides complimentary VIP admission for AIDA Supporters to SOFA Chicago 2015
October 2015: AIDA Artist Highlight: Noa Fein. Click to read letter from Noa Fein who received an AIDA scholarship to attend Corning Glass Studio and Wheaton Art Center.
October 2015: Click to read the The Wall Street Journal article "Israeli designer Ayala Serfaty's Watery Inspiration for the Home". The artist’s early experience snorkeling in the Red Sea launched her unorthodox designs.
November 2015: AIDA artist Gali Cnaani featured in the Huffington Post Arts & Culture section, "A Pretty, Impractical Way To Organize Your Bookshelf: Forget alphabetical shelving. This textile artist shows us how it's done."
December 2015: Ceramic artists Bennett Bean just arrived in Israel as AIDA's guest artist for the annual Tel Hai Ceramic Symposium where 300 Israeli ceramists hear lectures and see demonstrations by 3 international artists.
December 2015: Click to read a letter from Bennett Bean about his AIDA sponsored trip to Israel.

2014 Events & Highlights

February 2014: Click to view a short video clip from our conversation with the Directors of the Corning Studio, Haystack Mountain School, Pilchuck Glass School and Penland School of Crafts at SOFA Chicago.
February 2014: The Norton Museum of Art is presenting BIJOUX!, a contemporary art jewelry show. featuring seven artists from Israel: Dania Chelminsky, Nirit Dekel, Liat Ginzburg, Asnat Koblenz, NoaLia (Noa Liran & Lia Kirel), Sara Shahak, and Inbar Shahak Berchman.
March 2014: Aida Artist Highlight: Dana Hakim, an AIDA jeweler, has a solo show at the esteemed Dutch Galerie Marzee.
March 2014: Aida Artist Highlight: Samy D has a joint exhibition with artist Ronen Shaarabani at the Farm Gallery in Holon, Israel. The exhibition opens the 4th edition of the Israeli Design Week in Holon, an initiative of Design Museum Holon.
April 2014: Davira Taragin curates new show Without Camouflage. Dafna Kaffeman. Sylvia Levenson at the David Owsley Museum of Art at Ball State University. AIDA made a lead grant to support the catalog that will accompany this exhibition as well as a grant that will enable AIDA artist Dafna Kaffeman (Director of the Glass Program at Bezalel) to travel from Tel Aviv to do a series of workshops and demonstrations with the BFA and MFA students at Ball State University.
April 2014: AIDA is sending esteemed American sculptor and glass artist Daniel Clayman to Israel in April, where he will be teaching a multi-day workshop entitled "Glass Casting in a Ceramic Kiln" at Benyamini Contemporary Ceramics Center, as well as lecturing at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem.
April 2014: Roi Carmeli and Netta Bacon, two Israel artists, are selected to participate in Discovering glass art at Expressions in Glass, at Minnetrista, Muncie, IN.
April 2014: Aida Artist Highlight: Gali Cnaani has been chosen to participate in a group show at the esteemed browngrotta arts, a gallery that specializes in international art textiles, mixed media and dimensional art.
May 2014: AIDA Announces the winners of the Andy Bronfman - AIDA Awards at Corning scholarship/residencies: Nimrod Azulay, Olya Brenner, Li Chen, Einav Mekori, Lior Vagima, Gregori Zilber
May 2014: AIDA Announces the winners of the AIDA Awards at Pilchuck Glass School scholarship/residencies: Lisbeth Biger, Noam Dover, Danny Kalderon, Yoav Reches
June 2014: AIDA Announces the winners of the AIDA Awards at at Haystack Mountain School scholarship/residencies: Michal Caspi, Ori Efrat, Eladd Guterman, Shachar Krishner, Shavit Munder, Elad Yehezkel, Shira Zinger
June 2014: AIDA Announces the winners of the AIDA Awards at Penland School of Crafts scholarship/residencies: Shay Gerassy, Barak Harel, Lee Schein, Orly Wexler
June 2014: AIDA Awards UrbanGlass Residency to Olya Brener
July 2014: Emerging Israeli artist Ruta Reifen has a solo exhibition at Sienna Gallery in Lenox, Massachusetts
September 2014: AIDA's Director, Aviva Ben-Sira, and six jewelers from Israel will travel to Montreal with support from AIDA to present their work as part of BIJOUX=ART: 18-21 Sep 2014 at The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal. The jewelers include: Sarit Assaf, Dania Chelminsky, Avital Coorsh, Nirit Dekel, Lia Kirel and Sara Shahak.
September 2014: The Association of Israel's Decorative Arts is honored to join with the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation in supporting Twists And Turns at 108 contemporary in Tulsa, OK, featuring the work of Israel artists Aleksandra Stoyanov and Zemer Peled
October 2014: AIDA artist Mira Maylor, represented by Habatat Galleries, will be showing at SOFA Chicago. AIDA supporters receive VIP access.
November 2014: AIDA Watershed scholarship recipient Martha Rieger's work My China Blues was awarded the Special Judge's Award at the International Ceramics Festival in Mino, Japan, one of the world's largest and most important ceramic festivals.
November 2014: AIDA artist Ayala Serfaty has been commissioned by the Corning Museum of Glass to create an original, freestanding glass scultpure. The piece, lit from within with LED, will be approximately 84 x 60 inches, and is scheduled to be completed by the end of Summer 2015.
December 2014: AIDA artists at Craft Boston Holiday Show: Nirit Dekel, Sara Shahak and Anat Zamir
December 2014: AIDA is bringing Sergei Isupov to Israel to lecture and do demonstrations for 350 artists at the Ceramic Artists Association of Israel Conference at Tel Hai College. He will also present at the Benyamini Ceramic Center in Tel Aviv and Bezalel Academy of Arts & Design in Jerusalem.

2013 Events & Highlights

January 2013:Art Palm Beach: Shay Lahover, one of the first jewelers from Israel to exhibit with AIDA at SOFA Chicago, will be represented by the William Zimmer Gallery at this year's Art Palm Beach
February 2013: AIDA artist and 2012 Andrea M. Bronfman Prize for the arts winner Shirly Bar-Amotz gives a lecture at the 92nd Street Y in New York. Her most recent body of work, "Happy Days", will be on view at Gallery Loupe in Montclair, New Jersey. Learn more >
February 2013: Click to read a letter from Jim Baker, Director of Pilchuck Glass School, when he returned from an AIDA sponsored week in Israel.
February 2013: Seven artists from Israel will be showing at "BIJOUX!", a contemporary art jewelry show at The Norton Museum of Art: Sarit Assaf, Dania Chelminsky, Nirit Dekel, Liat Ginzburg, Noa Goren-Amir, Dana Hakim and Sara Shahak.
March 2013: Click to view an article by artist Nan Smith about her 2-week experience at AIDAshed's Israeli residency program at Givat Haviva Art Center.
April 2013: Click to read a letter from Amir Friedman, an AIDA scholarship artist, when he returned from his course at Penland School of Crafts, North Carolina.
April 2013: Deganit Stern-Schocken, at AIDA represented artist, will be giving a talk at Brooklyn Metal Works on April 4th at 6pm. And she will have a show at Gallery Loupe from April 6 - 30. Learn more >
May 2013: AIDA sent three glassmakers from Israel to Pilchuck Glass School to participate in the "Poleturner Project". Our goal was to demonstrate what it means to work as part of a team and to develop skills. Here's a letter our program director, Aviva, received from one of the artists we sent - Olga Rozin. Click to read letter.
June 2013: Two art dealers will be bringing the work of several AIDA artists to 'GlassWeekend' at Wheaten Arts this year. Morgan Gallery will be presenting the work of Erica Rosenfeld and Ronit Dagan. Donna Schneier will be presenting the work of Tzuri Gueta and Nirit Dekel.
June 2013: Click to read a letter from Asher Arnon, Managing Director of Tel-Hai Arts Institute in Israel, about AIDA's support and scholarship programs.
August 2013: Click to read a letter from Kyla Talmi, a cermist who teaches at the Tel Hai School of Art in Israel, upon returning from her AIDA sponsored trip to Penland School of Crafts.
November 2013: SOFA Chicago 2013 Panel Discussion - AIDA Co-founder Doug Anderson moderates a conversation with Directors of the Corning Studio, Haystack Mountain School, Pilchuck Glass School and Penland School of Crafts. Watch Video >
November 2013: AIDA 2.0 Essay - Co-founder Doug Anderson reflects on AIDA's accomplishments and how you measure success. Click to view the essay.
Decemember 2013: Click to read an article by Beverly M. Copeland, "International ART Experiences, Our AIDA Art Adventure"

2012 Events & Highlights

January 2012:AIDA invited artist Akio Takamori to a symposium at Tel Hai University, where he lead a ceramic workshop in Tel Aviv. Click to view a 10 minute video from the workshop.
January 2012: AIDA is pleased to announce that we will be providing 20 artist/craftspeople from Israel with scholarships to Corning, Haystack, Penland, Pilchuck and Watershed this Summer. Click to learn more.
January 2012: Click to read a letter from Amy Schwartz, Director of The Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass, when she returned from an AIDA sponsored week in Israel.
January 2012: Click to read a letter from Emily Zilber, a curator at the MFA Boston, when she returned from an AIDA sponsored week in Israel
February 2012: Click to read a letter from Stuart Kestenbaum, Director of Haystack Mountain School, sent to the faculty at Bezalel, Shenkar and Tel Hai, empowering them to select their best in class artists for AIDA scholarships.
February 2012: AIDA awarded scholarships to Penland to Amir Freidman and to Dana Ben Shalom.
March 2012: 7 AIDA artists will exhibit at BIJOUX!, a contemporary art jewelry sale featuring 45 of the world's best designer/makers at the Norton Museum in West Palm Beach March 1-4. Click to learn more.
March 2012: AIDA will be sending Martha Reiger and Jacaranda Kori to Watershed this Summer 2012.
June 2012: AIDA featured in June/July 2012 issue of American Craft Magazine. Click to view article.
June 2012: The Andy Prize has been awarded to jeweler/sculptor Shirly Bar-Amotz. Click to view article.
June 2012: Charles Bronfman, interviewed by Culture Buzz, discussing The Andy Prize and AIDA . Click to view 6 minute video.
July 2012: Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts and AIDA will collaborate again to bring artists Linda Sormin, Nan Smith and Molly Hatch to Israel July 18 - July 30. The studio at Givat Haviva, directed by Avner Singer (a former Watershed resident too!) will again be the host site for lively artist exchanges and studio work.
August 2012: AIDA Scholarship recipient Lisbeth Biger studies pâte de verre. Click to view video.
August 2012: Inteview with Susanne Ramljak, Editor of Metalsmith Magazine, about her one-week visit to Israel with AIDA.. Click to view article.
August 2012: Blog post with great images and story from AIDAshed participant Click to view blog post.

2011 Events & Highlights

Jan 25 - March 13, 2011 : AIDA artist Dafna Kaffeman exhibited "What Could Be Sweeter Than Going to Paradise?" at the American University Museum . For more information click here.
February: In cooperation with the Ceramic Artists Association of Israel, AIDA supported two workshops in Israel lead by ceramic artist Brendan Lee Satish Tang.
May 1-2, 2011: AIDA exhibited at the Museum Store Association Expo in Chicago to display the work of 10 outstanding Israeli artists. The Expo will provide Israeli artists with the opportunity to market their work to museum store buyers, opening the door for Israeli art to appear in museum stores across North America.
July 2011:AIDA is provided Anat-Aboucaya-Grozovski with a travel grant to the Penland School of Craft to teach a summer workshop.
July 2011: In cooperation with the Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, AIDA supported scholarships for Mark Yudell and Dori Zanger.
August 2011: In cooperation with the Pilchuck Glass School, AIDA supported a scholarship for Olya Brener.
Summer 2011: In cooperation with the Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass, AIDA supported scholarships for Dana Landau, Orit Marili, Anat Sapir and Katerina Verguelis.

2010 Events & Highlights

Feb 9 - March 14, 2010: "No Problem (?)", exhibiting at Gallery Loupe for Contemporary Art Jewelry. The exhibit addresses the tension that exists between the monumental problems of the State of Israel and the "flippant" jargon of everyday speech that often seems to belie these problems. The exhibit is curated by AIDA artist, Deganit Stern Schocken, and includes the works of 4 AIDA artists, Shirly Bar-Amotz, Rory Hooper, Michal Oren and Edda Vardimon.
March 2010: In cooperation with the Ceramic Artists Association of Israel, AIDA supported a ceramic workshop in Israel led by Hayne Bayless.
March 31 - April 4, 2010 : AIDA provided Yael Novak with a scholarship to attend the NCECA conference in Philadelphia, PA.
April 9 - 11, 2010: AIDA presented work by 16 Israeli artists at CRAFTBOSTON.
Feb 4 - May 9, 2010: "From the Melting Pot into the Fire: Contemporary Ceramics in Israel" exhibited at the Gardiner Museum, Toronto, Canada. The exhibit was organized by the Ceramic Artists Association of Israel and supported in part by AIDA. This is the second stop of the exhibit after it’s opening at the Mint Museum of Craft + Design.
May 10 - 17, 2010: AIDA goes to Israel! AIDA took a group of supporters to Israel to experience both the rich history and the contemporary realities of this remarkable country.
Summer 2010: In cooperation with the Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass, AIDA supported scholarships for Netta Bacon, Noa Hagiladi, Navit Hamias, Limor Schreiber, and Margalit Batya.
May - June 2010: In collaboration with the Pilchuck Glass School , AIDA supported scholarships for Einav Mekori and Navit Hamias.
June 12 - July 24, 2010: The Barn Gallery at Stonover Farm hosted an exhibit of works by 10 AIDA artists.
July 2010, : In cooperation with watershed center for the ceramic arts, AIDA hosted "AIDAshed", a two-week residency program in Israel with 3 North American ceramists that worked alongside their Israeli colleagues .
July 2010: In cooperation with Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, AIDA supported scholarships for Amnon Amos and Michal Adler-Shalev.
September 11-25, 2010: "How Is This Glass? Post Glass Video Festival" exhibited at the Heller Gallery, NY and included the work of AIDA glass artists Netta Bacon and Alexandra Ben Abba.
October 21- 26, 2010: AIDA artist Nirit Dekel participated in LOOT at the Museum of Art and Design, NY. LOOT is MAD's biennial juried exhibition and sale of one-of-a-kind contemporary art jewelry, created by acclaimed American and international artists.
November 11-14, 2010: AIDA artist Sara Shahak exhibited at the One of a Kind Show in New York, November 11-14, 2010.
December 5-15, 2010: In partnership with Ceramic Artists Association of Israel AIDA sponsored a workshop in Israel led by ceramic artist, Brian Ransom. To view pictures from the workshop click here

2009 Events & Highlights

Feb 14 - June 7, 2009: "From the Melting Pot into the Fire: Contemporary Ceramics in Israel" exhibited at the Mint Museum of Craft + Design in Charlotte, NC.
March 5 - 31, 2009: "A Shared Perspective" exhibited at Rosenbaum Contemporary gallery at Boca Raton, FL. The exhibit included the works of 11 AIDA artists, Talila Abraham, Nati Amoils, Einat Cohen, Avital Coorsh, Nirit Dekel, Anat Gelbard, Noa Goren Amir, Yehudit Katz Omer Lior, Galya Rosenfeld and Orly Wexler. For more information click here.
May 11 - 22, 2009: AIDA sponsored a ceramics workshop in Israel led by ceramic artist, Michael Sherrill, at Giv’at Haviva Institute and Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Click here to view pictures from the workshop.
June 5 - July 10, 2009: Sergey Bunkov's exhibited at the National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia, PA.
June 7 - 19, 2009: In cooperation with Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, AIDA supported scholarships for Avner Singer and Ester Beck.
June 10 - 13, 2009: AIDA provided Boris Shpeizman a grant to participate in the Glass Art Society's Glass Fashion Show.
June 11 - 14, 2009: Sergey Bunkov's exhibited with the Old City of Caesarea Gallery at SOFA SANTA FE.
June 14 - 26, 2009: In cooperation with Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, AIDA supported a scholarship for Moshe Roas.
June 21 - July 23, 2009: "A Shared Perspective" exhibited at The Barn Gallery at Stonover Farm, Lenox, MA. The exhibit included works by 14 AIDA artists, Talila Abraham, Nati Amoils, Sarit Assaf, Einat Cohen, Avital Coorsh, Vered Dayan, Nirit Dekel, Anat Gelbard, Noa Goren Amir, Yehudit Katz, Marcelle Klein, Omer Lior, Galya Rosenfeld and Orly Wexler. For more information click here.
July 5 - 17, 2009: In cooperation with Penland School of Crafts AIDA supported a scholarship for Sarit Assaf.
July 10 - 12, 2009: AIDA provided a scholarship for Orly Wexler to participate at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibit.
November 6 - 8, 2009: AIDA exhibited “AIDA’s Gems- Israel’s Jewelers” at SOFA CHICAGO 2009. The exhibit, co-presented by Nancy & Jim Yaw, formerly of the Yaw Gallery, featured unique jewelry collections by AIDA alumni, Shay Lahover & Anat Gelbard and newcomers, Edda Vardimon, Michal Oren, Noa Tripp and Batia Wang. AIDA also presented two special projects, one featuring jewelry students from the Tel Hai Art Institute and other chess sets designed by recent graduates from the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design. As a unique addition, AIDA displayed an extraordinary presentation by Yvel. Founded in Israel in 1986 by Orna and Isaac Levy, Yvel continues a family tradition of creating exquisite high-end jewelry designs featuring pearls and gold.
December 6: A silent auction of works by AIDA artists was featured during the Israel Cancer Association USA Membership Brunch.
December 6: The Rosenbaum Contemporary gallery presented work by Avital Coorsh and Nirit Dekel during Tel Aviv’s 100 birthday at the Eden Roc hotel in Miami, FL. The event was hosted by the Israeli Consulate in Miami as part of Art Basel Miami.
December 12 - 25: In partnership with Ceramic Artists Association of Israel AIDA sponsored a workshop in Israel led by ceramic artist, Akira Satake.

2008 Events & Highlights

February 2008: AIDA sponsored a glass blowing workshop in Israel led by the Resident Advisor of the Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass, Bill Gudenrath.
March 19 – 22, 2008: AIDA provided Shlomit Bauman with a scholarship to attend the NCECA conference in Pittsburgh, PA.
March 31 – April 3, 2008 : Jewish Funders Network Conference in Jerusalem.
March 6 – April 3, 2008 : AIDA partnered with the Armory Art Center in Palm Beach, Florida to present Israeli Art Month at the Armory. To read the press release click here.
March 19 – June 25, 2008: “Women's Tales: Four Leading Israeli Jewelers” exhibited at The Newark Museum.
Newsletter: AIDA Newsletter April 2008
April 2 – 3, 2008: AIDA and the Bezalel Academy of Art co-sponsored a flame working workshop by Montana-based glass artists Christopher McElroy. The workshop was open to both students and accomplished artists. To view pictures from the workshop click here.
May 2008 : AIDA sponsored a ceramics workshop in Israel led by ceramic artist Matt Nolen at the Giv’at Haviva Institute.
July 2008: In cooperation with the Penland School of Crafts, AIDA supported a residency for Ella Wolf.
July – August 2008: In cooperation with the Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass, AIDA supported residencies for Netta Bacon and Noa Hagiladi.
August 10 – 22, 2008: AIDA artist Itay Noy taught “Timepieces” at the Penland School of Crafts.
August 2008: In cooperation with Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, AIDA supported a residency for Raya Stern and Eva Avidar.
Summer: AIDA provided Maayan Feigin with an apprenticeship at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, WA where she worked with master glass artists.
November 6 – 9, 2008: AIDA celebrated Israel’s 60th anniversary at SOFA CHICAGO in an exhibition titled “Looking Forward: Visions into the 21st Century.” The exhibit which featured the works of Noa Hagiladi, Yael Herman, Rory Hooper, Alon Meron and Noa Nadir, was designed by Israeli architect Guy Zucker.
November 12 – 16, 2008: In corporation with the PMA Craft Show, AIDA supported the participation of 23 Israeli artists including Talila Abraham, Nati Amoils, Sarit Assaf, Gali Cnaani, Avital Coorsh, Samy D, Nirit Dekel, Gal Feldman, Edit Kaplan Friedberg, Anat Gelbard, Noa Goren Amir, Yehudit Katz, Jacaranda Kori, Gil Leitersdorf, Omer Lior, Ethel Pisaref, Yael Novak, Lauri Recanati, Yael Rosen, Sara Shahak, Leah Sheves, Vered Trandler Dayan and Orly Wexler.

2007 Events & Highlights

January 2007: Five AIDA artists – Sergey Bunkov, Gali Cnaani, Dafna Kaffeman, Jacaranda Kori, and Michal Zehavi, participated in palmbeach3, South Florida’s leading regional contemporary art fair. Click here for image.
September 2006 – January 2007: “Women's Tales: Four Leading Israeli Jewelers”. The exhibit, supported in part by AIDA and produced in collaboration with the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, is an in-depth study of the work of four of Israeli's leading contemporary jewelers: Bianca Eshel-Gershuni, Vered Kaminski, Esther Knobel, and Deganit Stern Schocken opened at the Racine Art Museum. In March 8 – June 17, 2007 the exhibition opened at the Bellevue Art Museum, Washington. In October 5, 2007 – January 6, 2008 the exhibition opened at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. Click on the attached links to read reviews from The Seattle Times and American Craft.
March 15 – September 15, 2007:In collaboration with the Trio Vetro Glass Studio in Tel Aviv, AIDA provided 6 months of studio time to 5 promising glass artists: Moran Resler, Lizbeth Biger, Noaz Harel, Dalit Velleman and Alexi Ben-Abba.
March 18 – 22, 2007: Jewish Funders Network in Atlanta. Yaw, Sienna, R. Duane Reed and the Thomas R. Riley Galleries exhibited the work of the AIDA artists they represent.
March 22 – April 1, 2007: AIDA, in cooperation with the Parents Circle Families Forum, co-presented “Offering Reconciliation” at Brandeis University, an exhibition of 135 thematically decorated vessels by Israeli and Palestinian artists centering on the theme of reconciliation. Click here to read the press release and here for a guide to the exhibit printed in the Brandeis Magazine. To view images from the opening event click 1 2 3 and 4.
May 4 – 12, 2007: AIDA sponsored glass blowing workshops at Bezalel Academy and the Trio Vetro Glass Studio in Tel Aviv. The workshop, taught by professional glass blowers John Kiley and Jen Elek, was opened to artists from all media.
Summer 2007: AIDA sent 5 decorative artists from Israel to participate in residency programs at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, The Studio at the Corning Museum of Glass, Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts, and Penland School of Crafts. A committee of AIDA artists, led by Aviva, selected the scholarship recipients.
June 1, 2007: AIDA's co-founder Dale Anderson, led an exclusive tour of SOFA NY highlighting seven AIDA artists working in clay, fiber and jewelry. This intimate tour allowed the opportunity to speak with the AIDA jury, learn more about the artists and meet with the gallery owners representing them.
June 2007: the AIDA jury committee visited artists' studios in Israel in preparation for SOFA 2007 and the Philadelphia Craft Show in 2008.
June 12, 2007: Itay Noy was awarded the 2007 Andy Prize at a ceremony held at the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv, Israel.
June 26, 2007: AIDA held it's first "Meet the Artist" luncheon with AIDA artist Hiyuli Liberman following the completion of her fellowship at the Corning Museum of Glass.
Aug 8, 2007: Following the success of the first luncheon, AIDA held it's second "Meet the Artist" with AIDA artists Marcelle Klein and Yael Atzmony following the completion of their residency at the Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts.
November 1 – 4, 2007: AIDA presented “Offering Reconciliation” at SOFA.
November – December 2007: AIDA supported a show of Israeli jewelers and ceramists at the Flow Gallery in London.

2006 Events & Highlights

February 2006 six AIDA artists exhibited artwork at COLLECT. Works were purchased by several high-profile institutions, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, the National Museum of Scotland and the Ernsting Stifung Alter Hof Herding Glass Museum in Germany. See COLLECT 2006 Artists for more information.
March - April 2006 , the works of Lily Poran and Buthina Abu Milhelm were presented at the 5th Annual Fiber Biennial in Philadelphia at the Snyderman-Works Gallery.
May 2006: AIDA hosted a trip to Israel (flash required) for a group of 40 art collectors.
May 2006: Michal Zehavi exhibited at Duane Reed Gallery in New York.
May 2006: Hadas Rosenberg-Nir was awarded the inaugural “Andy” prize at a ceremony at the Eretz Israel Museum.
May 2006: The AIDA advisory committee visited artists' studios in Israel in preparation for SOFA 2006.
June 2006: AIDA artists represented by various North American galleries exhibited at SOFA NY.
June 2006: AIDA received the Cultural Entrepreneurship Award from the National Foundation for Jewish Culture.
July & August 2006: In cooperation with the Corning Museum of Glass, AIDA supported residencies for Moran Ressler and Rachel Goldreich.
July 2006: In cooperation with the Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, AIDA supported residencies for Meira Una and Irit Abba.
August – September 2006: Thomas R. Riley Gallery in Cleveland presented a solo show of works by AIDA artist Sergey Bunkov.
November 2006: AIDA supported the participation of Jacaranda Kori and Avner Singer at “Contemporary Issues in Clay: A British perspective” at SUNY New Paltz. In addition to the ceramists participation in this international conference, they presented workshops to students in the Ceramics department at SUNY New Paltz's School of Fine Arts.
November 2006: AIDA returned to SOFA Chicago for the fourth time. Twelve artists working in ceramics, fiber, jewelry and design exhibit with AIDA at SOFA Chicago, November 10-12th at Navy Pier. See SOFA 2006 artists for more information

2005 Events & Highlights

Charles Bronfman established The Andrea M. Bronfman Prize for the Arts (“The Andy”) to honor his wife’s lifelong passion for and support of the arts, and to create a showcase for Israeli decorative artists .
In June, AIDA sent a group of five ceramic artists to the Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts in Newcastle, ME in June 2005. See Fellowships for more information.
In May, our jury selected a group of nine artists to participate in SOFA Chicago in October 2005.
In April, the AIDA advisory committee visited artist studios in Israel in preparation for SOFA Chicago 2005. See Artists for more information.
Six AIDA artists exhibited artwork at the COLLECT: The international art fair for contemporary objects presented by the British Crafts Council at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London January 12-17, 2005. See Artists for more information.

2004 Events & Highlights

Lily Poran exhibited with Snyderman-Works Galleries (Philadelphia, PA) at SOFA Chicago, November.
Racine Art Museum (Racine, WI) chose the work of Noa Nadir, Lotus Peles-Chen and Uri Samet for the Museum’s permanent collection during SOFA Chicago, November.
Michal Zehavi and Yehudit Katz exhibited at Duane Reed Gallery (St. Louis, MO), October.
Heller Gallery (New York, NY) exhibited the work of Dafna Kaffeman, September.
Michal Zehavi exhibited with Duane Reed Gallery (St. Louis, MO) at SOFA New York, June.
Ferrin Gallery (Lenox, MA) included Revital Ben-Asher Peretz in a group show.