Written by Nia Bowers
The connection between mental health and the creative arts is strong. Studies have shown the relationship between art engagement and improved psychological well-being, reducing levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. It is within this powerful, life-affirming space that a new philanthropic project, EMERGE: From Trauma to Transformation is born.
American Friends of NATAL (AFN), the US based organization that supports the work of NATAL Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center, has partnered with the esteemed Israeli-American artist Tomer Peretz on a deeply personal and powerful collection. EMERGE: From Trauma to Transformation is a limited-edition series of eight signed tribute cards that embody the challenging, yet vital, journey from profound pain to enduring resilience.
The Veteran's Vision: Art as a Healing Modality
Tomer Peretz brings a unique and impactful perspective to this collaboration. As an award-winning artist and the inaugural Artist-in-Residence at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, his work is characterized by raw emotional depth and a search for light within darkness. Tomer volunteered with ZAKA after October 7th and describes the experience as a profound turning point. This intensive exposure to the immediate aftermath of trauma compelled him to merge his personal art therapy practice, a cornerstone of his creative life, with NATAL’s specialized trauma healing approach.The EMERGE project is a direct result of this commitment. Tomer harnessed his transformative creative method to create a tangible narrative. Each card in the collection reflects a stage of this journey, combining trauma-inspired artwork, which captures the initial impact and struggle, with his original, more hopeful pieces that represent recovery and transformation. The series powerfully visualizes the internal process of moving forward.
EMERGE: Eight Steps on the Path to Resilience The collection is made up of eight individual pieces, each a critical, standalone moment within Tomer’s larger artistic vision. These powerful works are the very embodiment of the "Emerge: From Trauma to Transformation" philosophy, an unprecedented synergy between a veteran artist's quest for personal meaning and a leading organization's scientific methodology for trauma recovery. The path to healing is not linear, and the collection reflects this complex reality, guiding the viewer and collector through stages of pain, acknowledgment, and eventual hope.
Each card reflects Tomer’s deep understanding of the healing process, portraying the raw emotion of the initial trauma while simultaneously guiding the eye toward the resilience and inner strength that follow. By combining layered, trauma-inspired artwork with his original pieces, the artist offers a visual representation of how one can process and integrate devastating experiences without being permanently defined by them. This blending of disciplines fine art, art therapy, and clinical trauma care, makes EMERGE a therapeutic statement.
Beyond the Canvas: Supporting NATAL's Crucial Mission
The acquisition of a piece from the EMERGE collection transcends a typical art purchase; it becomes an act of direct philanthropic support. Funds raised through this collaboration flow directly to NATAL, an organization providing critical, life-changing assistance to Israelis coping with trauma stemming from terrorism and war. NATAL operates essential services, from its national trauma hotline to specialized clinical care and community resilience training, forming a vital psychological infrastructure for a society under immense stress.American Friends of NATAL (AFN) is dedicated to strengthening NATAL’s capabilities on the ground. Operating in the U.S., AFN builds awareness and unites a committed network of supporters focused on ensuring the resilience and well-being of Israel’s population. By supporting the EMERGE collection, collectors are not merely acquiring a signed work by an acclaimed artist; they are engaging in a shared commitment to mental health. The project powerfully illustrates how art, through a thoughtful partnership with expert trauma care, can transform personal experience into a tangible resource that sustains a community's journey toward collective healing and enduring hope.
