Auschwitz paintings update
Dr. Rafael Medoff, director of the David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies, has emailed industry professionals an update on their efforts to help Dina Babbitt, a survivor of Auschwitz whose portraits of fellow concentration camp victims (which commandants forced her to paint) are currently in the possession of (and on display at) the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum in Poland. Mrs. Babbitt, a retired animator and ex-wife of legendary Disney animator Art Babbitt, has been struggling to have her original artwork returned to her for three decades, and last fall Dr. Medoff enlisted the help of fellow animators, cartoonists and comic book creators – an effort spearheaded by comics legend Joe Kubert.
Dr. Medoff’s latest letter states that "In recent weeks, the Wyman Institute has been circulating a petition among attorneys and legal scholars, supporting Mrs. Babbitt’s struggle. It will be sent shortly to the Polish authorities, and released to the public and media."
The Wyman Institute is organizing an auction of comic and cartoon artwork to support Mrs. Babbitt’s struggle. I The auction will include artwork donated from Ralph Bakshi, John Romita Sr. and John Romita, Jr., "Butch" Guice, Walter Simonson, Don Perlin, Lynn Johnston, Drew Geraci, Dave Simons, Sal Amendola, Jon Bogdanove, James E. Lyle, Jim Keefe, Guy Gilchrist, Mike Vosberg, Rob Stolzer, John Cassaday and Greg Theakston, with many others pledging to contribute.
ComicMix will bring you auction details as the date approaches.
