Last March, the Israel Association of Ceramic Artists held an international workshop with Esti Barak at Moshav Neot Hakikar. Guests included two well-known artists: Mitsuo Shoji of Japan and Eva Avidar of Israel.

The Japanese artist, who has won many awards, now lives in Australia. He acquired an international reputation for his thirty years of multifaceted work and serves on the faculty of the University of Sydney's Ceramics Department.

Eva Avidar is a sculptor, a graduate of the Bezalel Academy and the Royal College in London, who teaches at institutions of higher education in Israel.

The guests were joined by 45 ceramic artists for four days of enjoyable and satisfying creativity.

The purpose of this workshop was to shatter routine, thought patterns and work habits and expose participants to new experiences that will awaken and enlighten the creative process from different angles. The site selected, Neot Hakikar on the shores of the Dead Sea, is a place that combines natural and human creation, a place identified with extremes, the lowest spot on earth, with a harsh climate, aridity and salinity, rich in unique natural phenomena, conducive to an astounding human encounter with nature that constitutes a fertile field for creation.

The artists were exposed to all these experiences during their stay, enjoying their guest room accommodations at Neot Hakikar and dining in local restaurants. They artists were not sparing in their praise, concluding their visit with a great sense of satisfaction and excitement.

We thank the Tamar Regional Council and the Dead Sea Works for their support and assistance in conducting this event and ensuring its success.