Hope and Spirit

Posted on August 7, 2012

The Hope and Spirit project was dedicated to the 20 million victims of Soviet atrocities, who suffered the brutality of genocide, and the injustice of the subsequent denial of their victimization.

I organized this highly successful project, which took place at the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture in Chicago. This was to mark the 70 year anniversary of the mass deportations from the Baltic republics to Siberia by Stalin, and to commemorate the victims of these atrocities. Four of my blood relatives died during NKVD interrogations and 12 were deported to Siberia.

The primary purpose of this project was to inform the general public of these events and the deaths of 20 million innocent people. If history is forgotten, it will repeat itself. With the recent political changes in the US and internationally, it appears that my concerns were prophetic. Unfortunately, history is repeating itself.

Those who survived deportations and life in Gulags, did so due to the strength of their spirit, the force of their will, and endless hope. Thus, the title was Hope and Spirit, a celebration of the human spirit.

This was an extensive program of art and photography exhibits, film screenings, book signings, poetry readings, lectures, and exhibits of original historical materials. The Hope and Spirit series took place from June 2011 through zmay 2012.

This website is periodically updated with new material about the resurgence of Stalinism in Russia, the US, and other countries. To view these please click here: UPDATES and English Articles.