Holocaust survivor unravels stories through art of yarn, linen

Esther Nisenthal Krinitz had a story to tell her daughters about her life before and after the Holocaust, and the way she chose to do it was make pictures from yarn and linen. Now, her pieces are in a traveling exhibit that will be shared with the world.

Elmira, NY - Daughters Bernice Steinhardt and Helene McQuaide grew up hearing the stories about the horrors of the Holocaust from their mother, Esther Nisenthal Krinitz. She wasn't afraid to tell them about what she'd been through, she wanted them to know. But for this mother, telling wasn't enough, she wanted to "show" them. At the age of 50, Krinitz first illustrated two scenes that depicted her childhood home in Poland, but eventually started to re-create her experiences as a Holocaust survivor. Over the next twenty years, Krinitz created a collection pictures made from needlework and fabric. Every time one was finished, Krinitz gave it to daughter Bernice, who hung them on the walls of her own home.

"I ran out of space. It was clear to me what she was producing was amazing, an incredible body of work," she said. "It became clear I needed to get them out of the house and into the world. She did it so her memories would not be lost. We know we are following our mother's intuitions and her vision."

Two years after their mother's death in 2001, the daughters created a not-for-profit corporation called "Art & Remembrance", which showcases their mother's work. Arnot Art Museum in Elmira, NY has agreed to display the collection "Fabric of Survival", along with two others that are along the same theme.

"One is Judaica Art and Tradition, Jewish ritual objects we borrowed from private citizens and from Congregation B'Nai Israel and Congregation Shomray Hadath," museum spokesman Rick Pirozzolo said. "The other is Black Sky is Falling, a history of the time and place where Esther lived, using loaned objects from the U.S. Holocaust Museum, and a video of Krinitz speaking. They are all related and shared with this exhibit, to make it a richer experience."

Sue and Tom Hesselson of Elmira came across the art about three years ago at a Jewish community center in Atlanta. They couldn't get the art to come there at that time because the musuem was closed and being renovated.

"The thing I'm happiest about is it's going to be here for three months," Tom Hesselson said. "That's a big deal. This is too much to absorb in a short time. It's a very nice event to bring the Arnot Art Museum back on its feet. It's a win-win for everybody."

The three exhibits will be at the Arnot Art Mucuem through January 11, 2009.