All pictures by Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives (ALBA)
The two artists who collaborated on this unusual stories resonate anew today as violent strands of
design, Ann Chamberlain and Walter Hood, were xenophobia and far-right nationalism spread across
chosen after a public competition. The design the world.
provides for a display of archival photographs of
members of the Brigade, both in Spain and the years The monument is not only for us. As veteran Abe
afterward, to emphasize the volunteers’ continuing Osheroff put it at the monument’s dedication: “...
activism throughout their lives. A series of texts I’ll tell you what it’s all about for me. Some day in
accompany the images, including the words of poets the not too distant future, some guy will be walking
Edwin Rolfe and Pablo Neruda, political figures through here with a couple of his adolescent kids,
such as Dolores Ibarruri, and the writers Ernest and one of the kids will say, “Dad, what’s that?”
Hemingway, Albert Camus, and Martha Gelhorn. And this Dad may know the answer. And giving that
Their words convey the anti-fascist principles of the answer is like putting another spark plug into the
men and women who defended the Spanish Republic, vehicle of progress that we’re all engaged in.”
including those who made up the Abraham Lincoln
Brigade.
Unfortunately, the monument is currently in desperate
need of restoration. The elements have been harder
“To make active the process of memory is
on the structure than expected and many of the
perhaps what is the most difficult in art,” noted translucent onyx panels are cracked. ALBA is actively
Ann Chamberlain at the time. She also asserted working toward creating an endowment fund that
that the idea of the monument is to re-infuse will provide for the upkeep and preservation of the
hidden histories with emotional resonance and monument. By looking back, we march forward with
contemporary relevance, becoming much more than confidence and strength. Long live to the members of
a finite physical structure in a specific place. These the International Brigades!
Observing Memories
ISSUE 1
62