A new exhibition of paintings and sculptures is opening in the Gallery On the Lake in Raanana. The exhibition presents the work of Albert Ben Shimol (paintings) and Boris Welkoff (sculpture), two established artists who have been working for many years, each in his own field.

Albert Ben Shimol, an architect and town planner who worked in Tel Aviv, was lucky enough to study painting as a child with Melanie de Rothschild. Here he is exhibiting figurative paintings, tending to the naive and demonstrating considerable skill in drawing and laying down color. His paintings describe landscapes, animals, drawings of women, and a series of illustrations to Bible stories.

Sculptor Boris Welkoff studied architecture and worked in polymer engineering, and taught himself to sculpt. Boris grew up in Argentina and was influenced by Indian art, and his sculptures are reminiscent of tribal sculpture, expressive, made of tree bark, natural colors, ceramic or red earth brought from the Misiones region of Argentina.

The festive opening will take place on Saturday night, March 20, 2010, at 20:30, with Mayor Nahum Hofree and Deputy Mayor Ronit Weintraub, who holds the culture, youth and leisure portfolio.

Curator: Orit Lutringer

Opening hours of Gallery On the Lake, 10 Park Avenue, Raanana:
Sunday - Thursday: 10:30-13:30, 17:00-21:00, Fridays and Passover Eve (March 29): 10:30-12:00, and on Passover (March 30) the Gallery will be closed.

In the photo: two of the works of art in the exhibition. Photograph: courtesy of Raanana Municipality.