Showcased in its totality for the first time in the U.S., ”The Wallenberg Series” by Austro-Canadian artist Armand Frederic Vallée was organized to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the disappearance of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg at the hands of the Soviet troops on January 17th, 1945.

”Writers, composers, filmmakers, painters, and sculptors have found Wallenberg’s deeds, courage and values as the point of departure and motivation to create,” highlighted Daniela Bajar from the IRWF when introducing artist Armand Vallée’s work. ”With the opening of this Cultural Space, we hope to provide artists and their pieces the opportunity to tell these courageous stories,” she concluded.

Following Ms. Bajar’s speech, Dr. Mordecai Paldiel, IRWF’s Senior Research Consultant pointed out the importance of finding out what happened to Raoul Wallenberg after he was supposed to hold a meeting with the Soviet military to discuss the fate of the Jewish refuges 65 years ago, but he also stressed that ”perpetuating the memory on this outstanding person’s deeds, is maybe more important than knowing where he was buried. His deeds are going to stay with us and serve as role models of goodness.” Dr. Paldiel also gave a short overview of the cases of rescuers that the IRWF has recently researched, honored and conveyed to Yad Vashem. Some cases have already been honored with the ”Righteous among the Nations” title, others are waiting to be evaluated by Yad Vashem’s commission. ”It is the time to honor the people who saved lives and acted in spirit of Raoul Wallenberg, before it is too late,” Dr. Paldiel concluded.

The program continued with Rebbetzin Judith Friedlander from the Lisker Congregation who gave a touching account on the day when she accompanied her father, the Lisker rabbi, for a meeting with Wallenberg who gave them the Schutz-pass they later on forged, and thus managed to provide the protection for the members of their community. ”I waited 65 years to say ‘thank you’ to this great man,” said Rebbetzin Friedlander, standing in a room full of people and among the paintings that reminded her so much of the Budapest of her childhood.

Created in 1985/86, ”The Wallenberg Series” consists of fourteen paintings that narrate the Swedish diplomat’s quest to save victims. ”The fact that the artist has not been able to finish the last painting of the series seems to speak of his difficulty to cope with Wallenberg’s own unfinished story,” stated the IRWF Founder Baruch Tenembaum, upon studying the paintings.

The series was donated to the Wallenberg Foundation by Liesel Paris, trustee of Mr. Vallée’s estate, following the artist’s passing in February 2009. ”I made it my responsibility to respect Armand’s wish to exhibit ‘The Wallenberg Series ‘at the International Wallenberg Foundation in New York,” stated Ms. Paris.

Backed by the War Refugee Board, an organization that was headed by President Franklin Roosevelt, Raoul Wallenberg traveled to Budapest in 1944 with the aim of rescuing what was left of the Hungarian Jewry. Wallenberg was responsible for the survival of tens of thousands of people before his mysterious disappearance by the Soviet Army on January 17, 1945. Despite several accounts of his status as a prisoner over the years, the Soviet and now Russian government has yet to produce a satisfactory explanation as to Wallenberg’s fate and whereabouts.

”The Wallenberg Series” is the one of the many series of programs designed by the IRWF to promote Wallenberg’s values through art, and is going to be open on weekdays from 1pm to 5pm till January 29th, 2010.

• See the Exhibit
• Picture Gallery

In the spring of 1944, Hitler’s army had annihilated every significant Jewish community in Europe except for the 700,000 Jews that remained in Budapest, Hungary. Plans for the murder of these Jews were being formulated by the notorious Adolf Eichmann. Mass deportations took place daily and the neutral nations along with the Allies felt that the limited number of protection passes being issued was not enough.

The search was on for someone to travel to Hungary under Swedish diplomatic auspices to intervene on behalf of the Jews. In June 1944, the Swedish businessman, Raoul Wallenberg was appointed as Secretary of the Swedish Legation in Budapest. Though Wallenberg had no prior diplomatic experience, he had the ability to persuade and intimidate.

During his six months in Hungary’s capitol, he was responsible for the survival of 100,000 Jews. After the city was liberated by the Soviet Army in January 1945, Wallenberg was arrested by the soviets and never heard from again.

Wallenberg Series #1

Art and text by Armand Frederick Vallée, 1985
Oil on paper, 32” x 40”

The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. Gift of Armand Frederick Vallée’s estate.

These were the last months of World War II. The cities and towns were in ruins, people were killed openly in the streets. Jews were marked and especially harshly treated. Terror, hunger and fear had left a mark on all of them.

There was only one man, one person who openly and courageously dealt with Eichmann…
Raoul Wallenberg stood up against a regime of murderers and helped thousands during these hopeless and dark times.

Wallenberg made the difference then,

We can make the difference today on his behalf.

The Wallenberg Series #2

Art and text by Armand Frederick Vallée, 1985
Oil on paper, 32” x 40”
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. Gift of Armand Frederick Vallée’s estate

The City of Budapest was a place of terror and death during the last years and months of World War II.

Wallenberg was seen everywhere.

Helping and saving people’s lives with his Swedish Schutz-passes (protection pass) many people who survived come forward today and give witness to the facts and bear the message; a message which should ring very loud and clear today:

We can achieve, we can change things, we can make a difference.

Wallenberg was alone against a raging nation and was able to save lives because of his courage and determination. We, as a people together, should be able to difference for his faith.

The monument ”Man Slaying the serpent” was erected by grateful survivors to honor Wallenberg’s heroic efforts (after the war); it was soon dismantled by the Russians. Years later, it was found in the yard of a steal factory in honor of the workers –
no mention of Wallenberg…

The Wallenberg Series #3

Art and text by Armand Frederick Vallée, 1985
Oil on paper, 32” x 40”
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. Gift of Armand Frederick Vallée’s estate

Budapest – The parliament building:

The violence in the land is in full rage. The herding of people, killings in the houses and in the streets, fleeing and searching for help.
The Schutz-Pass (protection pass) is the passport to life for many, and even during these last months of terror.
Wallenberg is still able to fetch people away from the SS and the soldiers while he himself is exposed to imminent danger.

The artist symbolizes this danger with death. In this scene, death plays his czardas on a fiddle close to Wallenberg.

The Wallenberg Series #4

Art and text by Armand Frederick Vallée, 1985
Watercolor on acid free rag, 18” x 24”
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. Gift of Armand Frederick Vallée’s estate

The SS closed the gate to the ghetto,
The SS stood guard outside.
No trade, no food, no medicine could be bought in and
no one was allowed out.

That meant:
Sickness, starvation, no hope for survival.

The Wallenberg Series #5

Art and text by Armand Frederick Vallée, 1985
Watercolor on acid free rag, 18” x 24”
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. Gift of Armand Frederick Vallée’s estate.

Raoul Wallenberg tried to save as many lives as he was able.
He always tried to save the young first.

One witness remembers when he spoke and apologized that he could not save all –as much as he’d wished– he must save the young for a new beginning, for a new generation.

The Wallenberg Series #6

Art and text by Armand Frederick Vallée, 1985
Oil on paper, 24” x 36”
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. Gift of Armand Frederick Vallée’s estate.

The hardship grew,
so did the desperate need for help to survive.

Wallenberg and the staff of the Swedish legation worked continuously to accommodate the increasing number of people who lines up daily in front of the Swedish embassy. (Budapest, Hungary)

The Wallenberg Series #7

Art and text by Armand Frederick Vallée, 1985
Oil on paper, 32” x 40”
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. Gift of Armand Frederick Vallée’s estate.

Ambassador Per Anger worked with Raoul Wallenberg in Budapest and spoke of the horrid, ghastly times.

Rescue missions at train stations, street corners and in the countryside were daily tasks. The organizing of food, medicine, protective passports and lodging in the Swedish ”safe houses” went on and on.

With unbelievable courage and forceful determination, Wallenberg and his staff never gave up, no matter how hopeless the situation looked.

The Wallenberg Series #8

Art and text by Armand Frederick Vallée, 1986
Oil on paper, 32” x 40”
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. Gift of Armand Frederick Vallée’s estate.

Confrontation with the ”Nazi’s” grew angrier and louder.

Wallenberg shouted, redirected, bluffed; and in most cases,
made the impossible happen.

He handed out protective passports and took the people under Swedish protection until emigration could be arranged.

A direct life line to freedom.

The Wallenberg Series #9

Art and text by Armand Frederick Vallée, 1986
Oil on paper, 32” x 40”
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. Gift of Armand Frederick Vallée’s estate.

Raoul Wallenberg’s strength was his courage.
He rescued people openly from SS and the Hungarian Arrow Cross.

He arranged, negotiated and protected whenever possible.

Saving as many people as possible was all that mattered.

The Wallenberg Series #10

Art and text by Armand Frederick Vallée, 1986
Oil on paper, 18” x 24”
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. Gift of Armand Frederick Vallée’s estate.

Human lives were worth nothing.
Especially the lives of the Jewish people.
Gypsies, witness of Jehovah, handicapped people and for that matter, anyone who was opposed Hitler and his regime had lost the right to live.

Old people and children were disposed of without hesitation –
in front of everyone and for all to see.

The Wallenberg Series #11

Art and text by Armand Frederick Vallée, 1986
Oil on paper, 32” x 40”
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. Gift of Armand Frederick Vallée’s estate.

Raoul Wallenberg and the Staff of the Swedish Legation (other foreign legations followed; the Swiss, the Spanish and the Portuguese issued identification papers of a similar sort) were able to save thousands and thousands of people from the death camps.

Still millions vanished on the road,
in unmarked mass graves, by harsh slave labor,
through annihilation and gas chambers.
The monument of Yad Vashem in Israel gives witness of these tragic and dark years in Europe.

Never again.

The Wallenberg Series #12

Art and text by Armand Frederick Vallée, 1986
Oil on paper, 32” x 40”
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. Gift of Armand Frederick Vallée’s estate.

Witnesses are alive,
Witnesses who speak up and tell the facts today!!

All of the people in this painting are survivors of the holocaust.

Some of them were saved by Raoul Wallenberg.
Some still have the Swedish protection pass to show.

Candles are lit in Raoul Wallenberg’s honor.

The Wallenberg Series #13

Art and text by Armand Frederick Vallée, 1986
Oil on paper, 32” x 40”
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. Gift of Armand Frederick Vallée’s estate.

When the Russian army liberated Hungary in 1945,
Raoul Wallenberg was taken into Russian custody and vanished into the Gulag.

Raoul Wallenberg was the hope and salvation of thousands and thousands of people. He represented humanity and dignity during a time when terror, fear and violence ruled. His courage, determination and respect for life made the difference.

It is our duty not to waste any more time. Our determination must go on, must grow even stronger if we are to represent humanity and dignity in our time.

Wallenberg, the humanitarian, must be freed. Now!!

The Wallenberg Series #14

Art and text by Armand Frederick Vallée, 1986
Oil on paper, 32” x 40”
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. Gift of Armand Frederick Vallée’s estate.

This painting is unfinished and shall remain so for the time.

To this day, Russia has not produced a satisfactory explanation as to Wallenberg’s whereabouts.
There is strong evidence that Raoul Wallenberg is still alive after 42 years of imprisonment in Russia.

An Honorary Citizen of Canada,
An Honorary Citizen of The United States of America,
An Honorary Citizen of Israel;
Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat and hero…

is not forgotten.

Armand Frederick Vallée (1921-2009)

Armand Frederick Vallée was born in 1921, Austria, into a family of artists, writers and musicians. Armand received his formal art training and education at the Academy of Fine Art in Munich with post graduate studies at the Academy of Fine Art in Dusseldorf.

After the war, Vallée continued his studies at the Academy of Fine Art in Vienna, and made several trips to Italy, Switzerland, France, and Spain where he painted and exhibited his work. After capturing the Canadian North on canvas, he decided to make Canada his home.

Vallée was known as a master of oil technique and was highly recognized for his watercolors and drawings. He worked in oil, casein colors, gouache, silkscreen, stone print, linocut, pastel, and charcoal.

Vallée’s work on very complex themes and major series has earned him the respect and recognition at national and international level. His remarkable work could be found in museums, galleries, and major corporate and private collections throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Australia, and North Africa. His series of paintings have received special recognition, including honors in the fields of Education and Human Rights. From a deeper understanding of nature and humanity stems the unique expression that is his work.

Through his love for his wife Beatrice, whose parents died in Auschwitz, and his resolution to maintain world peace, Vallée was motivated to create ”The Wallenberg Series.” A great acknowledgment to the diplomat’s contribution to the survival of hundreds of Jews during the holocaust, the series consists of 14 paintings depicting Wallenberg’s heroic efforts. For Vallée, as for many, Raoul Wallenberg became an emblem of our human search for courage and dignity.

Armand Frederick Vallée past away in February of 2009 at the age 87.