Baltimore photographer Phyllis Arbesman Berger’s powerful new exhibition, “Onderduiker: Hiding in Plain Sight at Amsterdam’s ARTIS Zoo during WWII,” will be presented at Goucher College’s Rosenberg Gallery, 1021 Dulaney Valley Road in Towson, from Apr. 26 to May 28 (Onderduiker is the Dutch term for a person in hiding.)

The exhibition tells the harrowing story of the Jews, resistance fighters and young men who escaped forced labor and owed their lives to the staff at the ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo during World War II

Using infrared photography and lyrical poetry, Berger explores the psychological landscapes of the individuals who daily lived in constant fear. Nazi soldiers loved the zoo and visited daily, not realizing that people were in hiding a wall away. Images and text chronicle the struggles of ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances as they spend time with their memories, take flight with imagination, and experience longing, grief and at times terror.

Located near the Jewish neighborhood of the Jodenbuurt, ARTIS served as a hiding place for 200-300 men, women and children, all of whom survived during their time in hiding. The zoo stayed open throughout the war, and Onderduikers spent months, even years, hidden behind the scenes of animal enclosures in kitchens, attics and stables.

This setting — with its peaceful paths, sculpture gardens and inventive architecture that served as hiding places — provides the stage for telling the stories of the Onderduikers. The photographs and poetry in this exhibition are informed by conversations with the ARTIS Zoo historian, the former director of the zoo (an Onderduiker himself) and groundskeepers during visits over the past seven years.

This exhibition is a collaboration between the artist and students at Goucher College, whose research and writing provide a foundation for understanding the historical context of this work.

• Opening Reception: Apr. 26, 3-5 p.m.
• Artists Talk: Apr. 26, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
• Curator’s Tour: May 23, 1-2 p.m.

For information, visit goucherartgalleries.com/exhibitions.