46 | JUNE 8 • 2023
ARTS&LIFE
ON THE COVER
R
otem Reshef tells stories of time and nature
through art.
Through bold colors and layers-
upon-layers of paint, the Tel Aviv- and New
York-based installation artist and painter spreads
messages about climate change, ecofeminism and
human nature with every new creation.
Now, her work is on display as a permanent
mural in Midtown Detroit, where it adorns the
side of a former dilapidated and run-down building
on a busy street.
On West Canfield just across from The Whitney
is Reshef’s mural Open End, which went on display
earlier this spring. It’s the first of what organizer Adam
Finkel, 36, of Bloomfield Hills, hopes will be many more
murals and collaborations between Detroit and Israeli
artists.
“The idea is to create more connectivity for Detroit and
create opportunities on a global level that can be brought
into the city,
” explains Finkel, who has been featured in the
Jewish News’ “36 Under 36” feature for his leadership in the
Jewish community and is a JN contributing writer. “It’s relat-
ed to similar ideas that have been incubated and launched in the
city, like Moishe House.
” Finkel helped launch the original Moishe
House in Detroit.
The art-centric endeavor — to welcome glob-
al artists, particularly from Israel, into Detroit
— has been in the works for several years. Yet,
like many projects, it was delayed due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were able to plant the seed this past year
for this first inaugural iteration with Rotem,
”
Finkel says. “We looked at several dozen different
artists, and we were able to find a blighted building
in need of a refresh of space.
”
It was a close collaboration with the city to make
the mural, which Finkel hopes will make the neigh-
borhood even more welcoming for commuters and
residents a reality.
“They can see a piece of art and not have to look
at a blighted building,
” he says of the mural, which is
in walking distance of Wayne State University and
the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Midtown Detroit Inc., the nonprofit organization
responsible for community development and more
in the Midtown neighborhood, was pivotal in bringing
the project to life. “They provided the space and the resources to
make it possible,
” Finkel says.
Israeli artist Rotem Reshef’s time- and nature-inspired art
is now on permanent display in Detroit.
ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Midtown
Mural
JAMIE FELDMAN