IF YOU GO:What: William Bernheim Holocaust presentationWhere: Winnick Hillel CenterWhen: Tonight, 7 p.m.How Much: Free

One Holocaust survivor’s life purpose begins with a palette of colors, which sends a message to youth everywhere.

‘I’m not looking for money, I’m looking to affect future generations,’ said artist and Holocaust survivor William Bernheim. ‘Young people often take for granted many things, like freedom.’

Bernheim will exhibit some of his artwork through a slideshow tonight at 7 p.m. at SU’s Winnick Hillel Center.

‘My grandfather is a Holocaust survivor from Poland and is the only survivor in his family,’ said Harrison Abramowitz, a junior public communications major and grandson of Bernheim. ‘A large majority of his paintings deal with the Holocaust and his experience through that time.’

Bernheim said he began drawing at age 9 or 10, an interest that came from his love of art, nature and music. He continued painting while he was living in Buchenwald Concentration Camp, where he developed his own art styles and perspective.

Bernheim has worked with Oscar-winning actor Robert Redford and has had his artwork featured in the Yeshiva University Museum in New York City, as well as museums across the nation, Abramowitz said.

‘He is very kind, humble and soft-spoken,’ Abramowitz said. ‘The way he packs his punch in terms of his personality – at least through the arts – is by letting people know what happened.’

Said Bernheim, ‘Through my art, I try to reach future generations, and I try to explain to them how precious freedom is. This is my goal. This is my legacy.’

Published on November 4, 2007 at 12:00 pm