TRAVELING EXHIBIT

In order to extend the reach and educational mission of the Greater New Haven Holocaust Memorial, GNHHM raised private funds to design and construct a traveling exhibit telling the story of the memorial.  It was felt that such an exhibit would help raise the needed funds for care and maintenance by expanding our audience beyond our city’s limits—that this “first in America—in Connecticut” story would resonate statewide.

The exhibit’s design takes the Star of David configuration of the memorial itself as its departure point. In an attempt to foresee installations either “against-a-wall” or “in-the-round,” the design recognizes that a 6-pointed star consists of 3 elements, each made up of flat panels with a single point.  These three elements can be arranged in line along a wall, or joined at their endpoints to form the full star shape.  The wood structure takes 2 men 2 hours to disassemble or reassemble, and fits snugly into two vans for transport.

            Archival images from the past 30 years are arranged in a sequential order on the twelve 30” x 72” panels, telling the story of the memorial’s creation, meaning, and plan for restoration. Images are installed with varying degrees of offset from the backing panels in a hierarchy of meaning.  Audio clips from interviews conducted with survivors and memorial creators are featured in simple hand-held sound “sticks” coordinated with the panel images. 

            To date, the exhibit has traveled to the CT State Capitol Building, New Haven City Hall, University of New Haven, Sacred Heart University, Quinnipiac University, Southern CT State University, Slifka Center for Jewish Life at Yale, The Mercy Center, NewAlliance Bank New Haven Headquarters, the Jewish Community Center in Woodbridge the East Haven Public Library, and others. It has succeeded in raising awareness of the memorial, serving as a touchstone for prejudice reduction classes at local high schools, and attracting funds for the restoration—from the 5-figure foundation grants to the $1 cash donation sent by a child with the simple accompanying note, “God Bless.”  To date, over $80,000 of restoration work has been completed.

"...it's an important creation of the community, and that's why it's there.  But it's got to be used.  And the Holocaust Memorial is witness to a number of survivors who came here and liked New Haven, live in New Haven, have been welcomed by New Haven.  This is, in a way, their tribute to it."
                                                                                 

Merle Spiegel