Card crown for budding artist

THE 11-year-old winner of The AJN‘s Rosh Hashanah card competition said he was “a bit startled” upon being told he was the victor.

Matthew Kolomeysky’s pencil drawing of a man wearing a tallit and blowing a shofar on the shores of the Kinneret was judged the best out of hundreds of entries received from across the country.

The judges included AJN national editor Zeddy Lawrence, Jewish Museum of Australia (JMA) director Rebecca Forgasz, and an expert panel at the Sydney Jewish Museum (SJM).

“We were overwhelmed by the incredible artistic talent on display in the designs we received, but Matthew’s effort really stood out,” said Lawrence.

A student at Melbourne’s King David School, Matthew is an accomplished artist, having started honing his craft at the art school Raduga (Russian for rainbow).

“I like creating ideas and tones and rhythms in pictures,” he said.

Asked where his idea came from, he answered “my imagination”. It was also inspired by his own visit to the Kinneret.

“Most people think of Rosh Hashanah as apple and honey, but I wanted to be more serious,” he said.

Matthew dedicated his work, which adorns the official AJN Rosh Hashanah card, to his grandparents. He said he planned to continue pursuing art, maybe as both a hobby and an occupation when he grows up.

His original drawing will be displayed, alongside other Victorian finalists, after the High Holy Days in a special JMA exhibition.

The best Sydney entries will have a similar special exhibition staged at the SJM. The AJN would like to thank all the students who worked hard drawing, painting, cutting and glueing to create some magnificent Rosh Hashanah images.