To mark the 80-year anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau communities and organisations from across the UK took part in an arts and education project – 80 Candles for 80 Years. The candle from each community/organisation highlights the life of an individual or community persecuted by the Nazis.
This candle holder was created by the Garnethill Multi-cultural Centre. They ran a series of clay workshops, where 6-8 participants created this candle holder.
The group decided to focus on the life of Hilda Goldwag, an Austrian artist who came to Scotland as a refugee in 1939 living in a flat at 155 Hill Street Garnethill with her lifelong companion Cecile Schwarzschild. Hilda fled Austria after the ‘Anschluss’ when Nazi Germany’s army marched into Austria in 1938; after which Austria was joined into Nazi Germany where anti-Jewish laws were quickly applied.
Before creating their candle holder, the group came to visit us at the Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre to learn more about Hilda’s life. Deborah Haase who personally knew Hilda shared her life story as well as showing the group some of Hilda’s artwork from the Scottish Jewish Archive Centre to spark inspiration for their candle holder. The group were able to see illustrations Hilda completed as a student in Vienna which she brought with her to Scotland, a book cover for Collins publishers, scarves designed for Marks & Spencer’s when she was head designer for Friedlander’s as well as posters she made for the Scottish Refugee Centre on Sauchiehall Street. The group found that Hilda’s art work ‘reflects Garnethill’s rich history as home to diverse communities and refugees.’
The art group chose to focus on the life of Hilda because she was well known within the community and a friend to local artists. Hilda found inspiration in local streets, the canal and Cowcaddens for her paintings. The group found her paintings had an ‘honest style that represented the reality, in its dark greens, greys and reds, of working-class Glasgow life and its industrial landscapes.’
The group also said they chose Hilda as their inspiration for their candle holder as…
“Hilda’s paintings also bring the perspective of an ‘outsider’, who viewed the city with fresh eyes. In her depictions of buildings, formed in grids, is reflected a modernist, European sensibility. We included on the candleholder, a newspaper headline about Hilda’s work- “She finds beauty in Cowcaddens”. This ability to reflect scenes of life, sincerely with the good and bad, was impactful to us.”
Connie from the Garnethill Multi-Cultural Centre
