Holocaust Art & Remembrance

This section of the lesson is quite sensitive but very important in ending such a dark moment in history with some positive purpose. Please refer back to Miriam Brysk’s artwork “Lodz-Chelmno.” Notice the image of the memorial at top of the artwork. The word etched in stone “Pamietamy” is Polish for “We Remember.” Throughout our study, we have connected the theme of remembrance with victims of the Holocaust.

Now look at self-portrait “Mama and I” and read the accompanying description. Do you find that this image is of a more positive nature and that it is indicative of the power of memory?

THIS PHOTOGRAPH OF MY MOTHER AND ME WAS TAKEN IN 1944 IN THE TOWN OF SZCZUCZYN IN BELARUS. WE LIVED THERE FOLLOWING OUR LIBERATION BY THE RUSSIANS. THE LOWER INSERTS DEPICT MY PRE-WAR FAMILY IN WARSAW. DURING THE WAR. WE WERE INTERNED IN THE LIDA GHETTO, THEN RESCUED BY RUSSIAN PARTISANS LIVING IN THE LIPICZANSKA FOREST. WE LIVED AS PARTISANS IN THE FOREST FOR ONE AND A HALF YEARS

For your final project, you will browse through Miriam Brysk’s two collections In a Confined Silence and Children of the Holocaust.

• Look for a person, an emotion, a concept, an idea or event which you think is worth remembering today.
• Create a document into which you save a copy of the artwork image and where you write a paragraph explaining your choice of a particular artwork.
• You will connect the particular artwork’s person, emotion, concept, idea or event to a similar person, emotion, concept, idea, or event in our own lives. You will write a second paragraph which explains this connection.
• You will now locate a photograph from your own possessions or family album which depicts your personal connection to the Brysk artwork. Scan your own photograph or otherwise add it to your document.
• In one last paragraph, identify the people and circumstances in your photograph and explain the personal connection to the Miriam Brysk artwork.
• Upload your project here on the Assignment section of Moodle.
• These final projects will be printed off and displayed around the classroom. Student projects will also be collected into an ePub document.
• You will use a template form for supplying the Miriam Bysk artwork along with your photograph and for recording your reflections.

In A Confined Silence	Children of the Holocaust

After students have been given time to view all projects of classmates, a final discussion addressing these questions will be held: