Jewish artist featured at upcoming Naples Fine Art Show

Courtesy of HotWorks.org

One of the participating Jewish artists in the HotWorks.org 5th Naples Fine Art Show, coming to Naples Oct. 30-31, is Naples resident Isack Kousnsky.

Born in Haifa, Israel, in the 1950s, Kousnsky is a member of the first generation born after the Holocaust. Kousnsky came of age in an atmosphere pervaded by survivors’ angst. By the time he turned 18, he was drafted into the Israeli military — just as the Egyptian and Syrian armies crossed into the Golan mountains. Having witnessed the destruction left behind by battle, Kousnsky learned a hard lesson in the disastrous consequences of fundamentalism, be they religious or political.

Isack Kousnsky

These early experiences in Israel are at the core of Kousnsky’s artistic outlook. Seeking peace over war, unity over divisiveness and creativity over commercialism, Kousnsky’s art might be seen as a way for him to heal the world’s ills, large and small.

In one part of his art practice, Kousnsky critiques social and political injustice. In the other, he fashions transcendent images of nature and fantastic views of the city, meant to jolt us out of our hectic, urban routines.

Wailing Wall

Upon moving to New York in the early ’80s, Kousnsky thrived in the burgeoning downtown art scene in the East Village. He exhibited at the Now and Sixth Sense galleries and installed a large, public installation, “The World,” in Tompkins Square Park, one of East Village’s most iconic sites.

In his paintings, sculptures and installations from this period, Kousnsky engaged local and global politics — from tenants’ rights to protests against apartheid. He also began to integrate the alternative ethos of the East Village avantgarde into his own practice.

In 1987, he founded the Hiro Project, an alternative art venue that functioned as a cafe and exhibition space devoted to paintings, sculpture and installation. At the Hiro Project, Kousnsky curated one of the largest exhibitions of the era, including artists as diverse as Salvador, Rosilio and Keith Haring.

New York City to Televiv

Among Kousnsky’s accomplishments and awards:

• His work graces the walls of designer Rachel Roy’s office.

• In 2011, his piece, “Crashing Clouds with Dream Sky,” was featured at the Christie’s Green Auction on Earth Day.

• In 2012, his art was featured at World Oceans Day, supporting the preservation of world oceans.

• His piece, “Vertical Blue Orange Bridge,” was featured in the movie, “Wall Street 2: Money Never Stops.”

• His work has been featured in Town & Country Magazine.

HotWorks’ associated 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm, Institute for the Arts & Education, focuses on visual arts, cultural diversity, community enrichment and fostering art education among youth. IA&E integrates a Budding Artist Competition within the show, encouraging students to enter original art that is publicly displayed the entire weekend.

HotWorks.org Naples Fine Art Shows

Oct. 30-31, 2021 and March 26-27, 2022

Outdoors at Naples Italian American Foundation, on the corner of Airport-Pulling Road and Orange Blossom Drive in Naples.

Free admission: $5 parking supports local troop of Boy Scouts of America, IA&E and helps to pay the costs of producing the show.