International artist Alona Harpaz, who resides and works in Berlin, traveled to Israel to take part in the residency. She studied for a master's degree in photography in New York and has focused on painting since the early 1990s. In recent years she has expanded her work into film making. Alona has participated in many exhibitions and has collaborated with leading Israeli galleries. She founded Circle1 - Platform for Art & Culture Gallery in Berlin, an art and cultural center in 2013, and has served as artistic director since then. During her residence at the Carmel Forest Resort she opened a painting studio in the lobby and invited guests to participate.