Lesson Four

Gabrielle Rossmer
In Search of the Lost Object (Revenants)
Installation, 1991

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About the Artist

Gabrielle Rossmer evaded the Holocaust by coming to America just before the outbreak of World War 11. She was born in Bamberg, Germany, where by 1933 the oncethriving Jewish community had diminished to a few elderly people. During the previous decade, only ten Jewish children were born in the city, Gabrielle being one of them. The morning after Kristallnacht, along with all the other Jewish males under the age of 65, Rossmer's father was arrested and sent to Dachau concentration camp. After five weeks he returned home. Soon after, the parents and one-year old Gabrielle boarded a boat for New York. However, Rossmer's story did not have a completely happy ending. Left behind were her grandparents and an aunt and uncle. Gradually these relatives lost all their possessions and civil rights. After a long struggle to obtain visas, Rossmer's grandparents were deported to Poland and perished there. By November of 1942, all the Jews of Bamberg were gone.

About the Work

This teacher's guide features a slide of Revertants, only one element in In Search of the Lost Object, which is an installation -- a work consisting of a variety of elements or media which are installed into a specific space. In this work the viewer is literally surrounded by the work of art. Rossmer's installation uses artifacts that the viewer can feel, touch, and read. There are photocopies of German passports and identification papers with a "J" ('Jude' for Jewish), documents on the Aryanization of her family's business and property, and papers detailing her immigration from Germany to America, including tickets and menus from the voyage on the SS President Harding.

Rossmer first showed the initial phase of In Search of the Lost Object at the Municipal Museum in Bamberg, Germany -- her birthplace and the original site of the "Judenhaus" where Rossmer's grandparents were held until sent to their deaths in Poland in 1942. Portions of the installation, including "Document Wall" and "Family Portraits" are specific references to Rossmer's family. The plaster blocks on the wall include images of Bamberg, family members, and representations of "Ecclesia" and "Synagoga" from Bamberg Cathedral, a medieval reference to the triumph of Christianity (Ecclesia) over the old faith, Judaism (Synagoga). These elements are shown in conjunction with standing cloth sculptures called "Revenants" which are mysterious, enigmatic shroud like figures.

The most recent addition to the installation is the "Garments" element, cloth sculptures that are twice lifesize, which evoke human forms and are open to the interpretation of the viewer. These images may refer to Rossmer's lost grandparents, who were in the shirtmaking business. The work also contains a small autobiographical book that is the most "factual" element of the installation.

Interprative Questions

(About Revenants)

  1. What are these objects? What does their form suggest?
  2. What do you think these are made out of? What color are they? How does this affect their mood or meaning?
  3. How many "figures" are there? Would this element of the installation be as effective if there were only one or two "figures"?
  4. How does these "figures" relate to the overall theme of the Holocaust? What might they represent?
(In The Museum: About the whole installation)
  1. Discuss the elements of Rossmer's installation relating to her specific family history. How do these objects relate to you? Do they seem familiar? How do you respond to them?
  2. Why would the "Garments" cloth sculptures be twice lifesize? How does this affect their meaning or their power? What do these objects represent?
  3. Discuss the "sack" on the floor containing family papers and documents. What does this part of the work mean? Why are these documents placed on the floor in a sack? How does this make you feel?
  4. What is the predominating color in this installation? Why would the artist choose to allow this color to dominate the space? How does it make you feel

Art Project Objective

Rossmer extensively researched her family's history for the installation "In Search of the Lost Objects." Like Rossmer, you will investigate your heritage by interviewing family and friends. From this information, you will create a painting that depicts your findings.

Vocabulary

Heritage -- Cultural, national, or family traditions and beliefs which are handed down from one generation to the next.

Narrative -- A story or account. In art, the narrative refers to the story or series of ideas expressed in a work of art.

Acrylic paint -- Synthetic paint in which the pigment (color) is suspended in a clear plastic medium. Acrylics can be used on almost any painting surface, and dry far quicker than oil paints

Materials

Procedure

  1. Review the slides of Rossmer's work and read the "About the Artist" section to learn how the artist developed the theme for her installation.
  2. Go over the definitions of heritage, narrative and acrylic paint.
  3. Begin thinking about your family history. Interview several family members and/or close friends. Ask them to relate specific facts about your past. Write down your findings as you work.
  4. Decide which memories have had the most direct effect on who you are as a person. Develop various sketches that illustrate these findings. Consider combining several images in a collage type manner. Refrain from including words in your work. Instead rely on the visual image to carry your message.
  5. Choose one of your sketches or combine several to make a final composition. Transfer it onto your canvas or cardboard in pencil.
  6. Decide on your color scheme. Think about what mood you wish to convey. How can the colors used help convey your feelings about your heritage?
  7. When starting your painting, use a 1/4inch brush to draw the main shapes of your work first. Avoid outlining your figures in black. Use strong or contrasting colors to emphasize areas instead. Details should always be painted last. Also, do not try to smooth over your brushstrokes. These can be an effective way to portray movement and texture, which can add to the final design.

Examining Your Work

  1. Describe the major content of your painting. Relate what findings you chose to paint about and why. Identify any of the major characters or locations and explain how they relate to your heritage.
  2. Discuss how your heritage has shaped the person you are today. What kind of effect does the past have on your present and future?
  3. What kind of effect of you believe the murder of Rossmer's grandparents by the Nazis had on her life? How is it reflected in her work?

** If necessary, the art project may be replaced by a poster report which includes collected photos, letters, pieces of fabric or any artifact that the student has received during their investigation

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