By Jessica Davis, JTNews Correspondent
On Sept. 21, American-Israelis Yonnah Ben Levy and her husband Chaim Bezalel opened their own gallery and art center, Stanwood House, in the small town of Stanwood.
“It’s a Scandinavian town and here we are, [American] Israelis plunked down in the middle of it,” said Ben Levy, about Stanwood.
Stanwood, located in northwestern Washington near La Conner, is beginning to expand culturally with its art galleries, annual music festival and fair. It is like Issaquah 30 years ago, said Ben Levy.
“We’re gonna try to do something with the little town, we’re like pioneers,” said Ben Levy. “The area itself is very inspirational.”
“You can be on the Sound and you can be in the mountains,” said Ben Levy. “I like it because it’s still only 50 minutes from Seattle.”
After the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack, Ben Levy and Bezalel considered moving back to their second home in Israel. They took a trip up and down the west coast to see how other artists were living after the attack. The couple, living on Camano Island at the time, decided to purchase the historic Stanwood House, built in the early 1900s.
They had it completely restored and renovated. The building maintains the feeling of a home, and at the same time a salon-gallery. Two adjacent buildings house the Ceramics Studio (including five wheels and a slab roller) and the kiln and glazing room.
“We want it to be a [multimedia] art center,” said Ben Levy.
The couple currently teaches and resides at Stanwood House. Already working together as artists for about 13 years, with their Bezalel-Levy business, starting the gallery was natural for the couple. They offer 10-week workshops in ceramics, sculpture and digital printmaking. The couple is thinking of adding painting and photography classes in the winter.
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“The teaching has been a real joy for both of us,” said Ben Levy.
In addition to running the gallery and teaching, the couple continues to operate their Bezalel-Levy business, based on Camano Island and in Ashkelon, Israel. They produce originals, limited- and open-edition prints, illustrated books, art cards and posters through combinations of photography and painting.
On Dec. 5, the seventh day of Hanukkah, Ben Levy and Bezalel opened their second exhibit
at Stanwood House, “Tetched by an Angel.” The exhibit features different artists’ concepts of angels. In addition to art by Bezalel and Ben Levy, the exhibit includes works by Seattle artist James Martin, Cheri O’Brian, pop artist Peter Max, Gustave Dore, Jan Kip (1652–1722) and Jewish artist Asher Sadeh of Toronto, all of which will be for sale.
In the main gallery, Jewish artist Akiva Kenneth Segan of Seattle has on display some art from his “Under the Wings of G-d” series that was recently exhibited at the Wing Luke Asian Art Museum and the Frye Art Museum. Prints of Segan’s artwork are available.
“We were really pleased we could get his work,” said Ben Levy. “He’s a very meticulous worker.”
“Tetched by an Angel” continues through early February. Stanwood House’s next exhibit, “East and West, Near and Far” will feature still life works by Bezalel-Levy, from February to April. The following show, by Bezalel-Levy and photographer Mark Abrahamson takes place in April and May during the Stanwood-Camano Mother’s Day tour. At least once a year, the couple would like to exhibit work from Israeli artists, as well as local artists.
“We’re trying to represent other artists,” said Ben Levy. “There must be 100 artists that live on Camano Island, that’s what we have the studio for.”
“The momentum has begun and I think we’re going to just keep it,” said Ben Levy.
For more information on the gallery and its workshops, call 629-4933 or 877-629-4966 toll free, e-mail to [email protected] or visit www.stanwoodhouse.com. Stanwood House also houses the studios of Bezalel-Levy Editions, www.bezalel-Levy.com. Akiva Segan’s Web site is www.connectexpress.com/~holocaustart/.