Kate Ann Gonta: 432

I have never been one to want to go to an art museum or one to be moved by art, so when we were told that we were going to an art exhibit, I wasn’t exactly excited.  However, after arriving, I knew that this art exhibit would leave a lasting impression on me.

“Negative of a Memory: Labyrinth” is a very unique art exhibit, if you could even call it an art exhibit.  The drawings were drawn by Professor Marian Kolodziej, who was prisoner number 432 in Auschwitz and who survived.  Kolodziej was not one to talk about what he saw or experienced in the camp, until one day he suffered a stroke.  Instead of using traditional rehabilitation techniques for his hand he asked for a pencil.  Labyrinth was the result.

His drawings are both engulfing and haunting.  You want to look away but you just can’t.

A series of pictures stood out to me.  There was one wall of the exhibit that had multiple pictures of faces and as the wall went on, each facial expression started to get lighter and lighter until the last thing left on the face was the eyes. To me this meant that, the eyes were the last to go before a person died.  This left me with chills.

Another drawing of Kolodziej’s that stood out to me was the drawing of the entrance into the standing cells and then the 3 wooden people standing inside of the cut out in the wall and their faces.  I thought seeing the standing cells in Auschwitz was bad enough, but now seeing this painted a clearer picture for me and how horrifying it must have really been.  I will never forget the drawing of the faces on the wooden people.  They had such fear and pain sketched into their faces and eyes.

I do not think anyone can describe or explain the creators’ artwork better than him, so I will leave you with his own words because they could not be more true:
"This is not an exhibition, nor art.  These are not pictures.  These are words locked in drawings.  It wasn't my intention to complete the obligation of the memory and testimony through art.  Art is impotent before that which man has organized for man.
So, I do not invite you to an "exhibition".  It wouldn't be right to say.  Instead I propose a journey by way of this labyrinth marked by the experience of the fabric of death.  Please, read my designed words, words born also from the yearning for clarity of criteria, from the yearning to understand what separates good from evil, truth from lie, art from appearance.  Also, this expresses my disagreement with the world as it is today.  Everything speaks about us, about what we have done with our humanity.  It is a pretext for consideration...thought and for a fundamental deduction for today.  This is the letter of an elderly man to himself 55 years ago.  It is a rendering of honor to all those who have vanished in ashes."
Kołodziej, 432

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Kaitlynn O'Reilly: Wawel Castle

Entering Wawel Castle

On the second visit to Krakow the tour took us to Wawel Castle, which is a military and religious center.  Krakow is a city with many legends and the castle has a legend of its own, specifically that of the Wawel dragon.  The dragon’s bones hang outside the chapel today. 

Dragon Bones

I love dragons, but this dragon was a troublemaker.  The pagan ruler Krak was the founder of Krakow.  

He built Wawel castle on top of a hill.  There was peace in his surrounding country until the dragon came, eating sheep, laying waste, and kidnapping girls.  Life in the country slowed to a standstill as his subjects hid in terror of the dragon.  Krak knew that the dragon’s rein could not be allowed to go on, so he decided that he would give his daughter’s hand in marriage and the throne to the one who could best the dragon. 

No one wanted to face the dragon, until one day a cobbler approached Krak.  The cobbler’s name was Skuba and he spoke with Krak for a long time.  After the meeting Krak ordered that all of Skuba’s requests be fulfilled even if they seemed strange.  Skuba did not ask for any weapon or armour, nor did he do things the Beowulf way with his hands, instead he asked for a tanned sheepskin and a bag of sulphur. 

Skuba then sewed his sheepskin and filled it with sulphur.  He crafted fine legs complete with hooves, gave his creation a tail and horns, and it even had bead eyes.  His masterpiece seemed very much alive.  

Skuba took his creation and snuck into the dragon's cave at night to leave it. 

When the dragon woke up that morning it devoured Skuba’s creation and the sulphur began to burn it alive.  The dragon tried drinking water to save itself but no amount of water could bring it relief.  The dragon’s stomach expanded and expanded and expanded until it could not expand anymore and the dragon exploded.  

Then as a very weird gift, Skuba gathered the pieces of the dragon’s skin and crafted green shoes for Krak’s daughter, Wanda. 

  Thanks to Skuba’s genius life returned to normal and the country prospered.  He married Wanda and shared the throne with her.  He always followed his wife’s council. 

In time a new dragon appeared, but for some reason no one feared it. 

This was the unfortunate tale of the Wawel dragon. 

 Other legends of possible interest are: Wanda's Mound, Krak's Mound, Chyrch of St. Benedict, Church of the Norbertine Sisters, Blonia, St. Mary's Church, Krzysztofory Palace, Collegium Maius, To Twardowski Rocks, Church of the Holy Saviour, and Remuh Synagogue, which can all be found in Legends of Krakow retold by Anna Majorczyk, translated by Robin Gill and illustrated by Katarzyna Borzecka. 

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Stephanie Principal: Because Of You

Poland oh Poland

Where suffering and history make one

When I landed I did not know it would be so painful

Auschwitz has a vide sensation

Where the suffering seems endless

70 years ago millions of Jews were murdered

It seems like it was just yesterday

As I walked near that river

I could feel the cries and moans of the mothers, the child and many more

I could also feel and hear the ones being beaten

Why oh why God?

Many of them were asking that question

And here am I sitting here asking the same

Where was God in this moment of distress?

Why didn’t he come and help

Your people needed you and it took you an eternity to come

Then finally, you sent the help through the Americans, the Russians…

But was it too late?

Millions of them have perished

For the simple reason of being Jewish

Now that I am back

I have realized how much I grew up and matured

Thanks to Poland.

               

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Stephanie Principal: In Our Age

“The Nostra Aetate” describes how each and every one of us has a bond which draws us closer to each other day by day. Therefore the Catholic Church decided to analyze its relations with other churches. It examines what human have in common and what makes them want to have a relation. First of all, all people form one community since we were all created in the image of God and that we all have one destiny which is God himself. His foreseeing care, his goodness and saving design is open to all humankind. People usually asks question about what is humanity? What is considered goodness? What is considered sin? What happens after death?

We always see in different peoples a perception of this hidden force that is present in every aspect of human life. This perception and this recognition enter their life in a religious way. Some religions related to advanced cultures are trying to answer the same questions through a more developed language. Hinduism goes deep into philosophy and looks for the causes of our anguish then seek liberation. Liberation is often practiced by meditation or other ascetical practices or again uses God as a refugee with love and confidence. In Buddhism they seek illumination, end suffering and find enlightenment weather it is alone or by a higher power.  Other religions try to introduce themselves in a more diverse way.

The Catholic Church takes in and doesn’t reject anything that is not true or holy in these religions. Nevertheless she announces and continues to do so that Christ is the way, the truth and life in which human has to find plenitude in the religious life and in which God has to adjust all things to him. She is hoping that with prudence and charity that all people through dialogue and in collaboration with other religions will preserve and promote the good things, the spiritual values, and morals and socio-cultural that are within them.

The church also looks at the Muslims who worship and adore the one and unique God, the merciful and powerful who created heaven and earth and who talked to the human. Even though they do not recognize Jesus as God but as a prophet, they honored and respect his mother, the virgin Marie. They are waiting for judgment day where God will reward all of us after waking up from the dead. They praise God through prayers, almsgiving and fasting.

The council reminds us of how the people of the New Testament are linked to Abraham. The church of Christ acknowledges that the beginnings of her faith and her election are found within the patriarchs, Moses and the prophets. She confesses that all the faithful ones are included in this patriarch and that the church is mysteriously previewed by the chosen people when they were living the land of bondage. That is the reason why the church can’t forget that she receives the New Testament from these people with whom God concluded the Old Testament. The Church believes that Christ reconcile the Jews and Gentiles as one.

It also states that even though the ones that called for Jesus death included Jews we cannot call in guilty every single Jewish people. Nor can you still blame Jewish people today since they aren’t the same people. We should indiscriminate the charge of Jewish Deicide or killer charge for The Jews are not accursed by god and they do not deserve a life of suffering.  Anti-Semitism should be avoided at all times and should not be used against Jews or anyone else.

Finally, all men are created equal, and all men are created under the image of God. We should love our neighbor as we love ourselves because this is how we show love to our God for he cannot be seen nor touched. We shouldn’t discriminate against anyone because of their color, race or religion.

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Stephanie Principal: Avoid Anti-Semitism

Remember their names

 In “An address to the churches” by Seelisberg, it says that we have been exposed to the definition and consequences of Anti-Semitism but it has not yet lost its force but is growing to reach other regions. It invades our mind whether we are Christians or not.  Even though Christian churches defined the spirit of Anti-Semitism as the hate of all race. It is yet not sufficient. One of the reasons why Anti-Semitism existed and still exists today is because we as Christians have not been true to ourselves and our teaching of Jesus and his commandments.  Furthermore, if we are willing to follow him, we should deny and avoid Anti-Semitism in any form, especially Christian message which supports it.

Nevertheless we hope that the church will teach and ask its followers to stay awake and to avoid showing any kind of hatred against the Jews. Also to avoid stereotypes against them such as: the killed Jesus for only the Romans could punish by crucifixion. King Herod is not as innocent as he seemed for even though he stated that he did not understand why they wanted to kill Jesus and that he did not want to take part of this, he still ordered them to bring Jesus to Pilate.  Other stereotypes such: responsible for the downward of the economy, blood libel which is the stealing of Christians’ babies to make Passover food.

It would be better if we followed the 10 points which says that God talks to us through the old and New Testament. Marie, Jesus’ mother is often not mentioned to be Jewish but Jesus was and you can only be Jewish if born by a Jewish mother. We need to remember one of his commandments which state that we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves, there should be no exception to that law. One Jew is not all Jews. In Jerusalem, when Jesus was being accused not the whole Jewish population was present, only a small portion wanted him dead.

    The Jews, Romans and whoever was present are not the only responsible for the death of Jesus. It is clearly stated that Jesus dies for all of us. Therefore, our sins are responsible for his death. He died for us so we could live. What we have to remember is that Jews have always been suffering but the worst of them all was the Shoah and there was absolutely no reason why they were massacred. It makes absolutely no sense at all. I am being persecuted because i am a Jew as if freedoms of speech, religion and many more have not been allowed. They no longer had dignity for they were deprived of it. If today us human beings have not yet learned from the Shoah for Anti-Semitism is still happening today then we will never learn. It took the death of  more than 6 million Jews to teach us that we need to change but yet , some of us still haven’t change and it is a shame that they haven’t done so.

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Kaitlynn O'Reilly: Labyrinth

Above the Entrance

I always thought I was the kind of person who was largely unmoved by art.  I have skills for art sure, but going to art museums always bored me.  At least I thought this about myself until I entered the labyrinth. 

 “Negative of a Memory: Labyrinth” cannot be explained in words.  The artworks that comprise it were all drawn by Professor Marian Kołodziej.  He used pencil as his medium, and the detail of his work left me in awe.  It was sickness which drove him to go back to the camp.  As many survivors begin to need to tell their story as they age, he felt this need after sickness.  Instead of using traditional rehabilitation techniques for his hand he instead asked for a pencil.  Labyrinth was the result of his choice. 

I noticed themes in his work.  Our class focuses on the Church and the Holocaust.  So I found it interesting to see images drawn by a man who was in the first transport to Auschwitz and survived there until its liberation, with religious themes.  This may be mainly due to his respect for Father Maximilian Kolbe who gave his life to save the life of another man, or his own Polish Catholic background.  However, images like the one pictured above made me think beyond these possibilities.  I guess I do not fully understand it, but it appears that Maximilian Kolbe is depicted crying under something heavy reminiscent of a cross, while prisoners laugh at him, and a hand from clouds which is possibly God's points at him.  So how does one interpret this image? I see a man who appears to be crushed by his religion and is even accused by his God, but why?  After all he died to save another and this act of love and kindness was inspirational in the face of evil.  Father Maximilain Kolbe is a Saint  in the Catholic Church.  This image I cannot comprehend.

Possibly a rendering of the Auschwitz Orchestra 

His images are enveloping as they are all around you, and haunting as you cannot possibly look away.

A Soviet Demon

A Depiction of Bystanders?

This is another image which struck me for its theme.  I have been learning about how many people were bystanders during the Holocaust, and "not to be a bystander."  Therefore, this image which shows both Catholics and others as bystanders stood out to me.

A Christmas Dinner?

 I focused on this part of the work because it shows Catholics, or at least I think it does.  When I look at this image I see the people portrayed as bystanders, but I also see a prisoner sitting at the table with them, maybe as a ghost.  I see that the little girl seems afraid and the parents are tearing a small sheet of paper.  Also Santa is looking really creepy.  But more importantly, are these people really Catholics?  They could be Jews who converted to Catholicism as an attempt to save themselves.  They could be tearing a deportation notice.  Did they lose a member of their family to the Holocaust and that is who is sitting at their table with them?  Inspection of the details only raises more questions.  However, most poignant for me when I call these people bystanders is the detail of blood spatter.  This image was splattered to appear that it is covered in blood.  I can only interpret it then, that these people have blood on their hands as they sit to eat.

Maximilian Kolbe

I think that I should finish with the translated words of the creator because no one can better explain his works than him.

"This is not an exhibition, nor art.  These are not pictures.  These are words locked in drawings.  It wasn't my intention to complete the obligation of the memory and testimony through art.  Art is impotent before that which man has organized for man. /.../

So, I do not invite you to an "exhibition".  It wouldn't be right to say.  Instead I propose a journey by way of this labyrinth marked by the experience of the fabric of death.  Please, read my designed words, words born also from the yearning for clarity of criteria, from the yearning to understand what separates good from evil, truth from lie, art from appearance.  Also, this expresses my disagreement with the world as it is today.  Everything speaks about us, about what we have done with our humanity.  It is a pretext for consideration...thought and for a fundamental deduction for today.  This is the letter of an elderly man to himself 55 years ago.  It is a rendering of honor to all those who have vanished in ashes." 

Kołodziej, 432

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Ann Zelenka-My Grandmother's Death

As I returned from Poland last night, I found out that my grandmother was dying. She died tonight on Sunday at 9:30pm. She is the Polish grandmother, and I wanted to tell her of my experiences, but I was unable to do so as she was unconcious up until tonight.
       This experience relates to our trip as first of all my grandmother was of Polish descent and secondly because she was one of my inspirations for pursuing my interest for my heritage. I have always been truly impressed by the strength that my family members have displayed towards all aspects of their lives, particularly in the elements of work and educational edndeavors.
         My grandmother is best described as a kind and caring woman who did her absolute best to help everyone in her path. She had ten children and cared for all them. Additionally, one of her children was handicapped and she did absolutely everything for her daughter. Now she is united with my aunt in heaven and hopefully also my grandfather. And hopefully we will all be united in Heaven one day.
         Another correlation with our studies is the discussion of the topic of death. Death in general does not always have to be viewed as an ending, but rather a beginning. My grandmother now has reached a new beginning, but this time, within the realm of heavenly or eternal life rather than earthly or temporal life. Likewise, those who experienced death due to the Shoah also experienced new beginnings: an end to suffering and the start of the eternal life.
        Memories can be said to live on forever, but eventually even these are buried within the framework of passing time. What is more important than these cherished memories are the legacies that we live out during our short lives, or the positive differences that we make. My grandmother gave all of us an example through her life of generosity and kindess. The individuals in the Shoah also, led unique lives and also had many talents. People who make a difference in the world will be remembered, even if the most personal details are forgotten, as they actually produced positivity in the world through their own examples.
       It is quite difficult for me to come back from my trip to my grandmother's death, but at the same time, I am glad that I came back in time to see her in the hospital before she actually passed. Please keep me in your prayers as I will do the same for all of you. God bless you all and thank you for the experience.

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Jessalyn: Goodbye Poland

God: Where was he during WWII? This question ran throughout my mind on this trip. To me, God was within the hearts of every survivor and person who perished.

Oh my: My response to walking around the two concentration camps. I did not truly comprehend the effects of the Shoah until standing on the hallowed grounds where so many innocent people were murdered.

Ostracized: How the Jews must have felt when being rounded up into the concentration camps and when being persecuted for their religion.

Dreadful: The overall conditions the Jews were put under due to being an “inferior race”.

Bystander: Those who ignored the cries from those who needed help. 

Youth: The group targeted because they were the symbol of the continuation of the Jewish faith (phrased by Ashley Scully) and the ones who did not grow up with parents or grandparents

Elite: The group responsible for the death of 1 person 12 million times.

Precious moments: What I’ve learned from this trip is to appreciate the precious moments I have with others. I never want to take for granted the ones I love.

Observe: Look around and see both the good and the bad in this world. I need to observe my surroundings so that I will never forget important sites and people. I want to remember what I witness both from this week and forever.

Listen: Listen to survivor’s stories. This is a generation of people who will not be around next generation and it is therefore our duty to share their experiences. These ar e a phenomenal group of people who should never be forgotten.

Amazed: I’m amazed with how much I’ve learned in such a short time, amazed with those who survived the war, and especially amazed with the small group of people who risked their own lives to save the lives of others.

Night by Eli Wiesel: The book that sparked my initial interest in studying the Shoah. Without reading this book eight years ago, I do not think I would have taken a leap of faith and signed up for this trip.

Dr. Procario-Foley: The woman who made this all possible. Thank you for a trip of a lifetime. Without your hard work and dedication, this trip would not run. Opportunities to study abroad in an atmosphere such as the one our group experienced in Poland this week is rare so thank you again for all that you do.

We will never forget. 

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