September 2019 Portrait of the Month - Stefania Podgorska

Stefania Podgorska

This month we're featuring this stunning portrait of Stefania Podgorska. It was created at a workshop for educators at the New-York Historical Society, which you can read about here. Stefania was a Catholic woman who, as a teenager, saved 13 Jews by helping them escape the local ghetto and hiding them in her attic. Stefania passed away last September at the age of 93. 

Meghan B. is the artist that created this portrait to honor Stefania's memory. She reflected on her experience:

How did it feel to spend so much time observing a photograph and then making art based on the photo?
You ended up focusing on very precise things, such as shadows by the ear or the wisps of some hair.

What do you think you will remember about this experience? Why?
Learning the story of the person afterwards, because the person took on a new meaning afterwards.

What did you like and dislike about the art experience?
I liked the connection to a time in history and a personal experience as well as forcing students to focus on areas of space.