Art on a Fence

by Mindi Epstein

Have you ever seen or experienced something new and had the visceral reaction, “Oh yeah, I like this. This is good.” You know instantly it is an idea or concept that somehow you will revisit or even, perhaps, recreate.

I had an ah-ha moment like this two years ago on my last trip to Israel when I participated in something called the “Art on the Fence Festival.” The trip organizers through the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis encouraged our local delegation of 12 artists to each create a work of art as large as 8 feet wide to be displayed outdoors – yes, on a fence. A chain-link fence.

As they say, “When in Rome ….” So I painted an 8-foot canvas, rolled and boxed it for the flight and participated in my first fence festival. 

In a word, it was tremendous. 

Thousands of people came from all over Israel to a kibbutz (community) in the northern-most corner of Israel to view more than 90 works of art hanging from, leaning against or wrapping around an ordinary chain-link fence. 

The Art on the Fence Festival was a one-day event, but what a memorable day it was. 

This April, we are recreating the event here at the JCC as part of our annual Earth Day Community Celebration sponsored by Indianapolis Power & Light Company. I have wanted to do this ever since my trip in 2011. 

Artists from all over our community have been invited to apply for a space on the fence surrounding the JCC’s soccer field. They’ve been asked to create a work of art on the theme of nature and the environment. With such a broad theme and wide range of talent, the Fence Art Festival at the JCC is going to be a vibrant addition to our free Earth Day Community Celebration.

Please plan to join us on Sunday, April 21, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. The back lot of the JCC will be packed with educational and entertaining activities created by organizations from all over the state to inspire attendees to appreciate nature and the environment. There will be food from some of Indy’s favorite food trucks, music, games, art projects, recycling … and the Fence Festival, of course.

If you are interested in participating in the festival, please contact me: mepstein@JCCindy.org.

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