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h o l o c a u s t n i g h t m a r e s
ASH FROM THE ROSE
b y P a m L . F i e d l e r
photography [ june 2010 ]
"postcards from PARIS"
[A collection of images
from my Holocaust Nightmares]
The ARC DE TRIOMPHE was the main highlight of the city for me. In my nightmares, I am watching Hitler and the Third Reich celebrate their invasion of France.
I am witnessing this parade with my friend, David. Certain sections of this nightmare play over & over--like a broken record. French citizens are wailing in the streets. Meanwhile, the Third Reich continues to march through this Arc-- along with Hitler. I can hear the clicks on the buckles of his shoes...as he walks down the street. As I look up-- there are thousands of swastika flags blowin' in the breeze across the Paris skyline.
I was attempting to re-create this scene in my graphic print "Only The Jews." Partially through the creative process, another fellow grad student stopped by to observe my work. I had selected a vintage photograph of France which celebrated their famous bike races. For my purposes, I had added Hitler coming through the Arc, and was in process of adding a Start of David to each biker's shirt. I wanted the jewish bikers to be fleeing away from Hitler's wrath. He asked me if I knew what I was doing. I asked him exactly what he meant by that remark?
"You're doing it, and you don't even know you're doing it. That is the Arc De Triomphe, and the Third Reich and Hitler really did march through it!"
Needless to say...he was right. A few years later, my best friend was stationed over in Europe for five years. By the time we made it to Paris, she had already traveled there several times for shopping, art, and culture. She took care of the reservations, and booked our hotel only three blocks from the heart of Paris.
symphonic angels
[ inside the Louvre ]
paris skyline kisses
[ top floor of the Tower, peering inside the front window
of the gift shop--thousands of them... ]
Only The Jews
[ this was the Graphic Print I was creating in grad school when my friend stopped by. While I knew the Arc De Triomphe was located in Paris, France--I wasn't aware at the time I created this print that the Third Reich, along with Hitler-- had marched through it during the invasion. ]
As soon as we got unpacked, we were walking the streets of Paris, headed for the epic centre. I could see, far off in the distance--a building so large in structure; it reminded me of the mammoth size of Big Ben-- when I first saw it in London.
The figures on top this historical location appeared animated in size. They moved, but in such a way that they seemed ant-like in appearance. And, while I knew it was a major tourist attraction in PARIS, it was so far off in the distance...I didn't know which one it was...When my best friend told me it was the ARC DE TRIOMPHE--I was caught in the moment.
How could it be any other?
This was the monument that I had viewed so many times in my nightmares. I wanted to see it in real-time.
Not from evenings past.
When I walked up the many different levels inside it, I thought about Hitler and the Third Reich doing the same. Was it as dimly lit that day, as it was for me--today?
Was I looking at the same art that they saw?
*The photographs that are on display throughout my HOLOCAUST NIGHTMARES exhibition include my study of the Arc De Triomphe, along with a selection of other places that I have traveled to in Paris during my nightmares.
Arc De Triomphe:
inner stair case
[ walking up the stairs to each level of the Arc De Triomphe is a physical workout within itself. It wasn't built for comfort. Steady climbing is required. I found the sculptures to be especially painful in their expressions. Somewhat frightening, and anything but delightful. Lighting was dim and very well organized].
Paris Skyline
[ on the roof of the Arc De Triomphe/ approximately 4:30 pm. Most of my time spent in Paris had overcast days, slight rain and drifts of fog. I chose to give many of my prints a vintage look by adding a sepia tone or changing to grayscale. ]
Arc De Triomphe: in detail
[ location: centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle, also known as the "Place de l'Étoile"--at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. The arches whole decorative style is entirely of the tradition of sculpture from the first half of the nineteenth century.
It was constructed to honor those who fought for France, in particular, those who fought during the Napoleonic Wars.
It was pouring down rain the entire day that we spent visiting the many different levels and sections of the Arc].
Arc De Triomphe: in 47 frames
[ any photographer who waited their turn to photograph the Arc De Triomphe at night knows exactly where I am standing. This little island only has the capacity to hold 2 bodies at a time. Cars are entering from 12 different locations as they drive around the Arc. I spent approximately 30 minutes on this tiny island and captured the nightlife surrounding it in 47 frames. This is the one I selected from that study to include in my HOLOCAUST NIGHTMARES exhibition].
Opening Exhibition
for PARIS photography:
November 2010
[ the Norfolk Arts Center was the first exhibition which showcased my Graphic Print Series, Mixed Media Pieces and my photographs from PARIS. I spent the summer of 2010 putting together my selection of photos. By the time I sat down to design the advertising poster I knew I wanted to use Hitler's face as the imagery. I always see him screaming as he is walking down the street. I find his voice horrifying. The final piece is a combination of mixed media. It was designed originally as a postcard].
White Lights Across Paris
June Evening 2010
[ One of the few nights I spent in Paris without any rain. I did not Photoshop my image. I have been told by many who have visited Paris years prior, that this building did not exist. I am standing outside on the steps to a religious monument. There are many different sky-scraper panels of glass that stand outside as sculptures. They have poetry embedded within these glass panels. I found this view so different than all the rest. It became the one I selected as the evening shot of the Tower-- for my HOLOCAUST NIGHTMARES EXHIBITION].
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