A mockup rendering of The Button Project.
A mockup rendering of The Button Project.
A mockup rendering of The Button Project.
A mockup rendering of The Button Project.

Please note: the images above are mockup renderings of The Button Project and do not reflect the finished artwork.

About The Button Project

Bristol Community College and its Holocaust & Genocide Center in Fall River, Massachusetts, invited artists and artist teams to submit proposals for a public artwork that incorporates Bristol's collection of 1.5 million buttons, each representing a child murdered in the Holocaust. This project aims to honor the memory of these children and raise awareness about the atrocities of the Holocaust, fostering reflection and education among the community. 

Originally conceived as a community-driven memorial, The Button Project received 23 proposals from artists across the country. From these, three outstanding finalists were chosen, each presenting a unique artistic vision reflecting themes of remembrance, resilience, and collective history.

After a highly competitive selection process, The Button Project selection committee officially accepted artist Zach Horn’s proposal. His design not only honors the stories embedded in the thousands of buttons contributed by community members but also serves as a lasting tribute to the power of remembrance.

The Button Project will serve as a permanent fixture on the Bristol Community College Fall River campus, offering a space for reflection, education, and dialogue. Further details on the timeline for installation will be shared in the coming months.

The Button Project Timeline

See how The Button Project was first imagined and where the project is today.

  • Summer, 2017
    The Button Project's Inception
    Linell Dean, then an administrative assistant at Bristol’s Holocaust and Genocide Center, proposed a button collection campaign inspired by a similar initiative in Australia. Unlike past Holocaust remembrance projects that had utilized stamps or paper clips, this effort uniquely focused on buttons—a humble yet powerful symbol of individuality and absence.
    Linnell Dean and Ron Weisberger with the beginning of the button collection.
  • February 25, 2019
    Bristol's Fine Arts Program Unveils Button Portraits
    Under the leadership of Professor Marisa Millard, student volunteers created powerful button portraits of Anne Frank and Holocaust survivor Stephen Ross, now permanently displayed in the College’s Jackson Art Center.
    Art department chair Marisa Millard and a student standing by a portrait of Anne Frank made from buttons.
  • Summer, 2024
    A Monument to Remembrance
    With the collection of 1.5 million buttons complete, Bristol Community College turned its focus to the future: the creation of a permanent, site-specific memorial. A committee convened in the summer of 2024 to establish criteria for the installation, ensuring it embodies the project’s mission of remembrance, education, and community engagement.
    Buttons of different colors, size, and texture in a pile on the floor
  • September 16, 2024
    Call for Proposals Opened
    Bristol Community College and its Holocaust & Genocide Center invited artists to submit proposals for a public artwork that incorporates the button collection. An international call for proposals attracted submissions from artists and designers worldwide.
  • March 6, 2025
    Zach Horn's Proposal Accepted
    After a highly competitive selection process, The Button Project officially accepted artist Zach Horn’s proposal. His design not only honors the stories embedded in the thousands of buttons contributed by community members but also serves as a lasting tribute to the power of remembrance.
    A rendering of The Button Project
  • March 6, 2025
    Bearing Witness Exhibit Opened
    The Grimshaw-Gudewicz Art Gallery at Bristol Community College is honored to present Bearing Witness: A Sea of Buttons in Memory of the Holocaust’s Youngest Victims.
    Timelapse of buttons being displayed for Bearing Witness.

To Be Continued

Stay tuned for updates on The Button Project's progress.