About Kakadu
Kakadu Art & Design in Wood is an Israeli company that creates unique "functional art" accessories for the home and office. Each Kakadu creation is painted by hand in a distinctive art motif and coated with a protective lacquer.
Kakadu is known world-wide for its bright colors, whimsical imagery, and innovative design techniques. Kakadu creations include placemats, trays, mirrors, furniture, organizers, and more. Kakadu's amazing wooden carpets -- beautiful to behold, yet durable enough to withstand everyday foot traffic -- have earned an international patent.
Husband and wife team Aharon and Reut Shahar founded Kakadu in 1990, and their years of collaboration have yielded an artistic vision that is uniquely Kakadu.
Kakadu Workshops
Reut Shahar, Kakadu's co-founder and artistic visionary, has devoted her life to the creative process. In addition to co-founding Kakadu, Reut is Israel's first formally trained female carpenter and is an accomplished sculptress and performance artist.
Reut believes fervently that every person is born with a private artistic language that yearns for expression. Children express this urge in a natural and active form. But as we grow older, educational methods, internal and external judgment, and societal pressures to specialize separate us from our inner creative nucleus. Most of us stop drawing and creating around the age of six or seven, and the artistic drive is repressed but never loses its vitality and charm.
To help awaken the artist in each of us, Reut has developed a series of hands-on creative workshops. Anyone can participate in, enjoy, and benefit from Reut's workshops, regardless of age, profession, or ability. (In fact, some of her most spirited workshops have been those attended by high-tech workers). Reut's goal is to reconnect the workshop participants to their creative sources, so they can express again their love of color, lines, and shape. Everyone leaves the workshop with an artistic creation in their hands and a smile on their faces.
The workshop structure:
Reut's workshops are structured as follows:
Lecture and Discussion - 30 minutes
- Reut discusses the role and importance of creativity in human society. Reut also discusses the Kakadu company, the processes that she was involved in as a carpenter / artist, and interjects amusing stories and anecdotes about art in Israel.
- Next, Reut holds an open discussion with workshop participants , focusing on previous artistic experiences, and ways in which creativity is expressed in their professional and family environments.
Reut also offers an optional extended lecture program which includes:
- A review of design projects performed by Reut in Israel and abroad (including a major project performed for Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida);
- Discussion of the link between spirituality and creation; and
- Discussion of the link between Judaism and creation.
- A slide show of Reut's artistic works and projects.
- Unique group dynamic Integrating group members by brain storming and exchanging ideas about creativity in various subjects and process relating to life.
Other related topics can be added by request.
Painting - about 1 hour
- This is the hands-on portion of the workshop, in which each workshop participant paints a product. Reut supplies all necessary materials, including proprietary water-based paints prepared at Kakadu's color lab (you won't find Kakadu colors in your neighborhood paint store!). Other materials include paint brushes, markers, templates, and rubber stamps.
- Reut gives instruction on the use of the different materials, and then the group goes to work (or rather, to play!)
- After completing the painting, stamps with various images of animals, birds, people and abstract are selected by the participants and used in order to create a story which will be added to their work.
- As needed, Reut touches up the pieces with gold and silver colors, enabling everyone to be really proud and happy with their creation.
- The process nurtures a "team spirit" and a strong connection with the creative drive. Everyone succeeds. The only grade is "Very Good!"
- At the end of the painting process, the products are coated with primary lacquer and packed for taking home.
Workshop Categories
- Decorative 1-dimensional items - Hamsa, Door Sign, Home Blessing, 3 Coaster Set , Small Picture Frame, Small Wall Picture, 3-parts Mobile 39 nis (minimum 40 people)
- Decorative 3-dimensional items - Pencils/Cutlery Holder, Napkin Holder, Papers Holder, Round Clock, Table Placemat, Wall Picture, Messages Board, 4 Coaster Set 59 nis (less than 20 people)
- Assorted and Large Items - 4 Table Placemats, Wooden Carpet, Table Runner, Revolving Tray, Newspaper Bin, Large Wall Picture, Matching Tray & Placemat. 150 nis (minimum 10 people)
- Team Art Creation involving group dynamics and a unique shared creative experience. The items offered: Wooden Carpet, Picture, CD Stand and more270 nis (5 people) min. 4 groups
- Adventurous Environmental Sculpturing and Construction, using Nature-Made Materials. This workshop is Ecologically oriented, with linkage to Art. 80nis perperson. 20 people min.
Success of Reut's workshops
Reut's workshops are extremely popular in Israel with companies, educators, "Taglit" youth from around the world, schools and families.In addition, Reut gives private workshops at special events such as Bar/Bat Mitzvas, weddings, birthdays, and family trips. The workshop makes every event an unforgettable experience from which everyone leaves with a "gift" for themselves or a loved one.
Please contact Reut directly for further information and scheduling workshops in the States.
Reut Shahar - Kakadu Art & Design
Email: kakadu@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.kakadu-design.com
Tel: 972-2-9916682 Mobile: 972-52-8625271