Requirements • Guidelines • Suggestions

A MESSAGE TO ARTISTS:

Through curiosity, observation and creativity, you are helping provide more windows to history, to better see its events both large and small. You are helping to remember people. The arts continue to enrich and preserve the memory of the Holocaust, and your work adds to this tradition.

Whatever your level of experience, if you are inclined to participate in this exhibition, you are an artist.

Art Responds to History welcomes thoughtful artwork. The very serious nature of the Holocaust invites expressions of it that may seem extreme to some viewers. Some people may share their reactions to your work. Please represent your honest response to the subject.

You are welcome to submit existing work if it represents your current views and connection to the subject. In your statement, please include something about the time period or circumstances in which your piece was created.

Reverence and seriousness do not necessarily mean humorless. While silliness is not at all appropriate for this exhibition, use of humor applied with tact can be an important tool of communication. In all cases, please use discretion.

ARTIST STATEMENTS:

To help viewers understand works of art beyond their immediate impact, artists will provide a statement about how each piece connects to the subject of the Holocaust.  This Makes Me Feel/ This Makes Me Think is meant to share something about how your piece was informed and inspired. This may happen in many different ways:

• If you read someone's story, listen to testimony or watch an interview, tell your viewers about that person and what held your attention to their story.

• You may have a family connection - relatives who died or lived through the Holocaust. You may have relatives who fought (for either side) in WWII. Share how their story is represented or identified in your piece.

• You may be a survivor yourself, a witness, a liberator or a veteran. If so, it is an honor to have your participation in this exhibition! Please share as much of your own story as you will.

• Your connection does not need to be direct. While you should have some understanding of Holocaust events, the subject may invoke a connection of another kind. You may be moved to create work about other genocide events, stories from refugees in other places and time periods. This does not detract from the importance of the Holocaust itself; it draws attention to the larger story of how humans have treated each other throughout history.  

Whatever connection you make, sharing your art and your words with others is what makes this exhibition work. Thank you!

To begin researching stories and events from the Holocaust, please see Resources. Please see Participate for entry forms and other information.