Ivan's Son Arrives in 1953

Ivan continued to paint when he was not at work, and it did not take long for Ivan’s talent to be noticed in the United States.

Initial recognition was not far off when on July 7, 1952, less than one year after entry to the United States, his photograph appeared on Page B-3 of the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. For weeks ignoring his own safety, Ivan stood on a traffic island at the intersection of South Broad and Pine Streets while he painted a view of Philadelphia’s city hall.

With a deep love for the arts, Ivan faithfully attended the theatre, ballet, films, musical events and art exhibits around the Philadelphia area. He freely discussed and enjoyed being able to socialize with his fellow artisans.

It was the freedom of speech that Ivan had longed for during his life. To discuss the nature and scope of these cultural events without fear of political retribution was a dream come true for Ivan.

It was during the same year, 1952, that Lili finally realized she could no longer support both herself and her son on her own.

In 1953, she sent Arnold to the United States thanks to the Red Cross, but because Ivan was still single, arrangements were made to have Arnold raised by Lili’s mother, Maria Schneider, Arnold’s grandmother.

Ivan Arrives in Philadelphia

Now in America, the 33 year old Ivan’s first temporary address was listed as: Presbyterian, U.S.A. 156 Fifth Avenue, N.Y. 10 N.Y., and his first intended employer was Church World Services located at Blount Avenue and Chapman Highway, Knoxville 15 Tennessee.

His stay in New York lasted only a few days when on Tuesday, September 18, 1951, he left New York City at 3:30 PM on train #177 named The Senator. Ivan arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the 30th Street Station approximately 5:03 PM the same day.

It is believed that a brief residency was established with Reverend A.M. Long, 1203 South 47th Street, Philadelphia, PA. Within a few weeks, he was offered and accepted a job with Newman Art Galleries at 1625 Walnut Street. Like other businesses in the United States, Newman Galleries was more than happy to hire this Russian artist. Artists with similar backgrounds like Ivan worked for Newman Galleries in the hopes of becoming a prominent member of one of America’s most respected artistic communities.

His enjoyment of being in America could not be denied.

Ivan Comes to America

With all of the necessary paperwork in order, Ivan and the new immigrants awaited official word from the American authorities. In August of 1951, confirmation arrived and the immigrants prepared to depart for their new country.

In a surprising turn of events, Lili decided not to depart for America and to keep Ivan’s son with her in Europe. Although saddened by Lili’s decision, Ivan did not allow it to dissuade him from going to this new homeland, the United States of America.

On August 21, 1951, Ivan Garikow sailed to the United States from the German port of Bremenhaven aboard the USNS General Harry Taylor (T-AP145). He arrived in New York City on September 10, 1951 and disembarked on American soil at Ellis Island as passenger #126.

New Papa Ivan Prepares for America

Just two months later, on June 4, 1949, in hopes of going to the United States for total freedom and opportunity, Ivan registered at the Assembly Centre Hellbrunn as a “displaced person”.

In the midst of winter about eight months later, a new person entered Ivan’s life. On February 17, 1950, Lili and Ivan’s only child, Arnold, was born. Even with their newly born son, the incompatibility of their ages and other irreconcilable differences forced their divorce on December 1, 1950. Although the divorce was finalized, Ivan continued to maintain a close personal relationship with his former in-laws.

On June 6, 1951, Ivan applied for a United States Visa (Immigration and Alien Registration #I-517128). One month later, July 5, 1951, he was granted Immigration Visa #2602/72 at the Displaced Persons Visa Office of Salzburg. His last European address was: Barrack #6, Camp Parsch, Salzburg, Austria. His new European Code #161323 now appeared on Master List #79 for resettlement to his newly adopted country.

Along with thousands of others, Ivan’s passage to the United States was arranged by the International Refugee Organization in accordance with the Immigration Act of 1924 and the Displaced Persons Act of June 25, 1948. Among the others accepted for relocation to the United States at this time were his former in-laws, his ex-wife and his son.

Ivan Finds Recognition and Love

World War II finally ended. Ivan survived the early post-war years by painting people’s portraits, farms and homes. Many times he would do the work first and then show it to the property owners. He would trade the paintings for food. Later, he took work as a mason to supplement his income and he furiously continued to paint.

Ivan’s big break came between August 14-19, 1948, when his oil painting, “Salzburg”, was exhibited in the very first and largest art exhibit of it’s kind following World Word II. Hundreds of paintings were shown at this Grosse Austellung.

The directors of the exhibit admired his work so much that they featured it prominently in the vestibule. As his art work started to be recognized, photographic reproductions were also made and sold to tourists as postcards.

In the winter of 1948, Ivan decided to advertise for a model in the Salzburg newspapers. These ads brought Maria Schneider with her two daughters, Lili and Lana, to his studio. During the ensuing months, Ivan became enamored with Lili’s beauty.

On April 6, 1949, just two and a half months before his 31st birthday, an old world, arranged marriage took place. Ivan married Lili who was just sixteen years of age.

A Piece of Charcoal

As a prisoner of war, Ivan asked to speak with the officer-in-charge. Knowing that death was an imminent certainty, he requested a piece of charcoal. The officer granted his request, and upon receiving the charcoal, Ivan proceeded to draw a large portrait of Christ on his cell wall. The officer was so impressed with Ivan’s drawing that he assigned him to a compulsory labor factory in Krems, Austria, rather than to be shipped off to a concentration camp where sure death was waiting.

Suddenly without warning, Ivan was deported to Krems to for the purpose of forced labor. He spent the next four years of his life there as a captive prisoner. He was then sent to the infamous Mausthausen concentration camp where Franz Siereis was in charge. Those close to Ivan say that this evil man was the model for some of Ivan’s darker work.

In March of 1945, Ivan escaped his captors and took a job in a tobacco factory in Sankt Valentin (Lower Austria). This stay was to be short-lived also. Imminent occupation by the Soviet army into Sankt Valentin and vivid memories of his life in the Soviet Union forced him to flee to Salzburg, Austria. Salzburg was occupied by the United States. There he could quite possibly find freedom.

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