“Living On” Photographic Exhibit Opens in Warsaw

19 June 2007

Jacob Kilstein, “Living On” Photographic Exhibit  (see more photos)

Ambassador Victor Ashe opened the “Living On / Którzy przeżyli” photographic exhibition featuring Holocaust survivors at the Spokojna Gallery (Ulica Spokojna 15) of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw on June 21 at 6:00pm.  Also participating in the opening ceremony were Rabbi Michael Schudrich, the Rector of the Academy of Fine Arts, and exhibit photographer Professor Robert Heller of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and Felicia Anchor of the Tennessee Holocaust Commission. The opening night was well attended.  “Living On” delivers an inspiring message of the victory of life over death by telling the stories of Holocaust survivors, liberators, prisoners of war, and witnesses who came from or moved to the state of Tennessee.  Most of the photographs being shown in Warsaw feature individuals born within the borders of pre-World War II Poland or whose major experience of the war was on Polish soil.  Each photograph is accompanied by the person’s story in Polish and English.  “Living On” shows how deeply this dark part in history continues to touch on all of us in ways that link us, Poles and Americans alike – even in just one of the fifty states of the United States of America. The American Embassy has brought the exhibition to Poland from the United States in cooperation with the Tennessee Holocaust Commission.  The exhibition will run through August 24.  For exhibit hours and ticket information, please contact the Academy of Fine Arts. The American Embassy would like to thank the Academy of Fine Arts for hosting the exhibition and Sheraton Warsaw Hotel for supporting it.

Most of the photographs being shown in Warsaw feature individuals born within the borders of pre-World War II Poland or whose major experience of the war was on Polish soil.  Each photograph is accompanied by the person’s story in Polish and English.  “Living On” shows how deeply this dark part in history continues to touch on all of us in ways that link us, Poles and Americans alike – even in just one of the fifty states of the United States of America.

Ambassador Ashe commented, “As a Tennessean I feel pride at the success of this project, but there is also a deeper sense of satisfaction knowing that the exhibit will reach a broader audience because of our efforts to bring it “home” to Poland.  Of the individuals depicted here, I have had the privilege of meeting Mira Ryczke Kimmelman, who was born in Gdansk and survived Majdanek, Auschwitz, and Bergen-Belsen.  She now resides in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and spoke at the synagogue in Knoxville when I was mayor.  I was especially touched by her explanation that she finds her healing ‘in writing and telling my story.’  I think those words summarize beautifully what this exhibit is all about.”

 “Living On/ Którzy przeżyli” will be shown at the Spokojna Gallery through August 24, after which it will tour Poland.  Details of future locations will be shown on this website at a later date.

The American Embassy would like to thank the Academy of Fine Arts for hosting the exhibition and the Sheraton Warsaw Hotel for supporting it.