UW-Madison: ‘Stitching History’ exhibit ties together history and humanity

Sherry Harlacher, 608-890-4854, harlacher@wisc.edu

In 1997, letters posted “1939 Prague” were discovered in Milwaukee. They were written by a young Jewish couple hoping to escape German occupation with the help of an American relative living in Wisconsin.

Included in the letters were fashion sketches and an appeal to employ seamstress Hedwig “Hedy” Strnad. Hedy did not survive the Holocaust, but more than 70 years later her hopes have come to life in the exhibition “Stitching History from the Holocaust,” now on display at Ruth Davis Design Gallery at the UW-Madison School of Human Ecology (SoHE).

“Hedy’s is a personal story, but it represents something much greater. Along with the millions of human lives extinguished as a result of the Holocaust, there was an immeasurable loss of talent and creativity,” according to the Jewish Museum Milwaukee, where Hedy’s story first appeared.

Soyeon Shim, Dean of the School of Human Ecology, brought Hedy’s story to UW-Madison to educate and inspire students, in partnership with the Jewish Museum Milwaukee, the Center for Jewish Studies and private support. The exhibit serves as an example of what happens when human suffering is ignored and is a testament to the incalculable loss of the Holocaust.

“You may imagine that we have a great interest of leaving Europe as soon as possible because there is no possibility of getting a position in this country,” writes Paul Strnad, Hedy’s husband to his cousin in Milwaukee, 1939.

Eight dresses and accessories from Hedy’s original sketches were created for the show using historically accurate styles and techniques. Interlaced into the exhibition is the companion show “Inspired by Hedy” that spotlights the creations by SoHE students. “The exhibition provided an exceptional opportunity to bring together an individual story and historic fashion for our students in the Textiles and Fashion Design program,” says Sherry Harlacher, director of the Center for Textiles and Design.

The exhibit runs until Nov. 13 at the Ruth Davis Design Gallery at Nancy Nicholas Hall. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, andnoon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

READ THE FULL STORY: https://sohe.wisc.edu/stitching-history-exhibition-ties-together-history-and-humanity/