Jerusalem has been stimulating the souls of artists since the first paeans to her beauty in the Hebrew Bible, and with nearly 41 years gone since reunification and 60 gone since becoming the capital of the new state of Israel, the city begs for a new round of artistic commemorations. And right on cue, the Municipality, in conjunction with the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel and the Alrov company, is rolling out Israel Draws Jerusalem, a large art display going up in the Mamilla Mall on June 1, in honor of Jerusalem Day (Yom Yerushalayim).

The initiative gathered 70 artists from all over Israel, hailing from nearly every major sector of society - Israeli natives, new immigrants, secular Jews, religious Jews, Charedi Jews and Arabs - and plunked them down in front of the Valley of the Deer, a broad valley in the heart of Jerusalem, near the Begin expressway, that has been allowed to retain its green character and serve as home to a small herd of eponymous mammals. Each artist produced a drawing or painting of the valley, committing to canvas his or her own unique viewpoint, aesthetic sensibilities and feelings for Jerusalem.

The paintings will be displayed starting from 18:00 on June 1 in the Mamilla Mall's Open Gallery. The exhibition, free and open to the public, will remain throughout the entire month of June.

Drawing by Dudu Panso, courtesy of the Department of the Arts, Municipality of Jerusalem.