SALAH ALKARA

B. 1955

It all started since Ein Hod, the artists' village in the Carmel, was established. 
Ein Hod is an abandoned Arab village, settled by artists who have found romance and orient in it. 
Not far away from Ein Hod, on Mount Carmel, a Druze village called Daliat El Carmel is situated. 
The citizens in Daliat El Carmel made a bond with Israelis. One old family, called 'Alkara', sought employment like the rest of the citizens, and Ein Hod seemed a suitable place. 
The father of the family arrived to Ein Hod and offered himself as an employee for renovation work in the renewed village. 
Each and every day he used to make his way to Ein Hod, sometimes walking, other times by car, in fact, he became like one of them. 
The ruined houses that were restored were a good source of income. 
Naturally, he became as a native explaining the new workers how to construct using the local stone, how to insulate the roof with boiling tar and how to convert a ruin into a house. 
This how, Alkara became an instructor to the natives. 
Alkara's sons desired to assist the father with the home livelihood arrived together with him. They integrated with the place and learned different labors from the villagers, particularly from Aiche Mambosh, the Mukhtar (head of Arab village) of Ein Hod. 
Aiche Mambosh, whom is going to be told about in detail once the full Israeli art history is written, owned a carpet and ceramics workshop. Throughout time, he established a network print plant that served Ein Hod's artists. 
Saleh Alkara started working at Aiche's and at Jenia Burger's, a painter. 
He learned, saw, absorbed and at the end turned into a professional.  
Years have passed and the acknowledgement with art seeped into his awareness. 
In fact, without any formal studies and perhaps at the right track of an apprentice, Saleh has become an expert.
Thus, throughout his adulthood, Saleh has lived surrounded with art works and artistic practice.