By Mark Abromaitis
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Last month, emotional vignettes and gripping scenes inspired by the Holocaust, were displayed along the walls of the creative arts studio at Maris Grove. But these personal, poignant works weren’t created by a Holocaust survivor; instead they were created by a group of high school students from nearby Garnet Valley High School.

The exhibit culminatedwhen more than 200 residents came to see the display and hear the featured student artists describe their research and visit to the National Holocaust Museum in preparation for the creation of their artwork.

Joan Costello, a retired art teacher from Ridley High School, volunteers her extra time in the local art classrooms and helped arrange the exhibit. “This was all about the artists and their experiences,” Costello says. “Everyone here was just so impressed with their works and their vision and creativity. We are so glad they were willing to share them with us.”

Two sisters who live at Maris Grove, Jean Caro and Ruth Politzer, were extremely impressed with the exhibit. For them, the works especially hit close to home. As young children, Jean and Ruth escaped Europe and the Holocaust.

Jean Caro explains, “We were lucky; we were in Germany during the war but were able to escape in 1938. We lived in Argentina,” she says. “We even had one uncle who lived like Anne Frank in Holland and survived. But the exhibit, the pictures, were wonderfully, perfectly done.”

“Their artwork is absolutely moving,” says Maris Grove Executive Director Maureen Heckler. “And we are fortunate the artists wanted to give us a glimpse inside the creative process and share their research and inspirations for their pieces.”

“These children just have so much talent,” Costello says. “They are really the top art students around so it was great of them to share their works with us. I know many of them will be moving on to prestigious art schools, and I’ve seen it firsthand—their teacher Mrs. Bucci brings out the very best in them.”