THE COURIER and ADVERTISER
Angus & Mearns edition, Scotland, January 22, 2009
Pupils discuss grim history
At right, colour photo, captioned: Akiva Segan (left) with Forfar Academy prefects and head teacher Melvyn Lynch (the article was not bylined)
SCHOOL PUPILS at Forfar Academy were yesterday confronted by the horrors of genocide, as a Holocaust artist gave a workshop and presentation about his work.
Seattle artist Akiva Segan was visiting as part of a UK study tour, ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day on Tuesday, which marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
He gave a presentation on his work and did a workshop with art students. Segan’s Drawing for Healing workshop was offered as a way to help process the sadness often encountered when learning about difficult topics such as genocide.
The presentation was based on the series Under the Wings of God also also Sightseeing with Dignity, which portray victims of Nazism, fascism and contemporary race hate.
In 1991, Segan began creating the Under the Wings of God art series, which depicts individual Jewish victims of Nazism and fascism during the second world war and the Holocaust.
The depictions are drawn with great detail, inspired by photos of the people who lived and perished. Segan said, “The portraits and figures are drawn with metaphorical bird wings, providing a visual format, accessible to people of all ages and ethnic, national, religious and racial backgrounds, especially children and young people.” “
The ‘wings’ series, as it’s commonly called is a catalyst for discussion and learning by teachers and students in our conflict-ridden and troubled world of today.”
In 1999, Segan began depicting non-Jewish victims of the Nazis – including a Romany child – as well as the background victims of persecution.
He began a companion series in 2002, which sees victims of contemporary hate crimes, war, genocide, assassination, government repression and anti-immigration fervor.
“With the second world war viewed as ancient history for today’s students, the inclusion of works from the Sightseeing with Dignity series – along with the Under the Wings of God series at exhibits and in powerpoint presentations – has been exceptionally well received by teachers and students,” he added.
The artist also directs the online International Shoah Art Museum and Holocaust Education Through Art.
He was International Artist in Residence in 1987 at Aberdeen Art Gallery, which owns several of his works, as does the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Forfar Academy head teacher Melvyn Lynch said, “His visit here is to help us with our remembrance of the Holocaust – with the national day next week.”