Rhode Island Holocaust Memorial
Dublin Core
Title
Rhode Island Holocaust Memorial
Subject
Subject (Topic):
Public art
Sculpture
United States--Rhode Island--Providence
Public art
Sculpture
United States--Rhode Island--Providence
Description
There are 6 main components to the Memorial﹣the Outer Curb, the Entrance Gate, the Inner Curb, The Path, The Columns, and The Life Stone (RI Holocaust Memorial App).
The Outer Curb, made of light gray granite, lines the memorial. On it are the names of 15 concentration camps, chosen because they are the most recognizable.
Flanking the Memorial is the Entrance Gate. The Gate consists of two semi-rectangular granite pillars, the same dark grey as the Columns. The pillars differ in size. Both pillars contain detailed inscriptions that face either side of the visitor, beckoning for them to engage.
As pass the Entrance Gate, you walk upon a Path of spotted gray stone overlaid with a design of washed-out, red train tracks. Why train tracks? Because most victims were transported to their death via train. As the Path continues, the tracks narrow, representing the loss of two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population.
Lining the Path is the Inner Curb. The Curb is lined with names of Holocaust survivors who immigrated to Rhode Island following their liberation. As you reach the Life Stone, the six Memorial Columns come into focus. The Columns are made of smooth, dark grey granite. The Columns, which differ in size, are truncated elliptical cones rife with symbolism. The shape represents the smoke stacks that transported the ashes of the dead to heaven. The six pillars depict the six million Jews that died, while the varied heights symbolize the diverse range of victims.
The Path ends at the Life Stone﹣ a large white stone that starkly opposes the dark pillars surrounding it. The Stone represents a Stone of Remembrance. In Judaism, one leaves a Stone of Remembrance at the grave of someone they love as an act of commemoration.
The Outer Curb, made of light gray granite, lines the memorial. On it are the names of 15 concentration camps, chosen because they are the most recognizable.
Flanking the Memorial is the Entrance Gate. The Gate consists of two semi-rectangular granite pillars, the same dark grey as the Columns. The pillars differ in size. Both pillars contain detailed inscriptions that face either side of the visitor, beckoning for them to engage.
As pass the Entrance Gate, you walk upon a Path of spotted gray stone overlaid with a design of washed-out, red train tracks. Why train tracks? Because most victims were transported to their death via train. As the Path continues, the tracks narrow, representing the loss of two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population.
Lining the Path is the Inner Curb. The Curb is lined with names of Holocaust survivors who immigrated to Rhode Island following their liberation. As you reach the Life Stone, the six Memorial Columns come into focus. The Columns are made of smooth, dark grey granite. The Columns, which differ in size, are truncated elliptical cones rife with symbolism. The shape represents the smoke stacks that transported the ashes of the dead to heaven. The six pillars depict the six million Jews that died, while the varied heights symbolize the diverse range of victims.
The Path ends at the Life Stone﹣ a large white stone that starkly opposes the dark pillars surrounding it. The Stone represents a Stone of Remembrance. In Judaism, one leaves a Stone of Remembrance at the grave of someone they love as an act of commemoration.
Creator
Bonner, Jonathan, November 12, 1947
Source
Photographs by Sophia Siegel
Date
Dedicated: August 26, 2015
Contributor
Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island
Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center
Rhode Island Holocaust Memorial Committee
Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center
Rhode Island Holocaust Memorial Committee
Rights
City of Providence, 25 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 02903
Format
JPEG
Language
English
Type
Visual Arts-Sculpture
Has Part
Inner Curb Text
Outer Curb Text
Extent
Unknown
Medium
Granite, Stone
Bibliographic Citation
“The Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center.” Rhode Island Holocaust Memorial App, Vers. 2.2, 2021. Apple App Store, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ri-holocaust-memorial/id1023242556
Rights Holder
Renée Ater, Brown University
Geolocation
Citation
Bonner, Jonathan, November 12, 1947, “Rhode Island Holocaust Memorial,” Commemorative Works of Providence , accessed April 2, 2025, https://mail.commemorativeworksprovidenceri.digitalscholarship.brown.edu/items/show/14.