BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.- “Words on Fire,” a major arts and humanities festival, will be held at venues across Greater Boston for eight weeks, beginning culminating on May 11. These events will mark the 70th anniversary of a massive book burning that took place in Berlin on May 10, 1933. Presenting a full calendar of thought-provoking art exhibits, films, lectures, community conversations and other events, “Words on Fire” will explore the methods and the reasons that have been used to silence writers in various countries at various times throughout history and into the 21st century.
The festival will look at issues such as censorship, the power of the written word, how women writers and authors belonging to religious, cultural and racial minorities have struggled to make their voices heard, the critical link between freedom and access to ideas and how the written word can increase cross-cultural understanding.
The infamous event the festival’s name acknowledges occurred when over 40,000 participants gathered in Bebelplatz, a square across from the University of Berlin, to witness the burning of the works from nearly 200 scientists, philosophers, political theorists and poets who had been labeled as “degenerates and undesirables” by the newly-elected Nazi regime. The banned authors included such significant figures of the 20th century as Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud, Berthold Brecht, Thomas Mann, Helen Keller, H.G. Wells, Emile Zola, Margaret Sanger and André Gide.
“Words on Fire” is the inaugural program of the newly established New Center for Arts and Culture, which is offering the majority of festival events free of charge to the public. Sponsored by the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston, the New Center’s mission is “to build community by exploring Jewish culture and the interconnectedness of all cultures, creating a dynamic setting that inspires artistic excellence, welcomes diversity, nurtures creativity, furthers collaboration and encourages discussion in the arts and humanities.” In addition, a number of festival elements will look at why the Jewish people have throughout history been called “the people of the book.”
Wide Variety of Themes to be Explored
With art exhibits at five venues, a series of eight humanities lectures, a film series, and several other special events, including a read-a-thon on Sunday, May 11th, featuring noted authors reading from the works that were burned in Berlin in 1933, “Words on Fire” will prompt Greater Boston residents to consider two critical topics that have major implications in today’s world: censorship and freedom of expression. (See enclosed calendar of “Words on Fire” events for a full listing of all programs.)
“The book burnings that took place when the Nazis came to power, not only in Berlin but in other German cities, were seminal events then and still remain a powerful symbol today,” said Shoshana Pakciarz, executive director of the New Center for Arts and Culture. “Seventy years later, we are bringing artists, writers, historians and cultural institutions from across the city together to explore vital issues raised by the Berlin book burning and their manifestations in today’s world.”
US Tour Begins in Boston
A centerpiece of “Words on Fire” will be the presentation in the Great Hall of the Boston Public Library of a highly evocative artistic installation called “Writer’s Block,” created by American artist and Berlin resident Sheryl Oring. “Writer’s Block,” whose Boston exhibition is the kick-off of an American tour that includes stops at the New York Public Library and the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, is comprised of 16 steel cages, each one meter square. Fifteen cages are crammed with over 500 black metal typewriters collected in Europe and of pre-World War II vintage. An additional cage contains only one small typewriter inside a second, smaller cage. A close look at the keyboard of this typewriter reveals this is an SS typewriter, one of the few remaining in the world that prints the twin lighting bolts emblematic of the Nazi secret police.
Collaboration with Museum of Afro-American History
In partnership with the Museum of Afro-American History, “Words on Fire” will present “Black Books: The First African American Authors”. This exhibit looks at the historical and cultural implications of the fact that the African slaves brought to this country were forbidden by law to learn how to read and write, and the majestic recovery of their written voices. The exhibit is a first in many ways. It includes a number of groundbreaking works written and published by African Americans in fiction, narrative, history drama and poetry. It also includes the first black works published abroad, and copies of the first African American newspapers.
“As the home of the nation’s first public library and first public school, Boston is a perfect setting for a program that builds on this legacy by encouraging people of all cultures to look at the universal importance of literacy and free access to the written word,” added Bernard A. Margolis, President of the Boston Public Library. “The festival honors Boston’s heritage of leadership in literacy by having many of the events, including the humanities lectures and discussions and part of the film series at the Boston Public Library.”
A Community Effort
“Words on Fire” is made possible thanks to the generosity of numerous individuals, including philanthropists who have provided major financial support, many artists who are donating their work, and cultural institutions that are providing venues for various events. “We are especially grateful to The Boston Foundation and to the Combined Jewish Philanthropies for major support for ‘Words on Fire,’” said Pakciarz. “Everyone we’ve turned to for help in creating this festival has recognized the importance of the topics we’re exploring. We are deeply indebted to the artists who have donated their work and to the individuals and partner institutions that are providing us with space and critical financial support. These include the Boston Public Library, the Museum of Afro-American History, The Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities, the Dorot Foundation, the Alfred L. and Annette S. Morse Foundation, Boston CyberArts Festival, the Boston Jewish Film Festival, Video Space, the Judi Rotenberg Gallery, Mobius, Starr Gallery, the Perkins Gallery, the Museum of Fine Arts Film Program, The Jewish Community Relations Council, The Mary Baker Eddy Library, Facing History and Ourselves and the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston. In addition, many businesses and talented individuals have donated their professional services to make ‘Words on Fire’ possible. This is truly a collaboration that touches all parts of the Boston community.”
About the New Center for Arts and Culture
The New Center for Arts and Culture is a new multi-disciplinary cultural institution that seeks “to build community by exploring Jewish culture and the interconnectedness of all cultures, creating a dynamic setting that inspires artistic excellence, welcomes diversity, nurtures creativity, furthers collaboration and encourages discussion in the arts and humanities.” Offering its first programming, “Words on Fire,” at venues throughout Greater Boston in the spring of 2003, the New Center’s plans include building a community gathering place in downtown Boston. The New Center for Arts and Culture will offer high-level programs in the visual arts, humanities and the performing arts. Through its programs the New Center is committed to building common ground by creating dialogue and collaboration, a cultural commons that will contribute to building “One Boston through Arts and Culture.”