Artists Adopt Survivors
Artist’s Statement: Arnold Gatoff
"Holocaust Triptych"
EMIGRATION: Fearing for the lives of their families and themselves, many European Jews attempted to avoid the persecution, abuse, dehumanization and genocide that awaited them at the hands of the Nazis in Germany and in the countries that the Nazis over-ran. The images in the first panel evolved from sculpture by Ellie Nadelman and Wilhelm Lehmbruck, a photograph of an Alvin Ailey dancer and a landscape that represents the “promised land.”
HOLOCAUST, the title of the center panel, focuses on the genocide that resulted in the death of six million men, women and children and the emotional destruction of many millions more. The rider on horseback, sword in hand, represents the “Evil Axis.” The figure screaming at the sky and posed to be deflecting falling bombs is an interpretation of a sculpture in Rottendam by Ossip Zadkine. The figure in prayer and the choice of colors unify the three panels into one triptych.
FROM OUT OF ASHES – REBIRTH: The third panel was inspired by Rabbi Bergman’s salutation as you enter the Holocaust Resource Center – “From Out of Ashes, Faith, Vision, and Rebirth.”
Emerging from the ashes and flames is a figure holding a large, beautiful bird. These images reference the “Phoenix Rising from the Ashes.” The white birds are doves, “birds of peace.” The rainbow, a sign of G-d’s convenant with mankind, is represented by the crown of colors on the figure’s head.
I will conclude with a poem. The poem reflects some of the observations that my daughter Alycia made while she was a student in Europe.
I look for them, but they are not here.
If they were, I would have aunts,
Uncles and cousins with whom
I could celebrate Shabbat and the Holidays.
I look for them in Bavaria and in Munich.
I look for them in Vienna and in Warsaw
But they are not there –
With their loss went a portion of
my family
With their loss went a portion of
your family
With their loss went a portion of
the hopes and dreams of us all.