Naomi Blake

Naomi Blake (born 11 March 1924) is a British sculptor, whose work reflects and represents her experience as a Holocaust surrivor.

Naomi Blake
Born
Naomi Blake

(1924-03-11) 11 March 1924
Mukačevo, Czechoslovakia
NationalityBritish
EducationHornsey School of Art
Websitewww.naomiblake.co.uk/about.html

Biography
Man against the odds by Naomi Blake in Tel Aviv University

Blake was born in Mukačevo, Czechoslovakia (now Mukacheve, Ukraine) to Jewish parents on 11 March 1924.[1][2][3] The youngest of ten children, Blake was originally named Zisel (meaning sweet) by her parents. She changed her name to Naomi in 1948.[1] She survived the Holocaust as a child in Auschwitz, although many members of her family died there.[2][4] After Auschwitz, Blake and her surriving sister were sent to work at a munitions camp in the north of Poland. As the Red Army advanced in early 1945 the camp's inmates were marched towards the Baltic by the Nazis. The sisters managed to escape this death march and eventually made their back to Mukačevo.[2] In 1942, her family included 32 members: four grandparents, her parents, nine siblings, six spouses and ten young nieces and nephews. By 1945 only eight members remained.[1] When the war ended, Blake made her way to Palestine and joined the Palmach but was shot in the neck by a British soldier in April 1947.[2] Recovering in hospital she began carving small figurines which soon became a passion for her.[2]

After she recovered, Blake lived in Milan, Rome and Jerusalem, before making her home in North London.[4] Blake studied at the Hornsey School of Art in London (now Middlesex University), England from 1955 to 1960, taking evening classes.[1][4]

Work

Much of Blake's work has focused on the expression of her experiences.[1] However her work is principally optimistic, forward looking and positive. It stands determinedly to help keep alive the legacy of the six million slaughtered Jews, as well as promoting Blake's vision for uniting faiths, building understanding between religions and her hope for the future.

Blake has been exhibiting since 1962. Her work has been exhibited in many galleries, in the UK and overseas. Solo exhibitions of her work were held at the Woodstock Gallery in 1972, the Magdalene Street Gallery in 1976, Embankment Gallery in 1980 and at Norwich Cathedral in 1987, at the Royal West of England Academy in Bristol during 1989 and her work featured in the 1991 Chelmsford Cathedral festival..[4]

Sculptures by Blake are permanently displayed on many sites notably Fitzroy Square and St Ethelberga's Church in London, the University of Leicester Scarman Centre and The Holocaust Centre, Nottinghamshire. Her 1980 bronze resin sculpture, The Refugee is located in the garden of Bristol Cathedral while a similar 1985 piece, Santuary in fibreglass is in the grounds of St Botolph's Aldgate in the City of London.[5][6]

Collections

Her works are also in various private collections, including those of the Queen Mother and the Prince of Wales.[1] She is a member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors.

gollark: Except anarchy!
gollark: Is this some sort of SCP?
gollark: Exactly, so communism will inevitably fail.
gollark: Like I said, <@!330678593904443393>, what can WORKER COOPERATIVES do about PRIONS?!
gollark: Er, more infectious.

References
  1. Laura Enfield (2 April 2014). "How Muswell Hill sculptor Naomi Blake forged hope out of Holocaust hell". Enfield Independent. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  2. Gareth Platt (27 January 2015). "Beating Hitler: How Naomi Blake survived Auschwitz and escaped the death march". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  3. Alan Windsor (2003). British Sculptors of the Twentieth Century. Ashgate. p. 19. ISBN 1859284566.
  4. David Buckman (2006). Artists in Britain Since 1945 Vol 1, A to L. Art Dictionaries Ltd. ISBN 0 953260 95 X.
  5. Philip Ward-Jackson (2003). Public Sculpture of Britain Volume 7: Public Sculpture of the City of London. Liverpool University Press / Public Monuments & Sculpture Association. ISBN 0 85323 977 0.
  6. Douglas Merritt (2002). Sculpture in Bristol. Redcliffe Press Ltd. ISBN 1900178834.
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