The event drew renowned attorneys, art collectors, and VIPs, who savored delicacies from a “jaw droppingly beautiful” grazing table as well as a selection of passed hors d’oeuvres by A&S Westport Catering & Events.

“The Heida” competition, a prestigious platform for pianists aged 18-30 worldwide, was highlighted with remarks by “Heida” champion Kristin Foster, a member of MoCACT Board of Directors and Performing Arts Advisory Committee, as well as the presence of longtime “Heida” benefactors, Suzanne and Norman Sorensen.

“My wife Suzanne and I have supported MoCACT and the Heida Hermanns competition for ten years, and it’s been a true privilege,” said Sorensen. “MoCACT has done commendable work in attracting young, aspiring artists.” In his remarks, Mr. Sorensen emphasized the need for increased funding to sustain opportunities for talented musicians who lack resources to showcase their skills.

Dr. Joan Miller of Capital Prep Harbor School shared heartfelt insights, noting the competition’s impact on inner-city youth by exposing them to transformative cultural experiences. “On the bus ride home after the performance, the children’s faces lit up as they discussed the pianists’ hand movements and the music’s emotional impact,” she remarked. “Some of our children have never left Bridgeport, and giving them the opportunity to see what’s possible was wonderful.” Dr. Miller concluded, “I’d love to do it again. I hope the partnership will continue for years to come.”

The evening underscored the vital role of local businesses in supporting arts and culture. Family Law attorneys Jacquelyn Conlon and Bonnie Amendola, hosts of the event, summed up the sentiment: “We believe it’s important to support MoCA and ‘The Heida’ to keep creativity alive, challenge our perspectives, create opportunities for those in need, and ensure all artists have the freedom to keep moving culture forward.”

The event was a resounding success, shining a spotlight on the importance of community-driven cultural initiatives.

TEL AVIV, Israel, October 23, 2025 (CarryOnHarry.com)
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Tel Aviv has welcomed a new destination for contemporary art with the opening of The L Gallery on Ahad Ha’Am Street. Dedicated to promoting Israeli and international artists, the gallery seeks to cultivate dialogue and exchange across cultures and disciplines.

The gallery was founded by a group of creators and entrepreneurs from the art and business worlds, among them London-based video artist and film director Eva Lanska. The gallery’s director Mindy Schechter, former head of leading galleries in London, brings extensive international experience to the role.

The inaugural exhibition Unfolded presents a solo show by Israeli artist Evgeny Merman, a graduate of New York’s School of Visual Arts. Through his works, Merman revisits personal and collective histories of migration and displacement, transforming them into poetic reflections imbued with profound material sensitivity.

“The exhibition Unfolded is an important project, presenting the diversity of my artistic explorations between 2017 and 2025,” says Merman. “For me, painting is both a tactile, meditative act and a way to explore what migration and memory leave behind. I often work on surfaces that already carry scars and traces, so each piece becomes a dialogue between what was there before and what remains unresolved. Showing these works at The L Gallery feels like the right place to begin this new chapter, and I am grateful to the gallery for making it possible.”

Alongside the main exhibition, the gallery also unveiled Sisterhood, a video work by Eva Lanska exploring themes of solidarity and female support. Previously showcased at major international events such as the Venice Biennale and Miami Art Week, the piece continues to resonate across diverse audiences.

Lanska adds, “Opening The L Gallery is both a privilege and a responsibility. We wanted to create a space in the heart of Tel Aviv that not only presents art but also invites people to pause, reflect, and connect with ideas that challenge and inspire. Evgeny Merman’s works embody this vision perfectly. This project is particularly important for the gallery, as it serves as a pop-up exhibition preceding the grand opening planned at the end of 2025.”

The opening reception drew a distinguished circle of guests, including Eyal Waldman; Miki Jacobson Dehab, CEO of the Israel Philharmonic Foundation; Anat Fischer-Leventon, CEO of the Suzanne Dellal Centre; Amnon Apelbaum, engineering consultant for Canada Israel; architect Yoav Messer; Rob Anders, CEO of digital art startup Niio; architect Matan Chagaby; businessman and philanthropist Yaakov Peretz with his wife Rachel; and Sandra Benisty, President of the Jaffa Institute France, alongside art professionals and collectors from Israel and abroad.

Unfolded is on view through December 15, 2025, at 13 Ahad Ha’Am Street, Tel Aviv-Yafo.

The L Gallery is a global contemporary art platform with exclusive galleries in Tel Aviv, Monaco, London, and New York.

Photo: Evgeny Merman, Eva Lanska, Eyal Waldman

Source: Kultura PR International LLC