The Beginning of a Dollmaker
I was deported from Hungary to Auschwitz at the age of 15, where I survived for 7 months. I escaped Auschwitz through a selection by people from the Siemens Company who came to choose girls for slave work in Nurenberg.
They didn't get much satisfaction from me, making time bombs, because I became infested with scabies and had to stay in the barracks.
I was very lonely and depressed. To keep myself occupied, I looked for rags, and from this I made a small doll, a school girl. When the German woman came to distribute the soup, I said to her, "Give me another portion for my baby." She said "Show me!" After this, every day she said to me,"I will give you more food, but make me a doll." This was the beginning of my doll making career. Soon after, news of my talent came to the ears of the Germans, and they brought me the nicest materials to make dolls for them. Through this I managed to save my sister and some of my friends' lives - with the food I earned from trading my dolls. After the liberation I was too busy growing up; going around in circles around the world. After a visit to Hungary, I once again began to make dolls, to cope with the pain of my past. My dolls, my little shetl people, are my little friends. My dolls can be found in museums, galleries and private collections all over the world. A wonderful film was made by Jennifer Resnick about Magda's life that is featured on PBS (Public Broadcasting) in the USA, called the Liberation of the Spirit. The journey of Magda Watts tracing her life back to the Nazi death camps in Poland where she was imprisoned during World War II. I think my life, even today, inspires many people to higher levels, to teach them to, Never Give Up! There is allways hope of survival - even from the most terrible places. My sense of humor helped me through the worst times of my life, it is evident in al my creations. As long as I am alive - I will smile. A friend said about me: - I am still working in my studio in Eilat. You can read more about me in my book "DAFKA"
You are so blessed
God gave you a special talent
That allows you to put your pain
Anger, hurt and misgiving
Into a lumps of clay
Still traveling to America with my collections
And still love life!
for example:
www.look4design
www.wikipédia.hu
www.spiegelonline.de
www.madelinesgallery.com
www.rijo.homepage.de
www.leikur og list
wwww.testimon.de
www.lucienkrief.co.il
hungaryan language
