Artwork > Community Mural Projects > Youth Projects > Summer Camps

Makom Kadosh, 2012
Camp Ramah, Palmer

I returned as a visiting artist for a week at Camp Ramah in Palmer, MA in the summer of 2012. I led two groups of campers in the design and painting of a 24 foot wide, 8 foot high mural inspired by the camp's theme of "Makom Kadosh" (Hebrew for Holy Place). In five short but very intense days, the campers managed to create a beautiful mural that is now installed at the entrance of the camp to be enjoyed for many years to come.

Here is a description of the mural in their own words:

"The theme of this mural is Makom Kadosh, a holy place, which is written in a mezuzah along the right side of the mural. We chose five parts of camp that we feel make camp holy to us. These five circles are all connected and overlap.

In the center there are nine Medurot (campfires), each one representing an edah. Their smoke and sparks come together into one fire symbolizing the Ner Tamid (eternal flame) that burns in synagogues to show the presence of Hashem. Four friends are sharing the campfire experience together showing friendship and joy.

The circle on the bottom left represents friendship because we feel that it is the people and friends at Ramah that make it a holy place. On the first day of camp, buses, cars, and planes bring friends from all over the world to camp. In the heart (growing out of two handprints), two friends jump with joy as they see each other arrive. The word Chaveroot (friendship) written in the path symbolizes all the friendships that make up the paths we travel through our years at camp.

The circle on the top left represents our Friday night traditions that are special to us. This includes Shabbat beginning as the sun sets, the Miriam dancers with their tambourines, and roses to represent the song Erev Shel Shoshanim (Evening of the Roses) that we sing on Shabbat.

The circle on the top right depicts Seudat Shlishit, a meal we have together on Saturday evening. One of our favorite moments is after the meal when we all hold pinkies and sing together with our eyes closed in the glow of the Ohel. The words to one of the songs we sing, Bashem Hashem, are written above.

The circle on the bottom right represents the Choorsha (grove) which is a special place to everyone at camp. Between the trees are the words Hamavdil ben Kodesh LiChol (the separation between the holy and the regular) which is a part of the Havdallah service. We often sing when in the grove which is why we have music notes coming up and joining the music above. The trees are reflecting in the Agam (lake) showing the beauty of all of the nature that we have in camp because we feel that the nature helps make camp a holy place."

Many thanks to Eve, Tova, Erica, Ariella, Hannah, Dani, Nellie, Naomi (Jeromi), Oren, Dina, Shari, Nitzan, Samara, Ariel, Sarah, Shoshi, Ian, Veronica, Netania, Jasmin, Rochelle, and Arielle for all of your hard work on this project. Here's what some of them had to say once their work was done:

What was the most enjoyable part of this project?
    •    Making something that will be in camp forever.
    •    Looking at the unbelievably beautiful finished product and knowing I left my mark camp.
    •    Watching everyone take such pride in their ideas, abilities, and undiscovered talents.

What (if anything) did you learn from the mural process that you didn’t know before?
    •    How to make something totally from my imagination.
    •    Though your initial ideas may be a big mess, if you all agree to work together it can end up looking great.
    •    It’s a multi-step process.

What does the mural represent to you? How does it relate to your Ramah experience?
    •    The mural represents the strongest parts of camp, the parts that everyone experiences.
    •    The mural represents all of the really unique and special (holy) things that the camp has to offer. When I see the mural it brings back special memories for me.
    •    It represents all the moments in camp where I feel we act as a community.

What advice would you give the next group now that you’ve been through the mural process?
    •    Be open minded to new ideas.
    •    Trust yourself, be confident in your ability and go crazy with ideas!
    •    Take your time and it will all come together in the end.
    •    “Small” jobs are the hardest and most important.
    •    There are no mistakes!
    •    Be open to the fact that you may be good at things you didn’t think you were before.