This week we are highlighting Gideon Cohn as our Window Walk Gallery Artist of the Week!
Gideon was born in Sweden and immigrated with his parents to Israel. Growing up on a kibbutz, surrounded by raw nature as well as vast agricultural endeavors, it was only natural that Gideon was attracted to nature and the plant world which was very joyous and a source of inspiration for him.
He joined the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) serving for 3 years including the Six-Day War. In the early 70s he established his family life for a few years in Holland where he had two daughters; later returning to Israel with his family (which now included his third daughter) started pioneering farming with advanced technology in the Dead Sea region in Israel.
In 1983, Gideon moved with his family to southern California on a 2-year contract to develop raw desert along the Salton Sea into agriculture.
Though possessing a zest for art since early childhood, “serious artwork” in the form of drawings and paintings started in the early 90’s.
While attending various classes in Art, Interior Design, Architecture and CAD, at the College of the Desert in Palm Desert, Gideon was drawing and painting in his studio, allowing for the initial shaping of the artist. Much of Gideon’s art created in the 21st century revolves around the human figure with a hint of surrealism, and comes to form in charcoal/pastels on paper, oils and acrylic on canvas, and more recently some unique techniques he developed that really sets him apart. Some of the artwork incorporates other media such as wood, prints, and other material which provide a third dimension to the art.
Currently, besides his agricultural business, Gideon the artist has evolved in the art world, including owning an art gallery in Palm Springs for 7 years and a gallery in Idyllwild, CA, both combined into a studio/gallery in La Quinta, CA. He has also been curating art shows and for the last several years, jurying and judging for the La Quinta Art festival (ranked #1 in the nation) as well as other shows. His art is and has been shown both in group and solo juried exhibitions in various galleries winning various awards.
He is involved in the community with nonprofit organizations promoting the art with youth, as well as preservation and conservation of the environment. He is the originator and visionary of the art component and has been the Art Director for the JFK Healthy Family Foundation’s “Ophelia Project” in Palm Desert since 2009. This mentoring project encourages young middle and high school girls to achieve their full potential and building up their self-esteem. It is a program involving some 750 girls in 15 schools and 3 school districts.
When asked why he wanted to do the Window Art walk Gallery he responded,
“ Throughout my adult life and more specifically my life as an artist, I believed in the ability of art to heal and assist young and old with health issues beyond what conventional medicine has to offer.
As such, I have been and still am, involved in initiating, designing, and directing several art projects that directly benefit and improve people’s life through art.
This opportunity which supports mental health awareness, is a great way to showcase your art at a prominent location while assisting a noble cause.
You can view Gideon’s art in person at The River and in various galleries and art shows throughout the year.
For more information on Gideon’s work please visit his website www.gideonartist.com , and follow him on social media- Instagram: @GideonArtist Facebook: @Gideoncohn
