The seventh-grade art and English classes held a contest recently to determine who would submit their work to the Chapman University Sala and Aron Samueli Holocaust Art and Writing Contest. Congratulations to Zoe Basmajian ’30, Tim Bagwell ’30, and Lochy Voeks ’30, whose work was selected by Middle School English Teacher Mary Hopkins and Lower/Middle School Visual Arts Teacher Abby Klein and submitted to the contest. 

Zoe wrote a poem, “All Your Little Things,” Lochy’s poem is titled “Getaway,” and Tim’s artwork, “Nie Wieder” (“Never Again”), is a colored-pencil drawing of a hand tenderly holding a flower in bloom. Congratulations also to the runners-up: Grayson Bernier ’30 and Zoe Smith ’30, who submitted artwork, and Sutton Pollicino ’30, who submitted a letter. 

Ms. Hopkins noted, “This was a complex process that included students watching Holocaust survivor videos and selecting a word or phrase from a video to illustrate through art or writing.” The theme of this year's contest was: "What Do You Bring When You Don't Know Where You’re Going?"

Ms. Klein said that her students embarked on a thoughtful and creative journey for the contest. “They explored a variety of mediums, including painting, drawing, and mixed media, to express their reflections on this profound historical event,” she said. 

Zoe Basmajian said that while watching one of the videos, she noted that a survivor said that Nazi soldiers told her to only pack her “little things.” 

“This stuck with me, and it replayed in my mind for the remainder of the video,” shared Zoe. “I immediately knew I wanted to stress the line ‘pack all of your little things and leave the rest behind.’” 

Zoe, who loves writing poetry, added, “Often when big topics or feelings are weighing on my mind, I compose poetry,” she said. “I use poetry to make a photograph out of words and rhythm or to capture a moment in which I experience anguish or joy.” Her poem, “All Your Little Things,” includes the lines:

In his project reflection essay, Tim wrote, “Watching a documentary about the Holocaust helped me understand how truly horrible this event was. When I heard [a Holocaust survivor] say how much he loved the garden at the ghetto and how he took its mulch with him to Auschwitz, an image instantly formed in my mind: a palm outstretched with a tulip blooming, and the words ‘Nie Wieder,’ which came from a protest I saw on the news about antisemitism.”

Lochy’s poem, “Getaway,” was inspired by the journey of a young woman named Leah during World War II. 

“In the video interview, Leah talked a lot about her suitcase, so I decided to focus on that,” shared Lochy. “I used the suitcase as a symbol for something greater, like hope or survival.” Lochy’s poem includes the lines:

Ms. Klein said, “Whether through vivid colors, symbolic imagery, or poignant words, students worked diligently to express their understanding and feelings about the history they were learning. The result was a collection of incredibly moving and powerful pieces that showcased their artistic skills, empathy, and connection to the subject matter.”