Jan Komski

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11 January 2010

komskiJan was born to a Catholic family in the small Polish town of Bircza. His father, a World War I veteran, moved the family to Brzozow shortly after the war. Brzozow was a small manufacturing town in southeastern Poland. After graduating from secondary school, Jan enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow.

1933-39: Cracow was a beautiful old city; we studied its remarkable churches and synagogues in my classes. By September 1939, however, the war engulfed the beauty of Cracow. I left to escape the advancing Germans, and hoped to join the Polish army, but as I neared the Soviet border I realized the Red Army was also approaching. I didn't know which way to go. Since I feared Soviet rule, I returned to Cracow and faced the German occupation.

1940-44: I Jan Komski Holocaustjoined the Polish underground and was arrested near the Hungarian border. In June 1940 I was sent to Auschwitz. Four of us devised an escape plan. Over many months we collected parts of a German army uniform, so one of us could pose as a guard. We stole documents from the camp office to forge an ID and then I painted a German uniform on a photo to complete the fraud. Our "guard" got us by the gate as a work detail in December 1942. We then gathered civilian clothing, left for us by the underground, and escaped.

Shortly after his escape, Jan was re-arrested and spent two more years in various camps. He was liberated from the Dachau concentration camp by U.S. troops on April 29, 1945.

Source: USHMM


Original art by Komski is held at Orchard Lake Polish Mission Holocaust Museum collection.

SURVIVOR ARTIST JAN KOMSKI
1914-2002

Arbeit Macht Frei, pen and ink, 22 x26, original label believed to be written by Jan Komski: Arbeit Macht Frei or freedom through work in Auschwitz ends up with unpleasant consequence.

Roller Operators, pen and ink on paper, 27.5 x 20.5.  Komski's note: Under the supervision of the mad killer-Krankenman- priests and Jews worked and died, dragging a huge roller on the construction site of the roll-call ground.

Prisoner's Dream, pen and ink on paper, 20.5 x 26.5. Komski's note: To sit down and take a break while on the job could not be allowed any prisoner under any circumstances, except maybe in a dream.

4. Return to Camp, pen and ink, 28 x 21. Komski's note: Those returning to the camp at the end of each day carried with them the victims of cruel accidents and murders.

A Capo and his Troops, watercolor, 27 x 21. Komski's note: A Capo (always a criminal, most likely a German), and his troops.

Uneasy Vigil, watercolor on paper, 17 x 23. Komski's note: The uneasy vigil between the assignments.

Lucky Guy, watercolor on paper,  14.5 x 20. Komski's note: Lucky guy, as he has found ladle-full of food in the soup barrel.

At Work, watercolor on paper, 14.5 x 20. Komski's note: This hard labor required the prisoner to be exploited until his strength was used up. His end was often the result of deterioration or death.

Driven to Auschwitz, watercolor on paper, 28 x 21. Komski's note: Driven to Auschwitz and other concentration camps by the order of the arresting Gestapo.

Supper is Served, watercolor on paper, 19.5 x 27.5. Komski's note: Supper is served in the courtyard of Block Eleven.

Garbage Inspectors, watercolor on paper, 19.5 x 27.5. Komski's note: Shortage of food, always present in the camp, made prisoners search for anything edible near the kitchen garbage.

Skin and Bones, watercolor on paper, 19 x 27. Komski's note: He too, fights for life while the crowd is waiting in line for extra food, a prisoner is in a state of advanced deterioration too, must not miss his chance.


Please help us preserve Komski's work.
Donors may contact Marcin Chumiecki, Polish Mission Director, to contribute.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; 248.683.0412; www.polishmission.com
3535 Indian Trail Orchard Lake Michigan 48324
The Polish Mission is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization and donations are tax deductable.

Random News

Kira Frabotta and Mike Jellick to warm up the Gallery in November...

On November 18th, please join us as we welcome autumn with the sounds of yesteryear at fundraising event for the Polish Mission.  Metro Detroit hot vintage jazz will set the mood to unveil a new exhibit of the six original Stryjenska paintings from the Polish Mission collection.  Food and Wine have been graciously provided by the Cadieux Cafe, and Leelanau Cellars, allowing our guests to enjoy some of Michigan's finest food and drink.as our gallery is transformed into a 1930s Detroit jazz club for the evening.

Zofia Stryjenska:

Zofia Stryjenska is known as the “Princess of Polish Painting.”  Her avant garde style consumed her art and her life during the period between the two World Wars.  Stryjenska’s signature “old meets new” style combined Polish country themes with modern Art Deco graphic design and vibrant colors.  Her dynamic delivery of that concept made her works some of the most recognizable and influential pieces in the panorama of Polish masters.

Kira Frabotta:

Kira Frabotta is a sultry swing jazz vocalist influenced by the greats: Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Mel Torme, Billy Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Doris Day, Jo Stafford, and Anita O'Day.  She is also a singer/songwriter with compositions to her credit in the style of contemporary artists the likes of Joni Mitchell, Ricki Lee Jones, Alicia Keys, Norah Jones, and Carol King.

Kira's rich vocals display a fine sense of pitch and humor, intonation and elegance. Her clean soprano top is balanced by a smooth mezzo/alto sweetness along with her natural ability to scat like Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.  Kira has an ear for musical harmony, pure jazz tonality, and natural phrasing which is evident in her live performances

Ms. Frabotta has worked with some of Detroit's own - talented musicians including Saxophonist, Raphael  Statin at the Detroit International Jazz Festival, Mike Jellick on keys, Detroit's own swing guitar legend, Rob Bourassa and cello virtuoso, Mike Karoub along with many others.  She is a regular to sit in as a vocalist at various jazz clubs around Detroit, most notably, Cliff Bells, close to the Fox Theatre and Comerica Park. Visit www.kirafrabotta.com for more!

Mike Jellick:

Born in New Delhi, India, and raised in Livonia, MI, Michael is one of the most sought-after pianists in the Midwest.  His entrance into the world of music began with his private classical training at just two years old, which continued through his college years, although it was in high school where his love for jazz took shape.  In his playing, musicians, music critics, and general audiences alike easily hear him draw from his influences of both classical and jazz, in his jazz performances and compositions.  He is equally well known for his writing, arranging, and teaching, all of which have been consistently being performed through numerous appearances at various institutions and venues throughout U.S.  Mike has private studios teaching both jazz and classical theory and performance in both the metro area as well as Kalamazoo, MI.  Citing a constant need to grow through actively composing, he has been awarded commissions by groups ranging from smaller private schools to larger corporations, groups, and non-profits: Most notably, Lincoln Center. 
Currently residing in the Detroit Metro area, Mike has enjoyed spending time either touring, on stage, and/or in the studio with Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride, Jesse Palter, Rodney Whitaker, Karriem Riggins, and Bob Hurst, to name a few.  A premiere of Mr. Jellick's re-working of The Nutcracker Suite is due out this December. More about what Mike Jellick is up to including links to a schedule, blog and other "digital" extensions of him, can be found on the internet at: www.flavors.me/mikejellick.

Tickets:

Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.autumnrhapsody.eventbrite.com, or by calling the Orchard Lake Schools main office at (248) 682-1885.