By Emily Williams
Vulcan Park and Museum has installed a new exhibit “Darkness Into Life: Alabama Holocaust Survivors Through Photography and Art,” on loan from the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center.
“The mission is to educate our generation so that things like this never happen again and to advance knowledge and understanding of Birmingham’s history and culture,” said Museum Specialist Lindsay Elliott.
The exhibit features artwork by Mitzi J. Levin and photography by Becky Seitel. Together, the pieces tell the stories of nine survivors’ experiences during the Holocaust and their lives after they moved to Alabama.
Elliott said the two artists gathered inspiration for their works through extensive interviews and visits with each of the survivors.
The paintings focus on the subjects’ lives during the Holocaust. Levin began with the survivors’ memories before occupation and continued through their imprisonment until they reached Alabama. The exhibit’s title is ‘Darkness into Life‘ and the name comes from the “darkness” of their memories and experiences being a catalyst for the survivors to live their lives in a more meaningful way. All cherished their families and became involved with improving the lives of others.
The artwork displays both pre-Holocaust memories and Holocaust memories. All the survivors have paintings of at least one happy memory.
Seitel used a photojournalistic style to create the survival stories of each subject. One of Elliott’s favorites is a headshot of a survivor with the script of a letter superimposed over the image.
“This was a letter that his father wrote to a friend of the family when he knew he would not make it out of the camp,” Elliott said.
The full exhibit at the BHEC tells the stories of more than 20 participants, all Alabama Holocaust survivors, but due to the amount of space available, the museum used just the nine subjects that were a part of the original exhibit.
“I have a new favorite every day,” Elliott said. “Right now my favorite is probably the story of the two sisters. They stuck together through the entire Holocaust, a move to New York and then moved together to Alabama.”
The survivors’ stories can be read on plaques next to the collection of art that is inspired by their lives.
“Darkness Into Life” will be featured in the museum through May 16. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. every day. For more information, visit www.visitvulcan.com or call 933-1409.