Opening Reception: October 20th | 6:30 - 8:30pm 

Seeking to create cultural connections between Israeli artists and San Francisco, Projex Connect is a new nonprofit arts endeavor whose unique programming includes artist’s residencies, exhibitions, and guided tours of Israel’s vibrant art scene.

Established in January 2016, Projex Connect is based out of Minnesota Street Project, a dynamic arts space in San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood dedicated to supporting the San Francisco arts community. Its platform consists of an artist residency program in San Francisco for Israeli artists, grants to support artists living and working in Israel and curator-led art and cultural tours of Israel open to international arts patrons.

Arriving in San Francisco in May 2016, acclaimed Israeli painter Maya Gold is the first artist in Projex Connect’s residency program. Represented by Alon Segev Gallery, in Tel Aviv, Gold creates understated paintings of aerial views that obliquely reference surveillance and military perspectives. She is currently participating in artist’s talks, studio visits, and other cultural events in San Francisco. Her residency will culminate in an exhibition of the work she has made during her stay. 

In addition to residencies, Projex Connect offers grants, in amounts varying from $2,000 to $10,000, to Israeli artists living and working in Israel. Grants are given for specific projects, with proposals due April 15 of each year and grants awarded in June. For more information, go to www.projexconnect.org.

Projex Connect’s first art tour of Israel took place in September 2016. Led by, founder and executive director Marissa Halbrecht, the group went on studio visits with artists such as Ilit Azoulay, Oded Balilty, Maya Duinetz, Eyal Gever, and Orit Raff, among others; held discussions with art collectors Hanina Brandes, Noemi Givon, Amos Schocken, & Serge Tiroche; visited Tel Aviv's top galleries with curator and art advisor; and participated in talks with curators and museum directors such as James Snyder (The Israel Museum), Iris Barak (Shiff Collection), Hadas Maor, Efrat Livy (The Schocken Collection), and Timna Seligman (Tiho Museum) & Tamar (Israel Museum).

Projex Connect reflects the vision of its founder, San Francisco native Marissa Halbrecht. An enthusiastic arts patron who grew up traveling between San Francisco and Tel Aviv, Halbrecht believes art has the power to forge connections between different cultures and dismantle stereotypes. She wishes to expand the international community’s awareness of Israeli’s arts and cultural landscape, hoping that this facet of Israeli life will eventually become as well known as others.

"Art provides us with a window through which the world sees what has or is taking place in a society.  Artists through their creations allow us the opportunity to look at the world through their lens. They allow us to see what their the hopes are, their fears, their dreams, and it also provides us with an opportunity to access current situations of a specific place and time.  Without art the world becomes a very ONE dimensional place for us to live in.  It takes away aspects of color and leaves us with black and white.  My family is spread throughout the world and therefore I grew up traveling extensively, always interested and passionate about the art and culture of country.  However, a bit later in life, when I discovered the art scene in Israel it took my mind to another level. I was left inspired, memorized and moved and I quickly knew that my next mission on my path in life was to bring what I could of that energy and vibrancy to the San Francisco Bay Area."

With the recent reopening of major Bay Area cultural institutions such as the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Halbrecht believes that San Francisco is poised to become an international hub for arts, culture, and technology. It is her hope and belief that Projex Connect will become a vital and innovative part of this development by expanding San Francisco’s global reach to include the provocative work of contemporary Israeli artists.

Gallery hours are Tuesday - Saturday 11am-4pm (closed on October 12th) or by appointment through October 29th. Please contact marissa@projexconnect.org to make an appointment.