Out of 15,000 children brought to Terezín and later deported to Auschwitz, only 132 survived the Holocaust. Helga Weissová-Hosková is one of them.

Born November 10, 1929 in Prague, Helga lived a normal life until she was deported to the Terezín camp in Czechoslovakia with her parents on Dec. 17, 1941, at the age of 12. Among her limited luggage were a pad of paper and a box of watercolors, pencils, and crayons. While in Terezín she recorded her experiences through painting and drawing. Remarkably, the supplies managed to last almost three years.

One of the drawings by Helga Weissova-Hoskova, “List of Possessions" .

The 24 images in "A Child Artist in Terezin: Witness to the Holocaust" can be seen in Reeves Library at Seton Hill University. Peter Rafaeli, the Honorary Consul General of Czech Republic Philadelphia, offered the unique series of drawings and watercolors and Weissová-Hosková personally selected which artwork would be on display.

“I think the exhibit is very powerful,” said Rabbi Sarah Perman of Greensburg, PA. “I like how it went from color to the more neutral tones. They’re neat, little snapshots of one person’s experiences and life during the Holocaust.”

Helga Weissova-Hoskova’s drawings “Selection” and “In the Barracks in Auschwitz”.

“Seeing the transition of what was happening in her life struck me the most,” said Margaret DiVirgilio of Greensburg, PA.

Because of the traumas of life in Terezín, Weissová-Hosková was forced to mature quickly. Her drawings and paintings bear witness to the events of the Second World War and show what it was like to witness the Holocaust through a child's eyes.

“The exhibit makes me morn inside for the childhood lost,” said Sister Noël Kernan.

With her brushes and crayons she was able to record the everyday cruelty and suffering that was taking place all around her.

“Canukah in the Loft” by Helga Weissova-Hoskova.

“I like the “Canukah in the Loft” drawing because it shows an image of hope that sort of transcends everything else,” said Perman. “Most of the other images don’t show much hope. It’s amazing that even in that situation they were able to celebrate and find some message of hope.”

Weissová-Hosková and her mother survived and returned to Prague, where she studied painting with the Czech artist Emil Filla. Weissová-Hosková lives and is still working as an artist in Prague.

“I thought the exhibit was very informative. The saddest thing is that when I look at these pictures, I think about how there are still people who say that this never happened. It’s very hard for me,” said Mary Levy of Greensburg, PA. “I think its amazing how they tried to keep their families together despite the way they were living. They tried so hard to keep things as normal as possible.”

The exhibit is on display November 1 through November 18, 2007 and is open to the public with viewing hours from Monday through Saturday at 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.