The Israeli artist, Yael Erlichman, won the “Lorenzo il Magnigico President Award” at the Biennale for Contemporary Art in Florence 2009.

800 artists from 76 different countries participated in the Biennale, and over 2500 artworks were exhibited, during a show that was held in the old Fortezza da Baso fortress that was built in the Renaissance period.

(in the photo – one of the 5 bronze sculptures of Erlichman)

Erlichman was invited to show at the biennale, after exhibiting in the last few years in various important shows in the world, including exhibitions in Canada, Holland and the United States, as well as important shows in Israel. She showed five of her Bronze Sculptures at the Biennale : “it was a great surprise for me, since it is a serious panel of judges, and overall it is a great pleasure” said Erlichman.

Besides Erlichman the following Israelis exhibited at the Biennale: Yael Kaplan (fifth place in photography), Patricia Abramovitch, Akiva Huber and Yasmin Hadad.

The artists were selected by a panel of international judges, with one of the important objectives of the Biennale since 2001 is to promote “ the dialogue of civilizations”. All together, as every time there were artists from the different fields of painting, sculpture, photography and multi-media.

—Northeast Ohio's Secret Treasure

Local Bainbridge artist TRACY AMEEN will be showing at the gallery through the month of June 2011 starting with Little Italy Art Walk, June 3, 4 & 5.

Ms. Ameen produces two types of pottery: sculpted single wall pots and double-wall, reticulated pieces. It's strong, nimble fingers and even stronger passions for everyday life that are the focus of her ceramic pieces. Her inspiration comes from simple things -- a song, a conversation, a memory, a person she meets.

Ameen, 47, is one of only a handful of artists worldwide who create Chinese double-walled ceramic pottery, a 13th century technique where the object is built out of one piece of clay on a pottery wheel.

She was born in Cleveland and her family moved to the Chagrin Falls Park neighborhood in Bainbridge when she was in the third grade.

She is a Kenston High School graduate and still lives with her husband, also named Tracy, in Chagrin Falls Park. That's also where her WheelWorks Art Studio is headquartered.

Ameen also teaches pottery classes at The Valley Art Center, 155 Bell Street, in Chagrin Falls.

Ms Ameen's impressive pieces are part of the permanent collections of the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center, Wilberforce University, the White House, the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum as well as many other permanent collections worldwide. Now Ameen has put some of those thoughts and inspirations, along with insights into her perspective on life, into her first book, "Ameen," accompanied by stunning photographs of dozens of her signature pieces.

Ms. Ameen's work will be on display from June 3 - June 30th. She will be present at Pennello Gallery to explain her techniques from 7 p.m. -10 p.m. on June 3rd and June 4th.

The Kakadu Company

Kakadu was founded in 1990 with Reut's husband Aharon, who is a professional carpenter and designer.  Over the years, they have developed hundreds of creations that have been sold in Israel, the United States and all over the world.  Kakadu's products are identified as pure Israeli creations.  No components or production are outsourced to any foreign company, and Kakadu is an eco-friendly and green company.  Reut and Aharon are the sole designers and have patents on many of the products, like the carpets, placemats and trays, which can be used for many years.  It is the perfect marriage of art and design for practical use.

Reut graduated from the Academic Bezalel of Fine Arts in Jerusalem with concentrations in professional carpentry, gold crafting, sculpting and painting.  Her father, a famous painter is Israel, taught for many years at Bezalel.  So art was part of her life from early childhood.

Reut is a world known artist and has exhibited in galleries and museums in Israel and abroad.  She has participated in projects in Scandinavia, Korea, the Netherlands, France and Turkey.  She also designed a large restaurant in Disney World.