Daniel Libeskind is among three semi-finalists competing to design the Ohio Statehouse Holocaust Memorial in Columbus. The privately funded memorial will be built south of the Ohio Statehouse on the grassy 10 acre Capitol Square, just east of the Scioto River.
As stated in the competition brief, “The memorial itself must help everyone who visits and works in the Statehouse understand not just the history of the Holocaust, but also the fact that today we must continue to stand against evil. Artists are asked to create a piece that will serve as a permanent memorial in remembrance of all victims of the Holocaust (1933-1945) and those Ohioans who participated in the liberation of the death camps during World War II. The memorial should provide enlightenment on man's inhumanity to man and inspire people to think and act differently in the face of discrimination, hatred, antiSemitism and genocide.”
The three semi-finalists are:
- Catalan Spanish artist and sculptor Jaume Plensa
- Ohio visual artist Ann Hamilton
- Architect and artist Daniel Libeskind
Following a March site visit, the three semi-finalists will have six weeks to prepare a detailed proposal. The Holocaust Memorial Artist Selection committee comprised of survivors, WWII veterans, community leaders, philanthropists and public officials will review the submissions and announced a winner in May.
