A school in Canoga Park has students who understand the Holocaust through art
The David Labkovski Project based in West Hills is a non-profit that combats antisemitism and teaches students about the Holocaust, introducing the difficult issues by using art. The non-profit says it has reached more than 5,000 students with their programs and events.
Fifty students from the Multicultural Learning Center charter school in Canoga Park learned a lot recently by creating the exhibit “Documenting History Through Art,” said Leora Raikin, founder and executive director of the David Labkovski Project.
After learning about the Holocaust and Labkovski’s work, the students created their own paintings, poems and other art, by interpreting his art and producing their own paintings and poetry and other art.
“The students at Multicultural Learning Center completed a semester of learning with the David Labkovski Project — learning about life before, during, and after the Holocaust — through the lens of the artist David Labkovski,” she said. Then the students “did their own reaction or interpretation of the original art.”
Eighth-grader Keven Munoz, 13 years old, talks about his art. Students from the Multicultural Learning Center Charter School at the Canoga Park Youth Arts Center for their exhibit “Documenting History through Art.” Fifty eighth-grade students learned about the Holocaust and history through the David Labkovski Project, helping counter antisemitism in public and charter schools. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Students from the Multicultural Learning Center Charter School at the Canoga Park Youth Arts Center for their exhibit “Documenting History through Art.” Fifty eighth-grade students learned about the Holocaust and history through the David Labkovski Project, helping counter antisemitism in public and charter schools. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Students from the Multicultural Learning Center Charter School at the Canoga Park Youth Arts Center for their exhibit “Documenting History through Art.” Fifty eighth-grade students learned about the Holocaust and history through the David Labkovski Project, helping counter antisemitism in public and charter schools. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Students from the Multicultural Learning Center Charter School at the Canoga Park Youth Arts Center for their exhibit “Documenting History through Art.” Fifty eighth-grade students learned about the Holocaust and history through the David Labkovski Project, helping counter antisemitism in public and charter schools. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Students from the Multicultural Learning Center Charter School at the Canoga Park Youth Arts Center for their exhibit “Documenting History through Art.” Fifty eighth-grade students learned about the Holocaust and history through the David Labkovski Project, helping counter antisemitism in public and charter schools. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Students from the Multicultural Learning Center Charter School at the Canoga Park Youth Arts Center for their exhibit “Documenting History through Art.” Fifty eighth-grade students learned about the Holocaust and history through the David Labkovski Project, helping counter antisemitism in public and charter schools. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
1 of 6
Eighth-grader Keven Munoz, 13 years old, talks about his art. Students from the Multicultural Learning Center Charter School at the Canoga Park Youth Arts Center for their exhibit “Documenting History through Art.” Fifty eighth-grade students learned about the Holocaust and history through the David Labkovski Project, helping counter antisemitism in public and charter schools. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The exhibit included copies of the works of the famed artist along with the art created by the students, who created clay figures, sculptures, acrylic paintings. pencil drawings and poetry.
“They are internalizing the art,” Raikin said. “They take ownership of art and they connect personally with that piece of art.”
Gayle Nadler, the school’s executive director, received the Courage to Educate Award for her commitment to bringing Holocaust education programming developed by the David Labkovski Project to public education. It was the first public school to implement the program with eight graders in 2016.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok
