WARSAW — More details were released this week by the Warsaw Community Public Library about the upcoming five-week Holocaust exhibit that will feature, among other things, a speech from a Holocaust survivor at the Performing Arts Center in Warsaw. 

'Americans and the Holocaust,' which looks at how Americans came to learn about the Nazi Germany atrocities, is sponsored by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and the American Library Association.

Library Director Heather Barron said they're also enjoying lots of other local support.

Some of those include Jewish Federations in Fort Wayne and South Bend, PBS Michiana, the Warsaw Friends of the Library, and on top of that, the Rotary Club of Warsaw and Lake City Bank are both hosting different speakers.

The exhibit is also being publicized by the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts.

Barron said effective publicity is crucial.

“The more that we can help get the word out, bring in engaging, thoughtful speakers and presentations, the more impact this exhibit will have," Barron said.

She said she expects the exhibit to attract people from outside Indiana.

“This is definitely the biggest event that we have done in the past few years that I know of. So for us, this is a whole new level of partnership and sponsoring," she said. 

The exhibit begins June 20.

Butterfly Project

While there will be numerous exhibits and panel discussions, another big component is what's being called the Butterfly Project, which involves Warsaw School teachers and the Warsaw Public Arts Commission.

The ongoing initiative was co-founded in 2006 in San Diego and uses art to teach children about the Holocaust and commemorate the 1.5 million children who died.

Barron describes it as a very thoughtful attempt "to beautifully honor the children who were killed in the Holocaust.”

Barron said the Fort Wayne Jewish Foundation proposed the idea, which is being funded by a group known as The Butterfly Foundation.

“We've been thrilled because Warsaw Community Schools, the art teachers, decided to come on board with this, and then the Public Arts Commission, they're going to help us as well with finding a good place for the installation," Barron said.

Students participating in the project will draw inspiration by attending a June 23rd speech at the PAC by Holocaust survivor Irene Miller.

The concept often involves assembling original artwork by students in the shape of butterflies that are then assembled as part of a mosaic.

“This fall, the art teachers are taking it upon themselves to teach about the Holocaust in their classrooms and then let their students paint these butterflies,” Barron explained. “And then, in the winter, it is the high school art students who will take this project and carry it to the finish line by actually creating the art installation.

More details on the exhibit and Butterfly Project will be released soon by the library.

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