Every community has experienced the recent period in a deeply personal way, and the creative process turns that experience into something tangible. Baobab Studio invites the public to glimpse the resilience journey of northern residents through a traveling exhibition titled “The North Star,” which will open on January 22, 2026, at Kibbutz Baram and be on display for one week.
The exhibition presents sculpture and woodcarving works by studio participants from northern communities - Kiryat Shmona, Ramot Naftali, Beit Hillel, Kfar Yuval, Shlomi, and Baram - in collaboration with cultural coordinators, resilience coordinators, MATAV, and representatives of local authorities. After its presentation in the North concludes, the exhibition will continue its journey south and be shown in Beersheba, featuring works by residents of the Gaza Envelope and attended by mayors and heads of regional councils.
Sasha Galitsky, founder and creator of the studio, explains: “‘The North Star’ is far more than an art project - it is a human and communal journey that connects people, provides strength, and allows them to tell their story through hands-on work and wood. The exhibition at Kibbutz Baram is a defining moment in this journey, and we are excited to share it with everyone who has been part of the path.”
Baobab Studio, founded in 2003, works with diverse vulnerable groups - including evacuees from the North, soldiers with post-traumatic stress, survivors of terror attacks, and others - and provides a creative and supportive space that combines woodcarving with a group experience and the strengthening of personal resilience. A 2024 study by Ariel University showed a reduction in depression and anxiety and an improvement in mental well-being among studio participants, as the works created are displayed in exhibitions and become symbols of resilience and hope.
The studio continues to expand, with new centers set to open across the country during 2026 in the North, Center, and South, with the goal of making the experience of creation, support, and resilience accessible to more communities.