The numbers are impressive: 56,140 miles, 120 flight hours and an infinite number of smiles from Ukrainian refugees. These are the numbers for Jewish artist Suzanne Horwich who has completed five trips in the last year from her home in Durango, Colo. to Krakow, Poland where she is using art to help the refugee population.

“I never really realized that my program would return dignity and build community to these refugees who had to flee their homes after the Russian invasion,” said Horwich.

Her program, Artists Giving Back, helps refugees of the war “imagine, create and heal” through art lessons and shows.

The roots of ‘Artists Give Back’

Artists Give Back was created shortly after the Russian invasion began on February 24, 2022. When Horwich learned that the influx of Ukrainian refugees into Poland had caused the Jewish Community Center in Krakow to become a humanitarian aid facility “overnight,” she wanted to help. She contacted Jonathan Orenstein at the Krakow JCC and proposed to bring art therapy to those in need.

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“The idea came to me in a dream! The mantra ‘imagine, create, heal’ is something I live by on a daily basis,” said Horwich. “As an artist, educator and mother, I know that using one’s imagination is a sort of meditation and an intentional daily practice. If I can elevate an individual’s spirit, lifting their energy, then I’ve done my work successfully. The program is designed for all age groups and hopefully I can bring a few moments of joy during an intensely traumatic time.”

In May of 2022, with the help of supporting donors including St. Louis businessman and philanthropist Michael Staenberg, who is also an enthusiastic art collector, Horwich planned her first trip to Krakow to help Ukrainian refugees “heal through the vehicle of art.”

“This program hopefully helps people there emotionally and psychologically,” said Staenberg. “Art evokes emotion.  One can only hope, with all they’ve been through, that this art will transport them to a happier place, if even temporarily.”

Creating those smiles, along with reinstating dignity and a sense of normalcy in refugees’ lives is Horwich’es mission.

“The stories I heard were shocking, disturbing, upsetting and truly left me speechless,” said Horwich, who is now preparing for her sixth journey to Krakow.

“We’ll be hosting an art show for the refugee population. This will be the second art show of Ukrainian artwork in just a year.  The first show in October brought such joy to this population that I decided to do it again,” she added.

The second show will be highlighted by the debut of a new piece of art entitled “Beyond Language.”

“It’s mixed media on canvas and tells the story of a community ripped apart by war and sewn back together, piece by piece through love, making it whole once more,” said Horwich.

The piece was created with the Ukrainian refugee population at the JCC Krakow together with Horwich.

Growing ‘Artists Giving Back’

The benefits of the program to the refugee population of Ukraine have been so powerful that Horwich is growing it to help other refugee populations around the world.

“In September, I’m partnering with a (Non-Governmental Organization) in Lesvos, Greece. I will be working with refugee populations from Afghanistan, Syria and war-torn Africa,” said Horwich.

“Most of them make their way across the Mediterranean Sea in an overcrowded life raft until they reach the island of Lesvos. Many die along the journey across the sea as their vessels are not seaworthy. Those that survive and actually reach Lesvos will spend years in one of the worst refugee camps in Europe waiting for asylum in another European country and possibly this never happens.”

Artists Giving Back will be an ongoing project. If you would like to contact her or contribute to her program, go to [email protected] or visit the program’s website.

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