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