DALLAS — Editor's note: The video published above is a speech by the parents of an American hostage in Gaza given at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Renowned portrait artists have come together to recognize and honor people who were taken hostage in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Among them taken was artist Sivia Braunstein, who was visiting family in Israel on that day. She was abruptly awakened at 6:30 a.m. and brought to a saferoom for 24 hours. Braunstein survived, but realized people were taken hostage. She returned to the United States and began to paint portraits of those who were taken that day.
With the help of seven other artists, including Dallas resident Nancy Gordon, the collective group came up with the idea to display "Their Portraits" at the Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas.
“We wanted to show the humanity of the hostages who have been dehumanized, to bring the story of Israel’s captives to the public’s eye, as it fades from the media’s attention,” the artists said in a press release joint statement.
Over 240 portraits of the hostages abducted and taken from Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, line the walls of the exhibit and will be on display from Aug. 9 to Oct. 31. The paintings include people who have been released, murdered, died in captivity or whose status is still unknown.
Every portrait in the display will be sent to their respective families following the exhibition.
Anyone who visits the exhibition are welcome to write prayers, poems, or special messages to the families of the hostages.
The featured artists include: Jane Bennett, Sivia Katz Braunsein, Carol Sack Denmark, Nancy Gordon, Carol Lert, Judy Rohtbart, Sue Seif, and Deborah Morris Zakheim.
For more information about the exhibit, visit the Museum of Biblical Art website here.
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