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St. Petersburg, FL – The Florida Holocaust Museum is pleased to present international artist Samuel Bak and the premiere of his newest works: Icons of Loss: Angels and the Warsaw Boy of Samuel Bak. The exhibition, which features large scale surrealistic artworks, studies and sketches, is made up of two series created by the artist and will open on November 1, 2009 and run through April 25, 2010.
Holocaust survivor, Samuel Bak, has painted a series of works based on Albrecht Dürer’s Melencholia, dealing with the Holocaust and the absence of God. The vibrant paintings uses similar imagery to that used in Durer’s etching, however, altered to raise questions about an “enlightened” society which allowed the Holocaust to occur, survival and God’s failure to halt the killing of so many innocent lives. The other series included in the exhibition is based on the now infamous photograph of a young boy with arms raised taken during a roundup of Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto. (In this series), I reflect on the countless millions of children that perish in man’s senseless conflicts, wars and genocides – past and present. What an unacceptable abuse of the innocents, of the just ones!” says artist, Samuel Bak.
The opening reception for the Icons of Loss will be held on Sunday, November 1, 2009 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at the Florida Holocaust Museum. Hors d’oeuvres and wine will be served. Attendees will be able to meet the artist and hear special guest, Lawrence L. Langer, Holocaust scholar and expert on the works of Samuel Bak. In addition to the opening reception, the Museum has planned other public programs to coincide with the exhibition including one titled, “The Bible, Christianity and the Art of Samuel Bak” with scholars Danna Nolan Fewill and Gary Phillips from Drew University and Wabash College respectively, and another on childhood trauma and Bak’s artwork.
For more information or to RSVP to the Opening, please contact Erin Blankenship at 727-820-0100, extension 271.
The Florida Holocaust Museum honors the memory of millions of innocent men, women, and children who suffered or died in the Holocaust. The Museum is dedicated to teaching members of all races and cultures to recognize the inherent worth and dignity of human life in order to prevent future genocides.
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