In the summer of 1990, The Rishon LeZion winery and the Rishon LeZion municipality have chosen Gershom Von Schwarze - an artist and faculty member of both Bezalel and the Technion - to create a mural documenting the history of the Carmel Mizrahi wineries.

​

Gershom approached this project armed with a team of artists: Silvia Gotz, Sarah von Schwarze (Gershom’s daughter), Yossi Veissid, Anat Assiya and Neta Davidie.

​

Horizontal and crosswise lines were first drawn with chalk, after which the team continued with a technique involving projected slides on the wall where the figure was to be painted. In some cases, small sketches can be seen glued near the painted objects for reference.

​

The murals were painted in the dark to afford better visibility of the many nuances of the slides - in the Trompe-l'œil style, a technique creating 3D illusions. An example of this technique would be how the site’s floor is painted on the wall in a perspective that creates the illusion that the space is stretching on, while the figures on the walls are standing in the room with us.

​

Gershom von Schwarze had me join this awe-striking and unique project from day one. It has been my privilege to be a part of it - albeit a silent part at that, in fear of putting myself and the camera at the center. 

​

The team members themselves were documented in the mural, much like the Old Masters during the Italian fresco- painting period.

​

I had planned on taking a month-long trip abroad with my daughters, set to take place a few weeks after the project has begun. On the one hand, I had no intention of cancelling our trip - on the other, I knew the result would be a month-long gap in the documentation process.

​

The painting process took half a year. Six months that bred unparalleled intimacy between the different team members.

As the project evolved, local residents and students began frequenting the site in order to get a good look at the artwork as it fleshed out..

I invite you today to come and feel the very same thrill of experiencing the mural standing at the Rishon LeZion winery’s workshop, and assimilate yourselves in this outstanding project.

The winery’s property - workshop included - has been sold for real estate.