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Artists consider, “Why should students learn about the Holocaust?”
Posted by Ryan Lancaster on 4/18/2022 5:00:00 AM
Each year, the Spokane Community Observance of the Holocaust committee challenges Inland Northwest middle and high school students to study credible sources on the genocide of Jews and others during World War II, then show their learning via an artwork and writing contest.
While there’s still time to submit written works – the deadline is May 1, find details here – winners of the art competition were recently released (full list below).
On Track Academy senior Najahna Smith won first place in the high school division for her stained-glass work, “Faded,” which was inspired by Birkenau – as in the concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau – a German word that means “birch grove.”
“People see birch trees and see beauty, strength, hope, peace – all opposite of what the Nazis hid behind them,” she wrote in an explanatory narrative. “The birch trees in my piece begin as bright and colorful and then fade to clear – by the time the eye gets to the left side of my piece the textures in the clear glass tell the story: People’s memories and knowledge of what happened behind those trees are fading…We must study the Holocaust so no one forgets and repeats the mistakes.”
Spokane Virtual Academy 7th grader Hayden Brewer’s first place drawing “I’m Still Here” was inspired by the 2013 documentary of the same name, which was told through the diaries of Jewish teens.
“I made the main theme about cracks to show that the Holocaust had many horrible moments that occurred during this time, making people’s lives crack, in some cases falling apart because of all the cracks,” Hayden wrote.
“Learning about the Holocaust has really inspired me to think about all the amazing, brave people,” shared Teagan Schroeder, an 8th grader at Salk Middle School who won second in that division. “But it has also made me ponder how so many people could do such horrible things.”
“We need to continue fighting for one another and standing up for each other despite our various differences,” wrote third place winner Zariya Alexander, also a Salk 8th grader. “As long as the world keeps spinning and as long as all people continue to have a voice, the Holocaust should always be remembered to prevent the hatred and devastation from repeating in the future.”
First place art will be featured in the Spokesman-Review’s Voice section on April 28 and all winners will be displayed through the end of May at the Spokane Public Library’s Liberty Park branch, 402 S. Pittsburg St.
High school division winners
First: Najahna Smith, grade 12, On Track Academy
Second: Anna Francesca Quintero-Castenada, grade 10, University High School
Third: Ethan Smith, grade 12, University High School
Honorable mentions:
Gauge Bedow, grade 12, East Valley High School
Stephanie Thornton, grade 12, East Valley High School
Rachel Barney, grade 12, Central Valley High School
Middle school division winners
First: Hayden Brewer, grade 7, Spokane Virtual Academy
Second: Teagan Schroeder, grade 8, Salk Middle School
Third: Zariya Alexander, grade 8, Salk
Honorable mentions:
Alivia Ross, grade 8, Salk
Yaretzy Juarez-Rodriguez, grade 8, Salk
Garrett Collins, grade 8, Salk
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