Art + Culture – An Illustrated Documentary Project
In the past few months I had what one might describe as a sentimental experience. Some art projects I did or took part in, more than fifteen years ago, kept resurfacing. It was fun, I admit, but as an unsentimental person it led me to create a list of things I DON’T miss about being […]
I met my younger self at a group exhibition. A self-portrait I took sixteen years ago. It was purchased by an Israeli art collector and I haven’t seen it since then.
I was probably ten years old when my mother’s voice echoed through the house saying, “Close your legs!” She casually said this like it was a simple truth that needed to be heard. I then learned that ladies do not sit with their legs spread wide apart. It took me years to realize that boys […]
I swear I have a much better taste in music, cultural activities and food in the rest of the month. There’s no way I would voluntarily listen to Take Me Too Church on a mormal PMS-free day, no way, never. I’m so embarrassed, I need some comfort food, a snack maybe? Oh, look at these cute puppies! I need some tissues. […]
Last Saturday I went to the beach with my niece. Weekends are usually too crowded, but it was a Yom Kippur fasting day, and we were planning to catch up on some reading, listening to some music (using earplugs, we’re not rude), expecting a quiet, half-empty beach, like it had always been in previous years. […]
The other day, I was standing at a crosswalk, waiting for the red light to turn green, when I heard a man, a complete stranger, shouting at me from a car, “Why won’t you smile?” Later that day, at a family dinner, I told everyone about my experience, about how rude and embarrassing it felt, […]
Having kids, I mean, not having kids is a huge issue where I live. I’m pretty sure it’s not unique to Israel, but it’s clearly manifested in the extreme in our culture. Let me open with a confession. My name is Ilanit Shamia and I’m a single, atheist woman, having no special desire to have kids […]
Ilanit Shamia 