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Michelle Goes To Israel!

SUMMER 2016 My Journey to Israel The last time I traveled out of the country, was back when I was only twelve. Fast forward ten years and we arrive to SUMMER 2016, bags in hand and my mind racing with excitement.

I have always dreamed of traveling out of the country and when I heard I could do for free, the only thing left to decide was when.

My professors often advised us to get out there and travel by any means – explaining there’s never going to be a right time if we try and look for one, so we should just pick a time and go.

My trip was organized under Ezra-Taglit, a birthright group, allowing young Jewish-Americans to travel to Israel.

My trip began early AM as I anxiously awaited meeting the group I’d be adventuring with for the next week. Luckily, I felt an instant connection with my group, as I’ve never been surrounded by so many Russian speaking Jews – similar to myself – before. After a nine-hour flight, we met up with our tour guide and hopped on the bus that we would basically be living on for the next ten days. Our first destination, a dessert-like park filled with exploration as we hiked, did some light rock climbing and learned about the history of this park. The scenery was simply incredible. After a nine-hour flight, we met up with our tour guide and hopped on the bus that we would basically be living on for the next ten days. Our first destination, a dessert-like park filled with exploration as we hiked, did some light rock climbing and learned about the history of this park. The scenery was simply incredible.

On the trip, we laid eyes on three of the Israeli borders, we canoed down the Jordan River, swam in the Mediterranean Sea, floated in the Dead Sea, rode sassy camels, camped out in a large Bedouin tent, went wine tasting, walked through Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, prayed at the Western Wall, witnessed an Israeli artist blow glass, walked through the Masada, and visited The National Holocaust Museum.

One of my favorite stops on the trip was an innovation center, which displayed Israel’s newest technology and gadgets. Their inventions include a digestible pill with a camera, a headgear with a 360-degree view of a virtual reality, a dispenser that filters moisture in the air into water, and a gadget that documents a person’s everyday actions, sights, and whereabouts into text.

That Will Last A Life Time THE MEMORIES Overall, the trip left me with many great memories, a greater feeling of spirituality, and more pride for my ancestry and the land of Israel.

I was able to observe the culture, breakdown my pre-notions about how religious everyone would be, witness spectacular sights, and absorb the beautiful combination of old and new architecture.

The trip not only fueled me spiritually, but as an artist, the scenery and history greatly inspired me. Travelling between new and old cities was visually stimulating, with cultural and architectural differences in every location.

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This summer has helped me grow as an artist immensely. My trip to Israel exposed me to new sights and a different culture, giving me more perspective to bring into my artwork. After my trip, I returned to my internship at halfGenius where I was able to reflect on my trip and bring my inspirations back into my work. I was given the freedom to come up with my own ideas and put my own style into my art, using my compositions to highlight the halfGenius brand.

Having creative freedom is something I value dearly, and being part of a company that provides it is very encouraging to me. Through the creative freedom I was given, I discovered that I enjoy making animations and my art holds characteristics of boldness, contrast, and simplicity. I am very proud of the pieces I created for halfGenius, and I am unbelievably lucky to be able to say that my personal voice is in each piece.

Back Into My Internship ADDING INSPIRATION Witnessing a country driven by innovation yet preserved by its past is something I want for my art. I want my art to push boundaries and stay up-to-date, while maintaining traits or stylistic choices I’ve had from the beginning. Most importantly, I want to make art that speaks to my passions. A lot of the art I saw in Israel had a clear theme, a clear passion and geared towards the bigger picture. Pride for Israel was more important to them than being technically perfect. I loved that most about their artwork, and now I hope to value the imperfections of my own art even more than before. Imperfections tell a deeper story and resonate stronger with individuals than when there are none.