The Legacy of Janusz Korzcak
Artist: Louise Sharakan
All Roads Lead to Treblinka
Janusz Korczak’s life and loyalty were with his children and together they marched with dignity to the waiting “cattle cars.” Nothing is known of their journey to Treblinka where their ultimate fate awaited them.
My work as an artist for the past 20 years has been mainly with fabric, specifically creating hand dyed silk which for 15 years I used to create clothing, accessories, wall hangings and wedding “chuppas.” When health issues forced me to give up using the silk dyes, I began creating fabric collages and mandalas. I found this to be a strong healing and meditation process which continues to benefit me daily.
In this particular piece, honoring Janusz Korczak, “champion of the children”, I used my usual supply of previously dyed silk and vintage fabric and found objects. I was also able touse something of very deep meaning to me. In 2003, my husband Paul and I visited Vilnius, where as a child he and his family were transported to a Ghetto and then to a labor camp. They survived under the most extraordinary conditions. We walked past a construction site where the old Ghetto had been situated. Since I collect found objects for my work, I spied a roll of rusted wire just out of reach behind a wire fence. I managed to lie down and with some difficulty reached under the fence and retrieved what I wanted. This roll of rusted wire remained in my studio unused until now, when I was inspired to use it to form the railroad tracks.