Margalit Sommer's Art

Margalit was born in Chekoslovakia in 1928. Early on was exposed to art through her fater, Dr. Oscar Irmiyahu Neumman. While being a zionist leader, a poet and a writer, Dr. Neumman hosted artists and writers, as well as writing art critics. Through her father Margalit was introduced to the world of art and culture.

 

Margalit, along with her family( both parents and her younger brother) lived through the world war two and the Holocost. In 1946 they immigrated to Israel. Margalit's older brother Ariel joined the semi-military organization. He died while on duty as a watchman in the Jordan valley.

There Margalit met Benny Sommer, also a Holocost surviver, and they got married. Benny and Margalit Sommer were among the pioneers who built the Nirim kibbuz. As the green landscapes of Margalits' homeland transformed into dry wasteland, the need to paint and create was awakened. She studied in Avni art institute and Bat-yam institute, guided by painter Eliahu Gat and many others.

 

She frequently draws landscapes which included the Galilee, Tzfat, the "Kineret"-Sea of Galilee and The Dead Sea that are done in drawing, watercolor and oil. These patriotic gems were imparted to her children through many family trips around Israel.After living sixteen years in Nirim Margalit, Beni and their three kids moved to Moshav "Beer Tuvia", there she established a studio, where over the years she taught art classes for adults and children. Margalit also taught art at "Beer-Tuvia" Regional Elementary School.

 

Over the years Marglit acqired differet art techniques, among witch were engraving, lithography,colography, watercolor and silks-print. Her skills helped her to reflect the reality of her life and her surraunding ,and turn them into works of art. Memories, dreams, everyday routine and feeling served as a source of endless inspiration for her art, and may be seen as visible or enigmatic images hidden in her work.

 

Margalit has been a member of the "Union of Kibbutz Artists", The "Organization of Moshav Artists" and The "Tel Aviv Painters Association". She has exhibited in group and solo exhibitions around the country. Her works have been shown in Jerusalem Engel Gallery, The Schenaar Gallery and "Beit-Haitonaim" (On "Sokolov" name) in Tel-Aviv Jaffa.IN 1979 she was invited to exhibit a selection of her works by the Cultural Department of the City of Berlin.