Importance Score: 65 / 100 🔴
Celebrity Portraits Highlight Holocaust Remembrance in New York Exhibition
Renowned figures including Cindy Crawford, Jennifer Garner, and Billy Porter have collaborated on a powerful photographic project, “Borrowed Spotlight,” designed to raise awareness and educate the public about the Holocaust. These striking celebrity portraits feature the stars alongside Holocaust survivors, aiming to illuminate this pivotal historical event and ensure its lessons are not forgotten.
“Borrowed Spotlight” Project Overview
Conceptualized and executed by celebrated photographer Bryce Thompson, known for his work in high-fashion publications like Elle, L’Officiel, and Glamour, “Borrowed Spotlight” is a poignant initiative that brings together prominent personalities and survivors of the Holocaust.
Exhibition Opening and Purpose
The “Borrowed Spotlight” exhibition is scheduled to open at Detour Gallery in New York City on April 22, coinciding with Holocaust Remembrance Day. The exhibition serves as a tribute to the resilience of survivors and a crucial educational tool for visitors.
Notable Participants and Their Stories
A diverse group of celebrated individuals joined the project, including:
- David Schwimmer
- George Stephanopoulos
- Nicola Peltz
- Barbara Corcoran
- Scooter Braun
- Sheryl Sandberg
- Chelsea Handler
- Julius Erving
- Josh Peck
Jenna Dewan’s Encounter with Survivor Risa Igelfeld
Actress Jenna Dewan, known for her role in “Step Up,” was paired with Risa Igelfeld, a survivor who directly experienced Nazi persecution in Vienna, Austria, in 1938. Igelfeld’s survival is a testament to courage and resilience; warned of an impending Nazi attack, she escaped to England with the help of a former professor who facilitated her visa acquisition.
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Dewan’s Reflective Experience
Dewan shared her profound experience with Page Six, stating, “It is truly an exceptional and deeply moving opportunity to participate in such an important endeavor that honors the strength and bravery of these incredible survivors. Meeting Risa and hearing her narrative had a transformative impact on me.”
She further added, “The most delightful aspect of this project was sharing moments of joy, dancing, and hearing Risa sing. Conversely, the most impactful part was listening to the firsthand account of the genuine atrocities of history that Risa endured during the Holocaust.”
Billy Porter and Bella Rosenberg
Broadway luminary Billy Porter also participated, posing alongside survivor Bella Rosenberg, contributing to the project’s powerful message of remembrance and understanding.
Exhibition Features and Educational Impact
The “Borrowed Spotlight” exhibition will showcase compelling portraits, firsthand survivor testimonies, and interactive components, all carefully curated to enhance public understanding of the Holocaust and its historical significance.
Holocaust Awareness Statistics
Data from an ADL poll reveals a concerning lack of Holocaust awareness globally. Approximately 20 percent of global respondents reported having no knowledge of the Holocaust. Furthermore, less than half (48 percent) recognize the historical accuracy of the Holocaust, with this figure declining to 39 percent among younger adults aged 18-34, underscoring the urgency and importance of educational initiatives like “Borrowed Spotlight.”
Supporting Holocaust Survivors
Photographic prints from the “Borrowed Spotlight” exhibition will be available for auction, and Thompson has also produced a companion coffee table book featuring the images. Proceeds generated will benefit Self Help, an organization providing crucial support and services to Holocaust survivors living in New York, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, ensuring continued assistance and remembrance efforts.