Ehud Grably's scholarship request

“I was born in 1961 and always knew I will become an artist. I started drawing at the age of nine (and since then, as much as I can remember myself, I have been painting...) I have always viewed art, and especially painting, as being sacred. I was never lacking in ideas, and always felt complete and more. During my fifteenth year, I began doing large scale pieces, on subjects I would think about, that I had to transform into the visual medium, where I lived. At the end of that year, I met Mrs. Judith Shen Dar, the curator of the Haifa Museum, in the city I was born, through another person. She was the first critic I met from the professional world. Her intense impression was conveyed to me vicariously and since then she had maintained contact and interest in my activities. I've always worked a lot, day and night, while unknowingly giving up on the things that others my age are occupied with, and it was always a merciless job but filled with passion mixed with bliss.

Towards 1979, people from the French Cultural Center, who had seen my work, recommended to award me with a scholarship and to hold my first exhibition at the gallery of the Center for French Culture. (My stay in Paris was cancelled due to the general cancellation of grants given by the French government). I received excellent reviews at the exhibition, and in the newspapers as well. At the end of the tenth grade, after the principal of WIZO-Canada school in Haifa where I studied photography and even finished with honours, had seen my work, he decided to create a special curriculum just for me, in which I joined the Neri Bloomfield College of Advanced Studies, which was something that I wanted and requested as well. And so, parallel to my high school studies, I studied at the graduate college as well. There I worked in etching, illustration, drawing and animation (which I engaged in since the age of 13 without any guidance) and also created in many other areas as well, in which I deal with to this day, cinema, directing, plays and mime.

In the twelfth grade I was offered to hold a grand exhibition of my works at the school's gallery, which received great reviews from viewers and newspapers, including in the Ma'ariv newspaper, in a review written by Moshe Ben-Shaul. In fact, since then I have been creating nonstop, dedicating a great deal of time to large scale pieces inspired by the “Dante's Inferno” series, and I am planning a few exhibitions on the subject, parallel to many works on other subjects as well. I even finished writing a long play and am writing two more. Many professionals who had seen my work, advised me to move forward on my own, without the need for formal education. Lately I tried again to be accepted at the College for Higher Painting Education in Ramat Gan (Under the management of Freddie Fabian), and was surprised by their astonished reaction after seeing my work, as they told me that the institute's level is not for me and that studying may spoil my creativity. Something many had said to me.

I believe in my talent, and am quite sure of it. In fact, creativity for me is a matter of life and death, as much as it sounds bombastic, it is, naturally true. My financial situation isn't the best, since I am constantly creating independently, at my studio in Tel Aviv. My parents are my supporters and the expenses are high. Aid on your part will be most helpful, especially in financing my drawing materials.

With Thanks,

Ehud Grably”

Ehud Grably (1961-1994)