Seeing the Site
I was riding my bike down the West Side yesterday afternoon and passed Ground Zero. It's a big construction site these days and, like a typical New Yorker, I just breezed past.
For some reason, this time I noticed the West Street Building on the south west corner and I stopped. I looked at it and I saw it for the first time. It's a landmark building, built in 1905 by Cass Gilbert who also designed my all-time downtown favorite, the Woolworth Building.
While all of the modern buildings round the site are either gone, rebuilt or heavily shrouded, the West Street building was openly wounded. Its Parisian mansard roof is completely draped in black steel mesh. Large pieces of its limestone facade are smashed or cracked off. Its terra cotta tiles, installed for fireproofing, helped to protect it from the burning columns that fell off 2 WTC but took a beating. Ornamental busts around the front door were decapitated. Through the empty windows I could see rubble in what once an elegant interior.
This building was so stately and built to endure. Now, it stands with gaping holes. My instinctive reaction was an angry sadness that the people who did this knew nothing about our city, didn't understand the significance of the history they erased. Not that it would have influenced them. The Taliban well understood the history of the giant Bamiyan Buddhas they dynamited in Afghanistan, when they kicked off the culture wars by destroying some lovely art.But of course who of us understand the history of the buildings our government has destroyed in Afghanistan and Iraq? Not to mention the stories of all those lives erased forever. It's all so shitty.
While our friends in Washington pass the buck, I realized how I have been dulled to the enormity of what has happened to my city and this world. I follow the news closely and yet I have formed a thick carapace to protect me from the effects of all this horror. Noticing that injured building all of a sudden made me disappointed in myself that I had not seen what was right there in front of me, had missed the lesson and the beauty that was lost. So I stayed for a while by its bedside and studied the extent of the damage.
I know I'm not saying anything that isn't trite or been said so often before. But the skies were the same aching blue I remember from that September day and it all came flooding back. I need to see better no matter how it stings.
(If you're enjoying this, and would like to depress yourself even further, check out the tiny movie I made eleven days after 9/11.
P.S. The West Street building is under going gradual renovation and will eventually become expensive apartments, overlooking the banks of the World Trade Center.
A record of my exploration into all aspects of drawing, illustrated journaling, creativity, and the inspiring aspects of art. By the author of "Everyday Matters," "The Creative License", and "An Illustrated Life" and other books.
Comments
I'm a native Noo Yawker who now lives in Florida, but my heart is in NY. I am speechless. Your movie has left me in tears. I now feel stupid about worrying about the laundry and washing my breakfast dishes. :-(
Posted by: Rose | April 28, 2004 08:13 AM
just like your story is a rare gem about a rare (but not uncommon) moment in history, I'm feeling a rare moment of speechlessness, which I suspect you rarely have experienced recently these days.
Posted by: patti Gregory | April 28, 2004 08:39 AM
I have often wondered if you created much art around the time of 9-11 - did you continue drawing through those terrible days? If so, what was the act like? I am thinking that it could either ease the pain or intensify it - there is no way to predict how another would feel. Your movie was very thoughtful and tender, thanks for sharing the link.
Posted by: Karen Winters | April 28, 2004 11:30 AM
Oh Danny,
Even those of us who are very far from your beloved New York still feel 'raw' when we think of 9-11. That was such a touching tribute you filmed. Thank you so much for sharing it with all of us. In fact, thank you for sharing everything that you share with all of your fans on a daily basis.
I really look forward to your postings and your art.
Sincerely,
'Inkmonster'
Posted by: inkmonster | April 28, 2004 01:19 PM
your entry moved me - your movie brought the tears to the surface. i've been terribly emotionally affected by 9/11. my office was in 90 West Street. When I went back for the first time to see what we could salvage on 10/18 it was a shocking experience. the building was in the midst of a massive restoration, millions of dollars had recently been spent. when our policeman guide stepped inside the lobby, he said: "i don't think i should be leaving you here." anxious as we were to see what we had left we quickly brushed him off (actually, we weren't supposed to be there since it was unsafe, but the police really didn't have a clue as to which buildings they could escort people to.) not only was there great destruction from debris, many floors were completely burned out. our office faced the wtc, and suffered a lot of debris damage, but most everything survived. you could see evidence that we were about to go up in flames; the office next door was completely gutted. it makes you wonder. i have a couple of the newsletters that the building management had printed up detailing the restoration and history of the building. the designer of the newsletter was the office next door to ours that lost everything. it really is a beautiful building with quite a history. i'm deeply affected by the tragedy every day as i arrive at the PATH in the pit, and i look every day at 90 West with disbelief. in fact, it's hard for me to wrap my head around. i wish the construction would begin already; i'm hoping that a new beginning will help me to move past the enormous sadness and feelings of disbelief, and terror that i face every day.
Posted by: blue | April 28, 2004 05:15 PM
btw? there was a nytimes article that detailed why 6 WTC collapsed from the fire damage and 90 west didn't; it was all about the construction - built to last, eh?
sadly, two people perished in 90 West on 9/11. they were trapped in an elevator.
Posted by: blue | April 28, 2004 05:19 PM
Blue:
Thank you for sharing this experience. I can only imagine how intense your feelings were. I was on Varick and Houston on 9/11 and we weren't allowed back in the building for days after though we were almost a mile away.
BTW, yesterday I noticed that there were guys moving dumpsters around and a crane seemed to be working so perhaps the renovation is under way.
Danny
Posted by: Danny | April 28, 2004 06:02 PM
A touching piece honoring everyone who lost their lives or were hurt by this tragedy, and to those who made a real difference through their love, support, hard work, and prayers.
Thanks to you, blue and everyone else for sharing their own stories. It is so important not to forget. I won't add mine, but I'd like to say that I think it's not stupid to worry about your daily life (dishes, etc.) because that's a part of living your life. It doesn't negate the tragedy of 9-11 at all if you get wrapped up in some day-to-day struggles or chores.
Sure, you might be inclined to whine a little less, which is good, but I don't think it's stupid...it's normal. :-)
I hope everyone hurt by this event is doing well or at least getting the support they need.
take care.
Posted by: Amy | April 28, 2004 10:46 PM