By: Ben Addison
Samuel Bak is an artist that was born in Vilna, Poland in 1933. Today called Vilnius, the city is now the capital of Lithuania. During Bak’s childhood Vilna was occupied by the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany having occupied Vilna during WWII. Bak spoke about his life in a speech he delivered at the Janet A. and Willis S. Strauss Performing Arts Center on Sept 25th.
Bak talked about the many hardships due to his Jewish faith shared in his family. Many people in his life died including his father and all four of his grandparents, but Bak learned a lesson that changed his life forever: art is important. From this point on Bak followed the path of an artist.
He derived this from his time in a Ghetto when the people would sing during hard times. This experience fueled Bak and drove him to dedicate his life to his artwork to help educate others on the horrors of WWII and the Nazi forced labour camps.
Although his artwork never shows direct violence, it does imply it through allegory, metaphor and other artistic devices. He also many different styles like surrealism, analytical cubism, and pop art.
During the event, Bak went through most of his life and showed many pieces of art he had done and explained to the audience what the piece showed and how it related to his life.
Bak talks about one of his many books, this one being a memoir called “Painted in Words.” 
Bak shows a picture of what his hometown looks like in the present and talks about the stark contrasts it has from the past. 
The audience sits and intently listens to what Bak has to say as he talks about his life. 
Bak shows a painting that he created in 1974 of his depiction of the survivors of the H olocaust and how each one of them felt like they were in pieces. 
UNO Senior Vice Chancellor thanks guests for coming and some donors for helping make things happen. 
Another group of guests standing, talking, and eating among the three of them. 
A group of guests sit around a table and eats some food while conversing amongst themselves. 
Three University of Nebraska Students perform on Violins for guests as they enjoy their meal and the company that they brought. 
“Coffee!” was available for guests to drink, along with other options, at the event indicated by convenient signs. 
An elderly guest picks up their glass of Tea. 
Guests line up all the way to the entrance to get a taste of the food available to all. 
Guests pick out food from a variety of options before they listen to Samuel Bak.
