Hello to all and Happy 2010!!!!

Rick and I are gearing up for a busy year.   

We are working on two large commissions.    The first one is a two piece life size of the Prodigal Son.  The father a middle aged man, dressed in jeans and button down shirt, is standing at a distance with outstretched hand while the other hand is clutching his heart.  The father’s mouth is slightly open as if calling to the son.  The son is looking directly to the father.  He is in a crouched position with one hand reaching towards the father the other hand pulling away from his own face.  The expression of the son is of longing, the eyes full of drama, the mouth not yet speaking but full of peace.  The clothes of the son are torn and tattered.

The two outstretched hands of the figures form an invisible bridge.  The viewer will be able to walk between these two as there will be a sidewalk path between them.

The Prodigal Son will be going to Indianapolis, Ind.  The dedication is set for May the 4^th.

The other commission is also life size, a memorial to the six million and the train transports.  It will be a Menorah, of 6ft by 7ft.   The Menorah branches are in the likeness of railroad tracks.  The mold was taken from actual tracks.  The six arms coming from either side represent the six million, the center branch is twisted and turning representing the great struggle that took place during this traumatic era.  The Menorah itself is rising upward off of a set of railroad tracks.

This monument will go to Basel, Switzerland. The date is not yet set for the dedication.

Rick may be away in the end of January, and also part of April.

 Rick and I both plan to be in the states in May.  Dates are not yet set.

Hello all,

The summer and fall have gone by with a very full schedule for us, yet very fruitful.  In the end of September and beginning of October Rick and I went to Germany with a group called “Yad b Yad”, it is a program where a group of 15 Israelis from different parts of Israel leave to meet with 15 young people in Germany.

The two groups interacted in large group discussions, small group discussions, and then in pairs where each Israeli was partnered with a German. A lot of history came out in these kinds of decisions, we all learned a lot from each other.  We took group trips, visiting Nuremburg, (Hitler's marching ground), hiking, etc.

At the end of our week long stay in Germany, we all left by bus for Poland.  We lodged in Krakow touring the sites, such as the Jewish part of town (still intact) which was given to the Jews by the king Cassimere in the 1500's.  We also saw Schindler’s factory. 

Krakow itself is breathtaking. There is a beautiful large square busy with tourists’ cafes and shops.  Some of the ancient city walls are still intact and the Wavell castle is something to marvel.

An hour drive by bus took us to Auschwitz camp 1 and Burkina camp 2.  This then would be the place where all of our discussions of the previous week would culminate.  Now in Auschwitz- camp 1 the Israeli/German partners would walk "hand- in- hand" through this very sad memorial in history.  Some wondered if the other would still be his friend at the end of this tour.  Fears and apprehension could be felt.

The next day was Burkina- camp2.  Despite the heaviness of this place we had a beautiful fall day, with warm sun and flowers that seemed to shower the whole area...signs of life and hope!  Even with that, the hugeness of this camp caused the most intense feelings for me.  All the millions of people, and misery being crammed together in wooden barracks with no running water or heat, and only "shelves" for beds.  Disease and the threat of death lurking at every waking hour...still a lot for me to ponder.

Along with the sunny day were many groups of Israeli students carrying the blue and white flag of Israel...again, signs of hope and Jewish continuation.   

It was an amazing trip; each one of us took something back that will forever be a part of the fabric of our memories concerning the Holocaust: its past and its present.

Rick and I plan on being in Israel until the beginning of May.  Right now we are working on a new commission “The Prodigal Son” the installation will be in May in Indianapolis, Ind. 

This is two life size pieces.  One of the father reaching out to the son and the other being the son turning, and reaching to the father.  The two hands which are reaching towards each other arch over a side walk. The person walking actually passes underneath the out stretched hands.  We are now finishing the clay modeling stage. 

I will keep this updated as we continue to move ahead.

It is good to be back in Israel.  We had a full schedule of meeting with family and friends and many, many hours of highway driving.  From Canada to Colorado and Kansas, then back to Canada.  Along the way we showed our work and made new contacts

Our schedule for the next few months will be busy.

We will be flying out July 4^th for Switzerland until the 8^th of July. 

From the 8^th of July until the 28^th of September we will be home.

We will be in Germany and Poland from the 28^th of September until the 10^th of October.

Thanks for looking us up.

Rick and Dafna

Hello to all!

Just a quick up date to let you know that Rick and I will be in the states from the 24th of May till the 24th of June.

The trip will begin in Coloradowhere we are part of a weekend conference.  Fom there we will be out in California for a few days.

We will be in KC Kansas for a week where we will be visiting with our son and his wife.  Our trip will end in Canada with Ricks family and engagements in Toronto.  

We will be online during this time.