Under the supervision of Scott Lone (’14) and instructors in disciplines including music and culinary art, students in West bend High Schools’ US History classes and art classes participated in an interdisciplinary project focusing on art that interprets the Holocaust. Their work focused on four themes: Life before the Holocaust, Deportation, Life in the Camp, and Memory.  Students did historical research, worked with art teachers, and solicited donations of items that would give an authentic feel to each area of the gallery.  The culinary arts instructor crafted a menu that was prepared and presented by students in that program, while a student string quartet played for guests. Guests signed in and then took a rock that they were asked to place in the memorial area of the installation, which was made up of candles and shards of glass. They were also asked to share their reflections, and their comments said the exhibit helped them to think more deeply about the Holocaust and how human beings treat one another and to appreciate the student interpretations of the four themes.

Over 450 students led by 20 teachers visited the gallery during the day of the gallery reception. Over 250 student artists, parents and community members later attended the gallery reception, where the guest of honor was survivor and author Nathan Taffel. Nathan and his wife, Muriel, greeted gallery guests and signed copies of his published memoir. All of the teachers who were part of the project (music, culinary arts, art, and social studies) have asked to be part of another project during the following school year.