Kyle Holbrook, an American artist, participated in an international endeavor in Israel and Palestine in 2015, creating murals on the Bethlehem separation wall, as the first American to do so, as part of a conference involving educators and special education teachers from around the world. This conference, organized by the diocese, brought together behavioral educators specializing in working with diverse populations of youth and young people with special needs. Under the guidance of Dr. Thomas Gumbel and his colleagues at Jerusalem University including his assistant a doctoral student from Palestine, participants engaged in dialogue and gained insights into the complexities of the region.
Before painting the murals, Holbrook spent time in Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, engaging in tours and discussions with doctors and educators, both Israeli and Palestinian. Holbrook collaborated with Palestinian Artist Monti, obtaining permission to paint two murals (although later Mooti painted a flag that was not part of the original plan) depicting the realities of oppression and the shared pain experienced by both sides. During his time in the region, International Artist Kyle Holbrook encountered challenges and witnessed several serious encounters on both sides.
The completed murals depicted symbolic imagery, including two children, one Jewish and one Palestinian, reaching towards a crack in the wall, symbolizing the suffering of children on both sides. The location of the murals, across from a luxurious hotel whose owner was unable to cross the wall despite having family on the other side, added to the symbolism and poignancy of the artwork.
Throughout his experience, Holbrook engaged with individuals from various backgrounds, including an Israeli professor who had lost a family member to a terrorist attack. Despite encountering differing perspectives and personal tragedies, Holbrook approached the project with empathy and a desire to foster understanding.
Reflecting on his experience, Holbrook found humor in the fact that one of his recent paintings had been bootlegged and sold in a Banksy store. Despite this, he remained focused on the impact of his artwork and the importance of using art as a means of communication and expression in complex geopolitical contexts.
Overall, Holbrook's participation in the mural project exemplifies the power of art to bridge divides, foster dialogue, and convey shared humanity in the face of conflict and adversity.
IN 2015 MOVING LIVES OF KIDS PARTNERS with The International Conference on Inclusion while Executive Artist Kyle Holbrook became the first US born artist to paint on the separation wall in Bethlehem/Palestine along side the famed murals by "Banksy". Artist Kyle Holbrook worked with special education and behavior specialist education directors from 123 countries as part of Division of International Special Education and Services (DISES), a division of the Council for Exceptional Children conference on Inclusion in Jerusalem and Bethlehem?Palestine in August 2015. The issues were very sensitive as Holbrook was able to speak with educators and children on both sides. The purpose of this mural project was to promote unity and empowerment for young women in both populations.