of the Holocaust.
It was during a moment of
reverie where he was working in
the early 1960s that Friedman
first realized his sculpting talent.
At the time, he was working for
an electrical mechanics company
in Garden City. He welded a few
pieces of metal into a figurine.
When his wife and co-workers
started asking him to make them
sculptures, it occurred to him that
through sculpting with metal he
also found a way to express his
fear, anger and righteousness
about the Holocaust.
It took more than a year to
complete his first Holocaust sculp-
ture, "I Accuse." His daughter
convinced him to enter the piece
into the 1962 State Fair compe-
tition. In typical fashion, Fried-
man couldn't believe he won.
Thirty-three years later, when in-
formed that he won top prize from
the Swords Into Plowshares
Gallery, his response hadn't
change. "I just got lucky," he said.
Actually, it seems more like
fate.
These days, Friedman gives
lectures and presents his sculp-
tures to students, from junior
high to junior college. For many
of these students, the Holocaust
is the distant subject of Steven
Spielberg's Shindler's List.
"They don't have an under-
standing of the history of the
Holocaust," said Friedman. "I ex-
plain the daily life in the exter-
mination camps. It's like
something hits them over the
head, and sometimes when they
see my work they cry."
But for all the tears shed while
creating his work, Friedman is
also filled with joy when inte-
grating Jewish symbols into his
sculptures. His latest work, "And
God said let there be light,"' will
be his largest sculpture. It in-
cludes an angel holding the sun
over the universe. Said Friedman:
"My sculptures of the Torah need-
ed a beginning."
Spoken just like an artist.
❑
Et Swords Into Plowshares
Peace Center & Gallery is lo-
cated at 33 East Adams Av-
enue, Detroit, (313) 965-5422.
The Fifth Annual Multi-Me-
dia Art Show, featuring Hen-
ry Friedman's sculpture, runs
through January 20.
Daughter And Dad
In Nutcracker
The Oakland Festival Ballet Com-
pany presents The Nutcracker at
11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday and
Sunday, Dec. 16-17, at the Royal
Oak Music Theatre. The Nut-
cracker features Cindy Phillips
and her dad, Dr. Eduardo Phillips.
Tickets are $16; $14 for senior cit-
izens and children, and are avail-
able through Ticketmaster at (810)
Where great selection and personalized
service are available every day!
Select from our unique and innovative collection
of handcrafted pottery, sparkling glass,
trendsetting jewelry and much, much more.
Let us help you choose the perfect gift.
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Additions
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Gallery
Lea Avizedek
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4301 Orchard Lake Road • West Bloomfield • (810) 626-5810
Hours: Sunday 12-4 p.m., Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Animation Art Gallery • Cartoon Collectibles
Westchester Square 550 Forest Avenue, Plymouth • (313) 455-0190
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The season of giving
can't end with the New Year.
c.
109 N. Center
Downtown Northville
(810) 349-4131
CHARLES AIVIIIXE
Give blood. Give the gift of life.
American Red Cross
3 dimensional
Wall Pieces
from
Puppet Show
films
Show begins Nov. 261h
Call 1-800 GIVE LIFE. Please bring some form of I.D.
HOURS: M-TH 10-6, FRI 10-7, SA 10-5, SUN 12-4