Holocaust Memorial of Arkansas
A Sculpture by Joe Barnett

PROJECT INTENTION
Provide the public with an interpretive statement to advance understanding of the universal impact of the Holocaust. The project will represent the divine foundation of human life and energy, reflecting the triumph of the spirit over adversity through courage, strength, and resilience.

INTERPRETATION OF MODEL
A rough-hewn forearm and outstretched hand rise up in a dramatic gesture of endurance and power, offering a statement of unvanquished fortitude as well as a plea for relief from suffering. The arm and hand are significantly damaged. Like a lightning-struck tree, they have been split asunder, revealing a hollow core. Additional scarring marks the palm, fingers, and back of the hand. Yet the life energy remains vital and undiminished.

Flowing water will emerge from the open space of the palm and flow down the sides. Light will be directed up through the central hollow space, illuminating the core and exterior of the full sculpture.

The numbers 1-7 rise along the trunk of the forearm to the knuckles. Signifying the seven days of creation and the divine spirit underlying all human endeavors, the numbers are a dark reminder of the dehumanizing tattoos inflicted on many Holocaust victims. The numbers are cut through the shell of the arm, leaving both a permanent scarring and a portal for the eternal light that illuminates all life.

PROJECT DIMENSIONS AND MATERIALS
The sculpture will be approximately six feet in height. It will be cast in bronze. Installation will be in a water-filled basin surrounded by a low wall.