Street artists bring color to Israeli and Jordanian streets

A boy plays in front of a wall painting by Hawaiian artist Kamea Hadar during an art happening, called POW! WOW! Israel, which is connected to a week-long art and culture festival held in Hawaii called POW! WOW! Hawaii, in the southern city of Arad, Israel June 6, 2017. Picture taken June 6, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

ARAD, Israel (Reuters) - With large murals of black cats and colorful gurning faces, a group of traveling international artists are bringing a splash of colorful street art to towns in Israel and Jordan.

The eye-catching works, including large portraits and spying eyes, are produced under the banner of the international POW! WOW! event, a week-long culture festival which aims to "contribute, share culture and beautify communities with art.".

Having produced pieces at the Dead Sea and Petra in Jordan, the small group of artists, from Hawaii, Tel Aviv and Los Angeles, traveled to the southern Israeli city of Arad, a town in the Negev desert not often touched by street art.

Israeli artist who goes by the name Klone, works on his wall painting during an art happening, called POW! WOW! Israel, which is connected to a week-long art and culture festival held in Hawaii called POW! WOW! Hawaii, in the southern city of Arad, Israel June 5, 2017. Picture taken June 5, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

"I came to the artist quarter in Arad to paint some walls,to give some colors and beauty to the place and to the people," Tel Aviv street artist Dioz said on Wednesday as he finished his piece of the large faces.

The artists will next head to Tel Aviv to continue their art pilgrimage on Thursday for the final stages of the two-week festival .

A girl looks at a wall painting by Israeli artist who goes by the name Dioz, during an art happening, called POW! WOW! Israel, which is connected to a week-long art and culture festival held in Hawaii called POW! WOW! Hawaii, in the southern city of Arad, Israel June 5, 2017. Picture taken June 5, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

(Reporting by Amir Cohen. Writing by Patrick Johnston in LONDON. Editing by Pritha Sarkar)

People walk past a wall painting by Israeli artist who goes by the name Dioz, during an art happening, called POW! WOW! Israel, which is connected to a week-long art and culture festival held in Hawaii called POW! WOW! Hawaii, in the southern city of Arad, Israel June 5, 2017. Picture taken June 5, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

American artist, who goes by the name Drew (L), looks at a mobile phone with a woman during an art happening, called POW! WOW! Israel, which is connected to a week-long art and culture festival held in Hawaii called POW! WOW! Hawaii, in the southern city of Arad Israel June 6, 2017. Picture taken June 6, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

A cleaner works in front of a wall painting by Israeli artist who goes by the name Dioz, during an art happening, called POW! WOW! Israel, which is connected to a week-long art and culture festival held in Hawaii called POW! WOW! Hawaii, Israel June 6, 2017. Picture taken June 6, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

American artist, who goes by the name Cryptik, works on his wall painting during an art happening, called POW! WOW! Israel, which is connected to a week-long art and culture festival held in Hawaii called POW! WOW! Hawaii, in the southern city of Arad, Israel June 5, 2017. Picture taken June 5, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

A girl walks stands in front of a wall painting by Hawaiian artist Noelle Enright during an art happening, called POW! WOW! Israel, which is connected to a week-long art and culture festival held in Hawaii called POW! WOW! Hawaii, in the southern city of Arad, Israel June 6, 2017. Picture taken June 6, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

A woman stands in front of a wall painting by American-Israeli artist, who goes by the name, Zero Cents, during an art happening, called POW! WOW! Israel, which is connected to a week-long art and culture festival held in Hawaii called POW! WOW! Hawaii, in the southern city of Arad, Israel June 5, 2017. Picture taken June 5, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

American artist, who goes by the name Rabi Cyrcle, works on his wall painting during an art happening, called POW! WOW! Israel, which is connected to a week-long art and culture festival held in Hawaii called POW! WOW! Hawaii, in the southern city of Arad, Israel June 6, 2017. Picture taken June 6, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

The shadow of American artist, who goes by the name Drew, is seen on the wall as he works on his wall painting during an art happening, called POW! WOW! Israel, which is connected to a week-long art and culture festival held in Hawaii called POW! WOW! Hawaii, in the southern city of Arad, Israel, June 5, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

American-Israeli artist, who goes by the name, Zero Cents, works on a wall painting during an art happening, called POW! WOW! Israel, which is connected to a week-long art and culture festival held in Hawaii called POW! WOW! Hawaii, in the southern city of Arad, Israel June 6, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

A man stands next to a wall painting by Hawaiian artist Noelle Enright during an art happening, called POW! WOW! Israel, which is connected to a week-long art and culture festival held in Hawaii called POW! WOW! Hawaii, in the southern city of Arad, Israel June 5, 2017. Picture taken June 5, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

American artist, who goes by the name Drew works on his wall painting during an art happening, called POW! WOW! Israel, which is connected to a week-long art and culture festival held in Hawaii called POW! WOW! Hawaii, in the southern city of Arad, Israel June 5, 2017. Picture taken June 5, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

American artist, who goes by the name Drew works on his wall painting during an art happening, called POW! WOW! Israel, which is connected to a week-long art and culture festival held in Hawaii called POW! WOW! Hawaii, in the southern city of Arad, Israel June 5, 2017. Picture taken June 5, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

A dog stands in front of a wall painting by American-Israeli artist, who goes by the name, Zero Cents, during an art happening, called POW! WOW! Israel, which is connected to a week-long art and culture festival held in Hawaii called POW! WOW! Hawaii, Israel June 6, 2017. Picture taken June 6, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Children walk near an wall paintings by American-Israeli artist, who goes by the name Zero Cents (R), and Hawaiian artist Noelle Enright (L), during an art happening, called POW! WOW! Israel, which is connected to a week-long art and culture festival held in Hawaii called POW! WOW! Hawaii, in the southern city of Arad, Israel June 6, 2017. Picture taken June 6, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

American artist, who goes by the name Rabi Cyrcle (L) and American artist, who goes by the name Drew, work during an art happening, called POW! WOW! Israel, which is connected to a week-long art and culture festival held in Hawaii called POW! WOW! Hawaii, in the southern city of Arad, Israel June 6, 2017. Picture taken June 6, 2017. REUTERS/Amir Cohen