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closing thought This closing thought has been brought to you by Jack Becker, artistic director of FORECAST Public Artworks, publisher of the national journal Public Art Review: www.publicartreview.org "Given the scale of the WTC/Pentagon tragedy, and the visceral impact it had on the public via the unforgiving media attention, it is not surprising that there is a groundswell of interest in creating some type of memorial. In fact there are numerous efforts already underway to create memorials, both temporary and permanent to commemorate those who died and honor those who saved lives. There are even projects planned for those who helped (and are still helping) clean up and restore the environment. And it is unlikely anyone would try to stop a well meaning artist, such as Michael Townsend, who travels to the Ground Zero site from Providence almost every weekend to create "tape art" portraits of firefighters up on walls around Lower Manhattan. His art project, using easily removable masking tape, is his way of contributing, and expressing his support of those "in the trenches"." But the folks seeking to erect a permanent memorial to honor those killed (in planes, in the WTC, in the Pentagon, etc.) should exercise patience. They are expressing a knee-jerk reaction to the tragedy, which is understandable and human. Without the objectivity that is only afforded by time, any significant memorial built in the next decade will likely be lacking. The passage of time is a tangible ingredient in memorial planning and design. What we gain from waiting is a hard thing to measure, but it is hard to deny its value. The war on terrorism isn't over yet (in fact, there are some who wonder if it ever will be). How can you sum up the impact? Who decides what is the appropriate response? Who is the audience, and how does it function? For the Capital Mall in DC, there was a 50-year waiting period required before building war memorials. Of course the Vietnam Memorial didn't wait that long (and there were many who were outraged by Maya Lin's minimalist proposal)." There have been four or five major AIDS memorials erected in cities around the world, including San Francisco, Toronto, and Key West, Fla. In most cases the memorials leave room for more names to be added. This has proven to be an administrative challenge, not to mention the challenge to the designer of the memorial. The AIDS Memorial Quilt, a temporary installation sponsored by the NAMES Project of San Francisco, has been unfurled in DC on the Mall - all 70,000 quilts together on the ground. But the Mall is too small now for the entire Quilt, since its size has sadly outgrown the space. Like the Quilt serving those touched by the AIDS epidemic, there is a need to help people deal with the September 11 tragedy. This need will not go away by erecting a permanent structure, so it makes sense to encourage small- and large-scale temporary efforts to allow people a relief valve. This is already evident in the overabundance of flags displayed every which way across the country." Each of us has a need to express ourselves, and, as the AIDS Quilt clearly demonstrates, you don't have to be an artist to participate in a major public art memorial. The more of these thoughtful and creative efforts we can encourage, the better. It is likely that the results of these ephemeral commemorations will help us to know eventually what the permanent memorial should become."
your thoughts Jack Repenning - Santa Clara, CA Jack Becker has exactly captured my feelings. This morning, I received email containing a picture someone had created, portraying a possible memorial. I don't know whether this is some real proposal, or just someone's afternoon in Photoshop, but it's certainly striking: a night-time picture of the city skyline, on an exposure long enough to show colors. The Statue of Liberty rises just right of center, well lit yet sillouhetted by the glare of Times Square. The whole of Manhattan spreads its lights and towers over the horizon. And rising just to the left of center are two pillars of light, reaching up to mark where the two towers of the Trade Center once stood. I'm ambivalent about this image. The events are tragic, and deserve some memorial, certainly. But somehow this particular image seems ... oh, I don't know ... ghoulish, or something. It's not a memorial so much as a ghost. It looms far larger over the city that the towers themselves ever did. It's made of light, and the composition draws the light of the whole skyline into it -- somehow, the vigorous, energetic life that still remains in the city is drawn in and converted to ectoplasm, to fuse into this ghost of what was and will never return. This is not the right memorial, somehow; these are not the right responses -- at least not for a permanent memorial. Picking the right one may require some distance. Inga - Norfolk, England For many, the tragic disaster of September 11 symbolised the west's disregard of poverty in the rest of the world, just as the twin towers themselves symbolised the vulgar ostentacious way in which many of us live. The attacks may have been evil, but who are we to complain about hearts-and bodies-crying out in anguish as their children starve to death. Any memorial had best be comforting, uplifting (glass to walk on covering illuminated water in a plain empty square but for the trees and shade and seats to sit and reflect.) No-one should be named. Endless numbers of people have given their energy and lives over time. Any written memorial should best provoke thoughts on the fact that we are now a world that has to live caring for everyone in it, in a practical, active and unselfish way. That would be the best memorial. Justin Raymer - Gideon, MO As I look through the opinions of the people I see their ignorance as they let culture and/or religion play apart in the construction of the memorial. But some like the open minded Nahid Mahdavi see that the memorial should represent all countries who fell during the 9/11 attacks. This brings to mind the idea of Becca Morgan from Rochester Hills, MI which I think represents the world as a whole during the bombings. Danielle - United Kingdom, England, Sheffield I totally agree with evrething u hav sed, luv ur article. Stephen Royster - Reidsville, NC I'm a Urban planning major at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. I think they should rebuild the twin towers just as tall as they were or even taller letting the uncivilized world know that we will go on with our lives. But I think a giant transparent apple that changes color throughout the day which symbolizes emotions felt in regards to the tragedy. I think only building a cluster of buildings or just having a garden there is showing defeat. I'm sorry but the people that perished there are gone. We must go on with our lives just as the people of England, Germany, and Japan did. 16 acres in NYC is too precious to waste especially in the financial district which makes it even more valuable. I say rebuild the twin towers but this time do it in a different way for example---Singapore they have the tallest buildings in the world. Also connect the twin buildings with some time of bridge but also in corporate gardens on the proberty. Don't just use the whole 16 acres for a garden... D.G. Lemeh - University Park, PA In my opinion, one of the most prolific artist of the 21st century is Maya Lin. Her ability to touch our lives by expressing through the medium of sculpture the depths of human emotion is profoundly moving. Both the Vietnam Memorial and the MLK, Jr. memorial both speak to her abilities to express the out pouring of human tragedy, however, provide those left behind with some feelings of HOPE! In my opinion, if anyone should be asked to share in the memorializing of this event, then it should be Maya Lin. Tammy - Tampa, FL I think that they should let the kids of new york to come up with ideas then you are let them be apart of something that was such a tradegy that you are letting them rebuild themselves. Plus gives them feel of accomplishment to remember their loves one. Carol LeBaron - Elizabethton, TN I believe that the items recovered and brought to Fishkill should be used and recycled in whatever is built at the Trade Center, as found object/art/utilitarian sculpture/space. It should be a place of use as well as retreat, a place of beauty and hope as well as a reminder. I don't think we should make the mistake of something slick and corporate. Incorporate the broken Rodins, the twisted fire engines... Aaron Collins - Burbank, CA The most poignant memorial would be integrated into space that is reclaimed, re-vitalized, and above all, functional according to its original purpose. Had I been a victim, I would have resented turning excessive space over to any memorial: Use of this site should NOT be redetermined as a result of terrorist acts. Integrate this memorial into a useable facility. Dave - Duluth, MN The memorial could be two towers of the same height as the old ones, only shells, made of steel and plexiglas, and an elevator or elevators would carry you up to the floors where the planes hit and the memorial would be on those floors. Lighting and a chapel would be there and the spirit of the the towers would live on for all to see. Emily - Corpus Christi, TX I loved the two lights that were placed on the site of the World Trade centers. It was perfect and added a beautiful touch to the night sky. Jessica Fish - Chatsworth, CA Having been to Hiroshima and its memorial, I think the WTC memorial should be designed by an artist from New York. I am grateful that the spirit of the event can be expressed through art. I especially like what I've seen done in glass - http://www.glastar.com/gallery/2002/jan2002_panel.html Crystal Brown - Boise, Idaho The World Trade Center Twin Towers should be re-built no matter what the cost. To commemorate the thousands of lives lost in this tragedy, we should build the foundation, and possibly the first level (lobby area) of the new towers from the fallen ones we once knew. Inscribed on the blocks, inside and out, we should place the names of every life taken that day. This will not only commemorate the heros but it will also keep the American spirit of renewal and continuation alive. We must find a way to move on and respectively remember those lives lost that awful day. Jacki - Abington, MA i dont know who should design this but i do think it should not just recognise the firefighters, yes they were heros but you cant tell me that workers in the towers wernt heros, at least one had to turn back to save a friend, a coworker, a loved one. what about the janitors or security guards that died that day. firefighters were not the only ones who lost there lives. thousands of familys lost loved ones who were also just doing there job and were at the wronge place at the wronge time. david o'quin - venice, ca me, david o'quin, i have a design already in mind inspired by the late james lee byars. Terry Raymond - Gideon, Mo The tragedy of 9/11 was shocking to alot of people, but it was bound to happen sooner or later. to say that one person should be responsable for a memorial is a joke to this person. this event brought the U.S. together in brother-hood. artist for this project should do the same. by joining the ideas of all these fine artist will show greater promise for the project. the artist should come together as we have as a nation. it would be stateing something greater than one person could ever say alone. Michael Zachery - grants pass, oregon Yes, I think there should be a memorial. The memorial should commemorate the police and firefighters as heros, but it should also commenorate the civilian people who lost their lives. I have my own idea of a monument for the site, which would depict the souls of the people lost. Thank you for allowing me to make a statement. Olivia - missoula, montana i think there should be a building in the center of that area that is big and beautiful and has every single picture and name of all that passed in that terrible tragedy hung on the walls. I think that that building would allow other building to be built around it and for new york to start becoming new york again, but still have a spot to remember all that happend by a single building that you could walk into any time and see all those faces, names, and families that lost loved ones i think that would be a great memorial. thats just an idea thought! bless you all. much love Heather Swartz - Missoula, Montana I believe that the WTC memorial should not address specific persons but rather all of those who are victims of terrorism everyday. The memorial should represent the fight for tolerance. My personal idea is to perhaps engrave faces of different nationalities into the ground in a circle shape, surrounding the flag found at ground zero. diana - hyannis, ma I think there should be another building put in it's place as a sign to our attackers that we can rebuild and be strong again. I also think a memorial in the first floor or outside that building would be a good memorial. I don't think there is any urgency. I think as a nation and culture we tend to want to do instead of just greive and feel our feelings. This attack has hit everyone hard. I would also want to know what the people who lost loved ones think. It should be there decision and maybe some of them could get together and design a fitting memorial. Ron Haase - Melrose, FL A memorial on the site of the World Trade Center should be etherial and spiritual, not architectural. Space and light. Earth, Water, Fire and Wind. Randy Harrison - Chesapeake VA As one born and raised in Brooklyn I feel that part of the distinct lower parts of the building should in some way be a part of the memorial. I will never forget the impact of the church ruin I saw in the middle of modern rebuilt Berlin Germany. Any artist selected would be able to incorporate this into their concept if they are a visionary. Don't erase the memory of the destruction. The future generations need to see and remember and work to never see this again. Cew - El Reno, OK Yes, a memorial is certainly in order. I live near Oklahoma City and the memorial there has been meaningful and healing in so many ways for everyone. We observe people from all over the world coming to pay respects and honor. And then there is a terrorist center that was developed which gives an entirely new dimension -- studying how to prevent terrorism even before 911. The area has been designated at US Park and this means that all of the US owns and feels it -- not just OKC and OK people. And the surrounding downtown that experienced so much damage is rebuilding some the same some new and life goes on. The man and woman team who designed the OKC memorial have the experience and clearly a compassion for the meaning. Consider them first to do the one in Manhattan or at least lead the team of folks who design it. Life goes on -- but the exact spot where so many people died should be held sacred and used as a place for reflection, remembering, learning, and healing. DJ Shadeaux - Davison, Michigan My dj friends and I was so moved by this tragedy that we developed a cd to support the city of New York and the Red Cross. I did not lose any relatives in the tragedy. However, I do believe I met one victim at my workplace two weeks before she died on the plane that crashed into the first tower. Her name was Tara Creamer. She does not live in Michigan. I cannot prove this but for some strange reason I remember looking at her ID name card. I thought Tara was an unusual name you don't hear everyday. Plus, her last name is Creamer. I wanted a cup of Irish cream coffee really bad that night but I did not get any. Strange but true. (http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/307/new_york_benefit.html) Emma - Shamong, NJ I think that the New York occurence is a terrible but at the same time a beautiful thing. It's terrible in that we are missing many people in a battle that they weren't even apart in, but it shows how strong, supportive, and loving the people of the United States are. Katherine Knetzger I think there should be a sculpture of some kind--A Circle of people holding hands or a peace sign- something signifying world unity for peace Christopher Littleford - Los Angeles, CA There are incredible consequences to be understood with any endeavor as charged as a monument to the WTC disaster. It's an absurd notion to choose an architect by name or celebrity status alone. Maya Lin is without a doubt the foremost in memorial design. She has championed ideas of tangible rememberance. However the beauty of the process of her Vietnam Memorial had as much to do with the democratic apparatus that was set in place as the design itself. The power should lie in the work, we should resist our monumental inpmulses and devote ourselves to a flexibility that will be necessary for coming generations. We cannot erase or replace that which was erased for us. However, we can speak to those citizen's memories and reflections of those they loved and those they lost. Robert Colborne - Attica, IN A sculptural garden filled with abstract sculpture would stimulate tourism and abstract forms could suggest any race, religeon, ethnicity or nation. It would confirm who we are, our culture and our history. The sculpture garden would validate the nation's leadership in art. Jacques Bakke - Lander, Wyoming Twin Towers should be re-built. KL - Cologne, Germany Rebuild the "house ur" of the German artist Gregor Schneider, the winner of the Golden Lion of the Venice Bienal 2002. The house represents the psychological constitutions which make things like the 11th september possible. Don´t take any American artist - it is no time for patriotism. Bruno Stroebl - Oakland, CA It should be a quiet site, devoted to peace and non-violence. I don't believe a physical structure should memorialize the dead. The act of walking up to a monument and reading the epithet and names is too specific a thing/activity; it would serve to exploit the dead. The suicide attacks meant something a little different to everyone. Future visitors to the proposed park should be left to their own emotions; names and dates and monuments just won't do. J.Engle - Pueblo, Colorado I personally think that there should be more than one artist to work on a 9/11 memorial, because it really struck America as a whole, and it cannot be said that any one artist represents America as a whole. It is hard to work with other people, but in order to move on we need to find that ability within ourselves, and I think that the proposed memorial should do that also, show teamwork and American Multiplicity. Carol - Vancouver, British Columbia I love the idea of a large beautiful garden, and the Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia immediately come to mind. They were built in a quarry and have come to erase the terrible scars upon the earth made by those early excavations. It will be a difficult task to arrive at the final decision for the memorial. Christopher Kohan, President - The Victor D'Amico Institute of Art I think the World Trade Center Memorial should not be a memorial. The thousands of people who died should be commemorated by two 110 storey buildings, with offices, elevators, restaurants, lounges, bathrooms, shops, the view, etc. The buildings should be rebuilt as they were. The thousands of people who died were simply going about their daily business, as we are doing today. The creation of this "auspicious" monument, should not be a judgment. This is not a war. We are at a loss of thousands. They should have gone back to work the following day. We and those to follow should do the same and commemorate the continuation. Jerry Parmet - Scarsdale, NY Selecting a name artist is not the way to go. To open this opportunity to ALL artists is the democratic way. Why shouldn't everyone that wants to enter his concept be allowed to? Name artists already have made their mark. It's time for a newcomer to be honored. So some sort of competition should be set up, as was the Vietnam memorial which made a name for Maya Lin, and let a distinguished panel select the appropriate piece to suit the selected site. I do believe this memorial should be set central to any and all new buildings erected in the area. I do not agree that the entire site be used just for a memorial. I also believe the memorial should reflect all those that perished in the buildings whether they are firemen, policemen or employees of the firms that had leases in these properties. Our uniformed services have been honored very well. It's now time to honor those who were victims of this tragedy. Theda - Seattle, WA Thank you for your invitation to comment about a memorial to the victims of September 11th. I would not like to see another Twin Towers or other high rise office building. I would love to see a non-political, non-nationalistic memorial park which used art and nature to somehow represent all of the victims and their countries. Noelle Newton - Columbus, OH Please establish somewhere that people can submit formal proposals for the memorial. Although I have great respect for Maya Lin, it is important that others be given the same chance she had. While many of the ideas expressed in this forum are important, it seems foolhardy to propose projects in this format where they could be misunderstood, and possibly copied. If there is somewhere to send proposals, please publish the address. Jessica - Rochester, MI September 11,2001 was a tragic day in our history and will always be remembered. I live in Rochester Hills Michigan and attend Adams high school. I use to live in New York and it really makes me sad that this happened to our country. In my art class we are making a paper sculpture of what we want the memorial to look like. Of coarse I do feel someone who is a famous artist should do the job. I really like the holocaust memorial but I think something more open would be good for 9/11 such as a pool of water with beautiful lights shining down on it at night with flowers and trees from all over the world surrounding it. On the ground there should be a plaque with everyone‚s name and colored picture, and I mean everyone especially the firefighters and police officers that lost their lives to save others. This should have thick glass covering it so people can walk on it. I think that would be beautiful and it would really comfort the families who lost dear ones. But don‚t forget a memorial in Pennsylvania. Dave Fuller - Rochester Hills, MI In our fundamentals of art class, we have been studying monuments. Some of my favorites are the Vietnam Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the recent Fireman Memorial. I find it unfortunate that the Fireman Memorial was not built because of disagreement of ethnicity. Another idea that I liked was the Memory Medallion (www.memorymedallion.com). Using new technology, the medallion would store information about a person. Using your palm pilot, you could find out information about the person simply by waving your wand over the medallion. In our art class, we have been designing monuments for the recent September 11 tragedy. My project borrows from the Vietnam Memorial, and the Fireman Memorial. My idea for a memorial is to honor all of the children who lost parents in the September 11 tragedy. A wall would be built similar to the Vietnam Memorial. All the names of parents of children would be put on that wall. Underneath each name would be a Memory Medallion with information about each parent lost. Kristen Godin - Rochester Hills, Michigan My art class at Rochester Adams high school is in the process of designing and making small models of possible monuments for the World Trade Centers and or the Pentagon. I would like to share my idea with all of you and see what you think. I think there should be circular steps surrounding a large fountain. The steps should be circular because then it would be easily accessible for people coming from any which way. It would make it less crowded also, since people would not have to come in from only one way. The fountain should be beautiful and big, as to not forget about what a tragedy this has been for us all. In the fountain there should be clear, pipe like pointy things with red, white, and blue lights in them to turn on at night. That would make things very pretty and show our American pride. On the sides of the circular steps there should be miniature WTC's with the names of the known people who did not survive this attack engraved in the sides so that all can reflect on the families that have been changed forever. Whatever the monument looks like, and whoever designs it, no matter what the out come we must make it so none would ever forget the day of 9-11. Jessica Noelle Chatman - Rochester, MI Hello. My name is Jessica, and I attend Rochester Adams highschool. They have a great art department. I believe that memorials should be built in the memory of those innocent people who past away. In my art class I am doing the world trade centers crumbling down all into a large hand. This hand might just be any hand to some people But to me it is GOD hand. And what my drawing means to me is that "He's got the whole world in his hand". And that's the most powerful hand in the world. In my art class we looked at some amazing monuments, such as Sadako, and JFK's. I really liked the way the JFK monument had the eternal flames, it really sparked up the drawing. All though I didn't get any ideas from these monuments but I thought they were great. Becca Morgan - Rochester Hills, MI My class is doing a monument design project for the 9/11 tragedy. We have researched many memorials to get some ideas. Some ideas that I thought were good were the eternal flame in Arlington, the water pool at the Oklahoma bombing memorial, and the Vietnam memorial with all the victims names inscribed on the wall. I think the memorial should have 2 platforms with steps leading down to a center with a glass building statue in the center. Because there are two platforms, each represents one of the twin towers. There would be the same number of steps as the number of floors. Victim's names would be inscribed in rows on the steps. In the center of the glass statue would be a eternal flame and on the outside would be a calm water pool. I also think that surrounding the memorial should be flags of the countries that lost people in the 9/11 tragedy. Peter Mikhjian - Rochester Hills, MI My name is Peter. I am in an art class, which is currently studying monuments. We are designing what we think that the September 11th monument should look like. We are supposed to draw a monument we feel should symbolize September 11th, and to build it. In order to do this, we used the Internet to look at other monuments and to see what about them really impresses us. One of my favorite monuments is a monument about the Holocaust. The thing about this monument that caught my eye is the flame. I think flames are very significant in a monument because to me, flames symbolize conquering a hardship. My design for September 11th includes a fountain with a still pool of water to symbolize how the day started out, and a spout of fire on top of the pool of water to show how violently the day ended. The fountain will rest upon a pentagon, representing the plane that hit the pentagon. Around the fountain will be grass and trees to make it a good place for people to visit. I want to turn it into a small park. Lauren Ornazian - Rochester Hills, MI After the events of September 11, 2001, the idea of a memorial has come to mind to many Americans. In my Art class, we have been studying many different types of monuments and are soon ready to create one of our own for the Attack on America. Some of my ideas for my memorial came from the WWII memorial and the holocaust memorial. I liked both of these because of their creativity. My memorial is going to be similar to the eternal burning flame of the holocaust and the JFK memorial. It is an eternal burning flame to represent the souls of the people that past away from the September 11 events. It will be surrounded by a marble base in the shape of a circle with all the names of the people that died imprinted in the marble with gold. My memorial will stand surrounded by a bed of red, white and blue flowers to symbolize the values of America and to show spirit and freedom. Elizabeth Dalton - Rochester Hills, Michigan For the past week, my art class has been coming up with ideas to create a memorial for the September 11th Attacks on America. In order to prepare for this we looked online at many different memorials, such as the JFK Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial and memorials for WWII. They were all very nice. They were simple enough but they encompassed what happened so all these years later, people can still look at them and know what happened. After viewing the memorials, it was easy to come up with a memorial for the September 11th Attacks. The memorial I made consisted of two pillars, representing the World Trade Centers. A sign that says, „United We Stand‰ connects them. In between the two pillars is a large structure in the shape of a pentagon to represent the Pentagon in Washington D.C. Each structure has an American flag on it to show the heart at patriotism of America. The memorial that is finally constructed for the September 11th attacks should not be a glitzy memorial. Michelle Paulsell - Rochester Hills, Michigan In my fundamentals of art class we have been designing monuments for the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. We have been looking at many different monuments. We have looked at the Holocaust, JFK memorial, the Oklahoma City memorial and memorials for WWII. One thing that I thought was a good idea was in the JFK memorial, there was a flame burning at the edge of the site. It was very symbolic to his family and to his life. At the WWII memorials there were many American flags, this showed that the United States fought in the war and that we still stand today. My memorial is going to be made of all pearl Marble. It will consist of two replicas of the World Trade Center (smaller) surround by the outline of the pentagon. It will have two flat American flags on both sides made of flowers. The top part will have a waterfall surrounded by lights. Surrounding the entire memorial will be a black gate and on the front will read the words "I love New York", and the back will list the names of the people who died. Katier Gill - Rochester, MI Right now I am in fundamental arts and am working on a monument project for the Twin Towers. We have been studying monuments for the past week and now we will be making actual paper monuments. For my monument idea I have been looking on the Internet for other monuments to get ideas on what to do. Monuments that I‚ve seen online is the JFK‚s and I like the stones, Sadako‚s monument in Japan with all the paper cranes. My design includes a beautiful waterfall and a temple monument of the Twin Towers. And a streaming river with flowers. Marshall - Rochester, MI My name is Marshall Stephens and I am a junior from Rochester Adams High School in Rochester, MI. My sixth hour Fundamentals of Art class is designing different ideas for a monument to honor and remember the people killed and their families as a result of the tragic attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11th. We have studied several other monuments throughout the United States such as the JFK Memorial, and the Oklahoma City monument. I think that water fountains are a good idea, such as the ones used for the Oklahoma City monument. They are very comforting and would mean a whole lot. My basic idea for the monument is to construct a huge statue of the trade center and surround it with bushes, shrubbery and fountains. It is a very simple concept, and says a whole lot. I feel that it would honor those affected by the attacks. Names could be engraved on the statue as well. A monument is an important thing so that people don‚t forget the past. Stephanie - Rochester, MI I am a student at Adams High School in Rochester Hills, MI. We have been given an assignment to create a monument for the tragedies that happened on September 11th. We have been looking at a variety of other monuments already put up in memory of something or someone. A monument that I found very interesting was the one put up in memory of the Oklahoma City bombing. In my design for the World Trade Center's memorial I decided to put two large, tall blocks of black marble with all the names of those who died engraved into it. The blocks would be representing the World Trade Center. Then in between the two blocks, which would be separated a little would be a waterfall that would then flow into a little pond at the bottom. The pond would have a small island in the center of it with all the flags from the countries where the people were from in the World Trade Center. Lisa Fouladbash - Rochester Hills, Michigan In my art class we have recently been constructing our own versions of what we each think the WTC monument should look like. To accomplish this, I‚ve been studying other monuments for ideas of what to put in my own. I have seen many good ideas, such as reflecting pools, and an ever-burning fire at the Holocaust museum. After much thought, I finally came up with my design; a smaller version of the twin towers, painted in red, white, and blue, for starters. Centered in front would be a smaller pentagon shape with an eternal flame burning in it. An eagle would be flying, own wing on each tower, and its claws would be holding an American flag. I believe a monument somewhat like this one would have a profound effect on anyone who looks at it and would be a creative way to commemorate those who died in 9/11. Jessica Parker - Rochester, MI Hello! The monument I am building is a symbol for September 11th, in my highschool art class.. It is a flag that will have all the people who have died names on it. I have looked at several monuments as examples such as the raising the flag monument, like the men who did so at Iwo Jima and at the world trade center. These gave me the idea for a giant flag. I have looked at several monuments for ideas such as the Sadako Statue in the center of Hiroshima‚s Peace Park. The elements of my design include, a pool of water, a flag made of polished granite, and lots of trees and plants surrounding it. I hope that people will see the symbolism in my monument! Elise Salerno - Rochester Hills, MI Hi, Right now I am in school working on a project for my fundamentals of Arts class in 6th hour. We are studying monuments of people who have died in wars. The project we are working on is designing a monument for the events of September 11. It has to deal with either the Pentagon or the World Trade Centers. I designed a monument for the World Trade Centers. Some of the monuments I saw were very, very creative and interesting. Some of them that I saw were the ones for John F. Kennedy Jr., Vietnam, World War 2, and many other ones. The very creative monuments had flames in the middle, reflecting ponds, statues, sculptures, stones, buildings, Sadako‚s monument with the thousand paper cranes. My monument is a memorial for the people of September 11 in the World Trade Center. I drew a picture of the two buildings and in the middle of it I have three fire fighters joining hands. Then above it, it has a flag and written in the flag it says, "United We Stand." We are building these monuments on paper and making structures. Katie Pittel - Rochester, MI I think at a time where the United States of America faces the threat of war, a monument which honors the people who died in the initial attack is essential. The monument should be simple, nothing too fancy or flashy, but it should be a constant reminder of those who perished in the WTC and Pentagon attacks. We should use some of the debris from the WTC in whatever monument is built as a reminder of the mass destruction that occurred. But it would also symbolize reincarnation, because the rubble and debris was used to create something beautiful. Jessica - Rochester Hills, MI In my art class in Rochester Hills we are doing a project about monuments. Right now we are all designing a monument for the World Trade Center. We all have many great ideas about what we should do. I would love to tell you about mine. First I would like to say I have been looking at other monuments for ideas. I saw many great ones like the J.F.K in Arlington, VA. memorial with the internal flame it was a great idea. My personal favorite is the Oklahoma City memorial of the bombing that happened there. I like how they have a reflecting pool and trees. My favorite part about the memorial is the chairs they have 9 rows of chairs for the 9 floors on the building, then they have little chairs for the little kids that died. So for my design I decided to have a reflecting pool, a big one. Then there will be tile around it, and the pool could over flow over the tile. Then in the middle of the reflecting pond or pool there is an American flag coming out of the water and its at half mass. Andrea - Rochester Hills, MI At my high school, we have been given an assignment to create a monument for the victims of either the World Trade Center or the Pentagon. I have looked at other monuments to get some ideas. I liked the idea of having a water pool, just like the Oklahoma City memorial and also I liked the eternal flame in the John F. Kennedy monument. For my design, I have decided to make a pool of water. On the bottom of the pool will be a piece of glass with all the names of the victims that suffered and died in the World Trade Center attacks. Underneath the glass will be a white light to light up the pool. Inside the edges of the pool will be the flags of all the countries that united during this tragic time. Leading up to the pool will be marble stairs on all four sides of it. A big bouquet of colorful flowers could be in each corner of the stairs. This is my idea for a monument to remember those who innocently suffered. Patrick Farkas - Rochester Hills, MI In my art class, we‚ve been creating models of our own WTC memorials. We had researched other memorials, such as the JFK gravesite, and the Oklahoma City memorial. Popular items include flowing water, and fire. Most memorials used these, as a sign of life. Using ideas like this, and some of our own, we were assigned to design our own. My monument would be simple, but not just a statue or some corny banner. I would start with a basin, 8‚x 8‚ in the shape of a pentagon. Everyone remembers the Trade Center, but not the pentagon. In that basin, I would put two towers, (typical) with water flowing from the top, into the pool. The towers would be made of glass and wood, so you could light the inside, and that‚d be pretty cool. In front of the two towers, just above the water, I would have two memorial flames. A deciduous tree in the background might accent it as well. I don‚t believe that we should put the names of the victims on it, because it wasn‚t an attack on just those people, but an attack on the country, and I don‚t think we could fit all of their names on one statue. Sean - Rochester Hills, MI What happend on September 11, 2001 is a very tragic event that effected people across the world. Due to this event I believe that there should be a memorial built in the memory of those innocent people who died. For an art class I am in we are going to build model memorials that we believe is a great idea. We looked at other monuments for ideas such as the JFK's, Holocaust and Sadako monuments. A great idea that I got from JFK's monument is that they put an eternal flame to represent them. Another idea is that I got when I saw the Firefighter Statue, was reminded me of the American Eagle and what they stood for. Which was to help out are country and people that need help. For my memorial I am having the 2 towers with each and every country's flag that had people that got killed or injured in the WTC attack. Then in the front of these towers there will be a statue of an American Eagle indicating where this event took place and when. Dave Knoph - Rochester Hills, MI I think that the world trade center memorial should express the sorrow felt from the tragedy but also express a feeling of unity. It should symbolize the fact that people came from all over the nation to help in new york city. I think that it is a great human accomplishment and it shows the unity of the united states citizens. It shows that we all care and want to help for a cause. I think that the picture of the three firemen would be a perfect addition to united states monuments. a bronze statue made into the firemen would show unity through the three men raising the flag and show tragedy because the men had just seen something so tragic. Chris Cole - Rochester Hills, MI I am an artist student at Rochester Adams High School in Rochester Hills, MI. My feelings about what should be done at the world trade center our very deep and complex. I our first assignment in my art class was to draw a memorial for either the world trade center or the pentagon. I chose to draw the two towers w/ American flags going down the sides half way and then the #'s 9-11-01 on the other half. I think something should be done at the world trade center to remember and honor those who lost their lives. Dan - Rochester Hills, MI Hello my Name is Dan Martini, I am taking a fundamental art class as a required class to graduate from High school. Our first assignment was to create a memorial on the world trade center. My memorial was a reflecting pool, in the bottom of the pool was a picture of a the world trade center. The idea came from a picture I saw of the Washington monument reflecting in the reflecting pool in Washington DC. the look of coming looking at the world trade center through water was like looking back into time, at the building as it used to be. a look through a clear pool of tranquil water at the building before the abrupt violent end of the building all the lives, and the feeling of security in America. Lauren - Rochester Hills, MI I think a good monument for the September 11th would show something on America ! Like United we stand cause we all had to go through this tragedy and we stood by New York to get through this time cause the way I think of it America is like a Big family and when something happens you stand by your family and we stood together ! I also think it should have the names of the heroes who lost there life to September 11th cause they were the ones who had tried to save those in danger and they lost there life for others ! So the best monument would be representing everyone in America cause we all had to go this and I think this tragedy didn't make us weaker it made us stronger ! If you think about it before the tragedy people just walk around not thinking of anyone else but them self and then when the tragedy hit you saw other people helping each other out ! well that's pretty much it bye Ashley - Rochester Hills, MI I think the best idea to create a World Trade Centers memorial, would be to get many artist to work together, to make the best possible tribute to those lost. They could collaborate their ideas to make the most effective memorial. Then once they have a set plan, and all their ideas together one of the artist could build the monument. Since September 11th, the United States flag, has been the most symbolic of those lost and having pride in our country. Because of this, I think a flag should defiantly be put into the memorial. Christine - Rochester Hills, MI In my opinion, there definitely should be a memorial for the victims of September 11th, but the memorial should not be placed where the World Trade Center was built. It should be in another location yet not too far away. My vision for a memorial is just a simple pavilion built in a public place. This way, all people could enjoy its beauty and remember the tragedy. There should be a stone base to the pavilion to represent the strong foundation on which the United States of America is built, and it should be easily accessed by the public representing how the United States welcomes other cultures. Christine - Rochester Hills, MI I think they should make a monument that reflects the true meaning of all the heroes in American that helped out with September 11, 2001. The heroes would be all the firefighters and police officers that died trying to help and safe others. When my art class made monuments I made one that had the twin towers with an American flag across them. The American flag would be put in with glass like the windows on the building and look like a reflection. Then at the bottom on the bass all the heroes were listed in the stone/marble. It will show all the patriotism in everyone across the nation. Elizabeth - Rochester Hills, MI I think that the best memorial for the World Trade Center event should include a statue of the twin towers. Perhaps around the statues or maybe in tile that makes up the statues, should be names of the people who lost their lives in the event (Like the ones in the Oklahoma memorial.) There should also be something to represent the firemen who saved the people of our nation. I think that a good idea would be to have a reflecting pool, like the one in Washington D.C., but instead of having a monument being reflected in the water we should have a huge American flag being reflected into the water. I think that this would be important because of all of the patriotic acts since the event, which represented our nation. Karl Daniel - Rochester Hills, MI In our art class we are studying about memorials for the tragic event that happened on September 11, 2001. As I sat there thinking about what people could possible do to make a memorial for all the lives taken in this event, I came up with the idea of an everlasting flame similar to the one at the Kennedy site. This memorial will sit upon a brick road. Each of these bricks will symbolize how many people died in the tragic event. The burning flame will burn out of a a stand made out of marble with water around the flame. On the marble there would be placed sayings and memories of people died. One saying on the marble stand would be I am proud to be an American. The other would be United We Stand. These are just some of my idea's of what we the people could do to make a memorial for the NYC tragic event, also along with the Pentagon. Jenny Roll - Rochester Hills, MI I think that a memorial at the world trade center would mean a great deal to many people. There have been many ideas and discussions on this topic already. The famous photograph of the 3 fireman holding up the American flag was a wonderful idea for a monument. However, there as people have viewed this differently. I think that these 3 firefighters should be recognized in this monument. They do not have to be of any race or nationality. It does not matter, we are all Americans. I think that this picture should be used as an idea for a monument. They should be placed on a base that has steps leading up to them. The steps would represent the steps in the world trade center, because sadly many people died trying to escape. I got this idea through a personal experience. A family friend made it out alive just in time going down the stairs. This memorial should have the names of everyone who was lost in this tragedy. It should have an effect on everyone and will mean a great deal to a lot of people. Amanda - Rochester Hills, Michigan I think that the World Trade Center memorial should be designed by the families of those who lost a loved one in this tragedy. On this memorial there should be the names of those who were lost, their occupation and birthday. There should be a reflecting pool for anyone and everyone to think about what had happened and to take it to heart. A WTC memorial should represent the courage, wisdom and pride of the people who lost their lives and for those who helped with the wreckage. The police and fireman worked their hardest and put their lives on the line for their country. We should all be proud of all who have helped. That is why this memorial should be made. Damicah - Rochester Hills, MI The tragedies of September 11 obviously touched everyone very deeply. My idea for a monument would be a good size reflecting pool that had the American flag on the bottom of it. The flag would be blowing in the wind behind the two twin towers. There would be floating water lilies in the pool. In the center there would be an eternal flame, sprouting from the center of a fountain, that represents our undying faith, strength, justice, and liberty as a country; it would represent all those that we lost. Around the perimeter of the pool would be lights that came on at night, the flag and wtc's would also be illuminated at night. There would be a bridge that starts in a meadow w/ a walkway that turns into a bridge that continues on over the pool and onto the other side where there is a wall w/ the victims names. Guenther - Rochester Hills, MI The attack on the world trades center was a terrible thing. To help get through the tragedy we should put something beautiful on the site. I think we should put a giant American flag on the ground made with hand painted tiles. Also I think artists of all ages should come and place their artwork on the flag. Once the art accumulates they should make a museum for the art work. I think that later generations would appreciate seeing how artist reacted to the day of tragedy. Courtney Romain - Rochester Hills, MI I think a memorial for the World Trade Center is a wonderful idea. There has been a lot of discussion about what to put there. I think the famous picture of the three firemen should be put there but without different nationalities. The firefighters have a right to be recognized since they helped rescue survivors on that terrible day. Carrie I think that the monument looks like it should have a representation of all the lost souls that day. I think it should have 2 miniature buildings similar to the original buildings. In each of the buildings, the names of the victims in the appropriate building. In the center a eternal fire is placed in between the names of the heroes who died in the event would be placed there. A relatively big fountain formation the squirts from the 1st tower onto the top of the 2nd tower. In between the towers is an electronic banner that says "IN REMEMBRANCE". Kristin - Rochester Hills, MI After September 11th the people of America have been wondering what memorials will be built to remember those who lost their lives. In my high school art class we have been learning about memorials and what types of memorials might be designed for 911. We went on the Internet and looked at many other memorials around the world. I thought the Vietnam War Memorial was done very well because it has all of the names of everyone who died. It is also very clean and simple. In many of the memorials I looked at, including the Oklahoma City memorial, there was some type of water incorporated. I created a design for a World Trade Center memorial. It is a plaza in the ground. The walls of the plaza are water falling down, like a small waterfall. In the center of the small plaza there is a small replica of an office building, maybe about 25 or 30 feet tall. The sides will be walls of dark polished granite. Inside it will be hollow with an open top. Heidi - Detroit, Michigan Hello. At the present moment, my art class is researching different types of monuments and memorials. We researched many different memorials, and are now designing our own for the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Out of the many memorials I have viewed, my favorite trait was the reflecting pond. The eternal flame also was a trait that I valued for its symbolic value. These two parts should somehow be incorporated into the World Trade Center and Pentagon memorial for their healing value, as well as their symbolic value. Brad Miller - Rochester Hills, MI For our first assignment in Fundamentals of Art our class is doing a monument having to do with 9-11-01. Each student is supposed design their own model or come up with their own idea for a memorial or statue or any kind of monument to do with 9-11-01. Before we started our project we were to look at other memorials that have already been made to get ideas. Some good ones were: Sadako in Japan with the thousands of paper cranes kids have sent to her statue that stay there all year long, another good one is JFK‚s memorial with eternal burning flame in Arlington, VA, or the water pool at the Oklahoma City bombing memorial. For my memorial I have chosen to build a small statue of 10 ft tall of the twin towers with an American flag between the towers with names of the people who died etched on the flag this will be put in New York Central Park. Dan Bruce I have a few ideas for the World Trade Center memorial. First of all I think they should have an American flag somewhere on it. The American flag has been a very key symbol after September 11 and it really shows how our country united together. I also think that there should be something to remember those who lost there lives that day. There names should be on it or there should be pictures of them on it. Another thing that I think there should be is an everlasting flame. I got this idea from looking at the JFK memorial and the holocaust memorial. There should be two flames next to each other each one representing one of the world trade center buildings. The final thing that I think should be on the memorial is a reflecting pool. I saw a picture of one from the Oklahoma City bombing memorial. No matter what they make the memorial with I think there should definitely be a memorial for both the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Alyse - Rochester Hills, Michigan In my art class we have been currently sketching our own idea for the WTC and Pentagon memorial. One of the ideas I had was to instead of having one designer do it themselves how about 2 or 3 designers working with the families who lost loved ones to come up with one idea. Since there are so many families this idea might not work. The design that I came up with myself was to have a garden with benches and surrounding it would be a brick walkway. In each brick there could be a name and birth date of somebody who lost their life on September 11.I also think that not only there should be one of these in New York but in Washington too. Jill - Rochester Hills, Michigan I think that the World Trade Center memorial should be very special. This is why there should be an eternal flame. This flame would represent the remembrance of the people lost in the September 11th tragedy. We made memorials in our class and I definitely included the eternal flame. I also included the two twin towers. The base of my memorial will include bricks for each and every one of the people who helped out and/or died in the September 11th tragedy. Kasey - Rochester Hills, MI For the tragedy at the World Trade Center there should be two different memorials. One memorial should be for all of the victims that lost their life in the tragedy, including in innocent people that were killed in the planes that crashed into the buildings. The other memorial should be for all of the polices officers and firemen that helped clean up all of the debris and helped people get out of the burning buildings. I also think that the second memorial should say or show how the United States came together. Both memorials should say the name, the birth date, death date, and their occupation. If this is done we should never be able to forget what happened and how all the people of the United States came together. Heather - Rochester Hills, MI In class, we have been studying monuments for a week. A monument I have created has a large pentagon shaped field where the WTC has collapsed. In the center there are granite tiles with the names of the people who died carved on them. In the center of the tiles there is a statue of a man giving out American flags. Next to the granite circle, there is a miniature version of the World Trade Center. The smaller WTCs can be accessible inside or not. However, I feel it would be better if they weren‚t. These buildings aren‚t the size of a doll- house, but they aren‚t as big as the original WTC towers were. They are smaller than the buildings around the park. The pentagon shaped field is there to remind us of the pentagon crash. I think this is very important because the man in the middle represents the sudden outburst of flags and how everyone was in a more giving mood. This statue will show that we weren‚t afraid, but that we were strengthened by the events. Katy Fortuna - Rochester Hills, MI Hi my name is Katy Fortuna and I am in Fundamentals of Art. I am a junior at Rochester Adams High School. For the past two weeks we have been assigned to learn and create our own monuments for the world trade center. We looked at websites that had past memorials and got ideas to put into our own. My idea was to have an arch and a fountain underneath it. Then a rose garden around the fountain and arch and a brick path leading up to the fountain with the names on each brick of all the peoples lives who were lost. I also think that there should be an American flag near it. I got some of my ideas from the PBS web site and other memorial websites. I think for the artist who is building the memorial that there should be an arch with the brick path if anything. Thank you Sean Shadaia - Rochester Hills, MI I choose a picture of a Bald Eagle. The reason on why I choose it was because it represents freedom, strength, and loyalty. It is the perfect symbol to use. I can see no other reason on why not to use it. The eagle can be flying, sitting on a perch, or just doing nothing. It really does not matter what it is doing. It represents freedom no matter what! Your free at home, at work, or even at your favorite store. It really does not matter. Thank you! Mitch McIntyre - Rochester Hills, MI In my opinion there should definitely be a memorial. I think it should be like the Kennedy memorial where there is that torch that never stops burning. I have also been designing my own memorial, where its a fountain with the towers in the middle about 30 feet high. Steve Hello PBS my name is Steve and my art class is doing a project about the WTC. I was looking at your site and had some ideas that I wanted to share with you. Well first I got these ideas from looking at some web sites about the JFK memorial; I like that one. My idea is it should be about the firemen who died at the WTC. You should show a fireman in front of the destroyed WTC and a flag that you can see. I thought some worlds at the bottom of it should say In God We Trust. I hope you take these ideas and put in your brainstorm session. Rochelle - Bronx, NY I definitely think that there should be a monument to commemorate the lives of those who died in this tragic attack. They should not be forgotten and the families should always have a place to mourn and remember those lost. Rosalie Schoenfeld, Nurse-Art Therapist - Centerville, Ohio I believe the twin towers be rebuilt on the same "sacred ground" as a memorial to all the victims and survivors, family & friends. A special place allocated to include drawings, sculpture, art work, etc. showing the emotional effects of both the children and adults of the survivors and their family & friends. Perhaps permanently within and outside of the structure, or a special room. Thanks for asking our opinion. Rosalie Schoenfeld, RN, ATR, LSW Carol A. Fleming - St. Louis, MO Yes, there should be an memorial, to help with the healing and to remember the significance of September 11th attack on America. To honor those who died and those who try to help other live. As for the design ideas, it is a little early to make the final decision but it is very healthy and wise to start the process. There are plans to be made, selection of the jury, selection to chose from various designers, budget to be drawn up, actual site to settle on and so on. The process can be by both invitational to artists and architects and open competition to serious candidates. ta ta for now. thanks for asking us. Bill and Phyllis Koehnline - Chapel Hill, North Carolina Thank you for inviting me to contribute to the dialogue about the memorial on the site of the World Trade Center. I listened to the discussion of this topic on The Connection, on NPR and was much encouraged by what the panel, and most of the callers had to say. I think there should be a memorial, but I don't think it should be a huge single-purpose structure. It should be integrated into a master plan for the sixteen-acre site that will bring workers, residents, ordinary Americans and foreign visitors to the area for a variety of purposes. It should NOT be like the empty chairs at the Murrow building. It should not be the expression of any one artist or architect's vision. Personally I would trust Maya Lin to do it, if she hadn't declared that she wasn't going to do any more memorials. It should include some form of reference to the many nations who lost citizens on September 11. Trade should not be far away. But the focus should be on the loss the World suffered, not just the city or the nation. I know I'm not using the special address you included in your message. I couldn't resist putting in my two cents worth, but I also wanted to thank you for asking, and to share my reaction to a matter other than your question, namely the review of the four-part series: "Speaking for Themselves," by Eleanor Heartney, in ART in AMERICA, February 2002, pp. 53, 55. The writer totally ignores the existence of the excellent web site, and the fact that your plan is open-ended, not limited to those four broadcasts. The writer mentioned the "handsome Abrams book," and the four-part television series, but she didn't give you or PBS credit for the excellent web site, which partially or fully counteracts the absence of historical or critical contextualization, of which she complains. In my opinion, you provide plenty of context. The fact that Louise Bourgeois and Bruce Nauman don't explain themselves very well is simply a fact. You present them and they either do or don't prick the curiosity enough for somebody to look for more. I commend you. Anyone who doesn't already know about Serra and the controversial side of his work could have learned it through your web site, if not from the broadcast. And silly as it may be, I'm still following up the squiggles that could be alphabets on Golan Levin's Alphabet Synthesis Machine every day. I've downloaded a dozen fantastic fonts, don't know what to do with them, but am hooked. Thank you. Jeff - Brooklyn, NY If there is a memorial erected at the former site of the World Trade Center (and there should be / a memorial only!) a democratic process for selecting the artist/designer should be instituted. Maya Lin's profound and self-effacing design for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was selected from a large body of submissions in a competition, judged by a carefully selected panel of thinkers, teachers, and artists (she was a student in college at the time her work was selected). I think Ms. Lin would argue, that if this kind of system had not been instituted, the people may not have had such an eloquent expression/site of mourning and reflection as we were have in the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. Anonymous I think the best architects from all over the world should work together to build two beautiful, confident looking buildings. If architects from all over the world help design it, it will stand for unity amongst all countries against terrorism. There should be no restrictions in the building plans. Johanna Bentwood - Washington DC The WTC sat on 14 acres of land. A beautiful park should stand as a memorial to the lives lost. New York has the opportunity unlike DC, to dedicate some or all that ground to of the innocent lives lost. To reconstruct the WTC Towers would only make the world and most of us forget that something Horrible happened. They didn't reconstruct the Ralf Morrow Federal Building in Oklahoma. Let a memorial garden beautify New York. Let that stand as a memorial to those that died. I wish that could happen in Washington DC, however being the seat of our government restoration has begun. But, DC also memorializes the countries fallen in different and continuous ways. Those of us that live in The DC Metropolitan area walk among the dead and drive by the Pentagon daily so,. the 189 people lost at the Pentagon will therefor never be forgotten. I believe DC will find a magnificent way to remember them. Jfrson What do you think the World Trade Center Memorial should be? - I think a living memorial - a park but a very unusual park - one is international, maybe it would have to be in a glass dome to protect the variety of plants. But I think the countries of all of victims should be represented. Who should it commemorate and how? - It should commemorate all who died, were injured and are grieving from 9/11 but it should commemorate all people who have suffered from terrorist attacks all over the world. What is your vision for the memorial? - A place of peace and remembrance, a safe and quiet place where people can assemble and communicate. A non-political, non-nationalistic place. Who would you choose to design such an auspicious monument and why? - Don't know the answer to that, lots of research is necessary. Do you think there should even be a memorial? - Yes but only if it does the things above, it should not be an opportunity to wave the American flag and damage other countries, it should be about educating people so that terrorism never happens anywhere in the world. Susan Kramer - New York I'd like to see new towers with a similar feel to Martin Puryear's sculptures on the water at the World Financial Center. The tops of the towers would be constructed of metal open work. The sky would show through it. There would be lights at certain junctures of the metal, each representing one of the people who perished. The base of the towers could be solid buildings or the whole thing could just be symbolic and be surrounded by semicircular buildings in an "embrace". Rene - Philadelphia, PA The 110-story steel frames of the twin towers could be rebuilt in the same locations, but only the lower half of each would be habitable. The interior of the upper frames could be covered with steel mesh to create a soft, dream-like image during the day, as well as when lit from the interior at night. Viewing platforms, serviced by elevators, might be created at several "significant" locations within the upper reaches of the structures as a moving remembrance of the events of September 11. Similarly, the earth at the base of the towers might open at several locations to respectfully expose the ground where the original towers, and the lives of those that were lost, now rest in peace. Sam Sigg - New Haven, CT I've read a number of the proposals, and some sound very good. I also agree that someone prominent should not automatically be chosen because their former work was successful. A competition should be opened, the field should be narrowed to 10 or 15 designs, and the maquettes should be put on display, with the concept, artist statement, etc...then let the vote be taken with some combination/percentage of "the people's vote" combined with that of a panel of experts in landscape and site-specific sculpture. It seems like a fair way to get expertise, but also to listen to the spirit of the memory and eventual meaning of the event. I think it should be some kind of open space with as much landscaped park as possible, including a structure which could house some sort of memorial/educational/research center. The grounds could be formed into a very large slightly concave, slightly convex bowl/dome which would lend itself to reflectiveness as one walks gently up, along, around... I think the site requires that the memorial pretty much BE the site, whether envisioned as landscape architecture or a combination of site and structure. I sense that some interactiveness with the materials that were the WTC is needed, and would help people to express emotion in a tactile way, as in touching the black slabs of the Vietnam Vet Memorial. I know I would get a lot out of just touching some of the steel beams that once held up the buildings which I visited, in which people worked and tragically died. Joyce Zurel - Clarkston, MI I would pick Christine Hagedorn. She is a great artist and has suffered much personal loss. Her themes are often about the the human spirit prevailing through adversity. She would be the best. David I kind of like the idea of finding and restoring the Calder piece "Propellar" that was crushed under the weight of the rumble... although it may not be the most symbolic of images...it could represent the spirit and strength of our people and country and how we can survive the worst of times as a free nation... rebuilding and using what is still in place! Clark I'd like to see light pointing toward heaven where those who left us too early went. Michael Mao The 5 round towers surrounding the Park are meant to have structurally separate and can function as separate entities not bearing the name World Trade. Five to symbolize the five continents which have lost people. These buildings will be accessible only on ground level. The World Trade Park subway station mentioned on page one will lead only to the spires and then the Park. It is vital that traffic for business and that for pilgrims do not mix. After visiting the spires and then the Park, pilgrims can exit above ground, bringing some business to the area shops. The trees are living links between the lost and the survivors. The firefighters and police can be the outer circle embracing the inner circles. Perhaps Maple for Firefighters and Spruce for Police? There is no race in trees and are probably under these circumstances a very good memorial. The spirit of the dead and through the roots ascend to heaven and circular benches around every tree can allow the mourners to commune with the dead in a spiritual way. The top floor "lost" can be the next circle. I suppose one could also decide to plant different trees for every nation which has lost its citizens to dramatize the number of nations affected. When the trees are grown the office workers will look down to a canopy of changing colors because of the seasonal changes instead of long lines of people trying to get into some structure. The walk up idea to the top of the spires will keep the traffic flowing. In addition it would certainly be the free choice of the pilgrims how "high" a risk they would take. I think it is important that the two spires of exactly the same heights as the former WTC to show the spirit of this national "hubris" of always reaching higher, but to rebuild the towers would be a step back instead of a step forward. The park being there only for those whose pay respects should be a good gesture. Each tree bears the name, paragraphs and image of the lost. The idea is to make the pilgrimage an actual interactive deed rather than ogling at something. Nothing artificial can be right. Colleen Skiff Absolutely, a memorial should be built on the World Trade Center site, in a grande park setting AND buildings should be reconstructed. There is plenty of space and land to do both. M Bayer, Beresford Art Gallery - Beresford, SD I think the artist who would be most sensitive to the feelings and emotional needs of the families and all of us who will view the memorial would be the artist who designed the Vietnam Memorial Wall and the Civil Rights Memorial. She has a great capacity to simplify and dignify the tributes to previous heroes. Her ability to have the memorials involve, draw in and emotionally encompass those visiting them makes her a perfect choice. All would be comforted by such a beautiful and understated tribute to those who have died. The things she has done all have a quiet, poetic quality that touches people deeply. John Hummel - Vancouver.B.C. Forgive my presumptuousness as a non American for expressing a choice for a designer of a future World Trade Centre memorial. My vote is for Maya Lin. Anyone who has seen the reaction of visitors to the Vietnam Memorial can attest to the scope and power of her wonderful vision and humanity. Anna Wooten - Long Beach, CA I want to design the Memorial, I am an artist;professional; and I have already painted a picture, so we will not forget what went on that day. I would like my picture put up on a billboard above the sight, never to be changed. So all who come to were ground zero was they would never forget. Dominic Zambito - Seattle, WA I feel very strongly that we should not rebuild the 2 towers as before. I think if we do rebuild it should be several smaller buildings. I think each building should have a different memorial. One large memorial in the center of the park and smaller memorials at each new bldg. The memorials should reflect all nations, all people. For everyone of us has felt the pain the sorrow and the despair of what has happened to our friends,family,partners and loved ones. Our freedom to be who and what we are has know changed greatly due to terrorism. Judith Nolan - Honolulu, Hawaii I would like to see what Maya Lin's ideas would be about a memorial for the World Trade Center Towers. Her work would seem to point more to the actual experience of the loss & without needing to explain would enable people to share the loss & know how much the people who died & the people who survived mean to us I believe she'd be able to show how honorable & courageous the rescuers were in a way that would translate to form & feeling I like the idea of participation for the people who visit the monument that she inspires through her work I hope that whoever is chosen will be blessed with the inspiration to allow everyone who sees it to know & remember this life changing event for us all Mayo Mac Boggs - Spartanburg, SC I want to be the sculptor selected--please review my "Halo" proposal on my website. (http://myartweb.com) Kenneth J Gibbons - San Diego, CA I'm a native Staten Islander. I feel what has happened is not just a loss for people now, but also for their children and theirs. I feel a memorial should be built. What I thought was good was the 3 firemen raising the flag (then the PC folks showed up to change history), I feel it should be the fireman as it happened with other statues of mixed nationalities watching the the flag be raised. Also 1 statue of a father kneeling down next to his son pointing upwards toward the skies the way the towers did. But for the question who should design it, anyone who will stand up for what they think is right in how and what they design. Jocelyn Thoemke - Arcata, CA I think that the memorial to the world trade center should be two circular groups of spotlights, shining straight up, illuminating the area of the skyline that was once taken up by the buildings. As for on the ground, around each group of spotlights, there should be marble or some kind of stone engraved with all the names of the people who died in the bombing. The stone should be like a sidewalk and each stone should be a sort of pie-piece of a concentric circle radiating from each group of spotlights. It would also be nice if there was a park with a fountain or more than one fountain. I'm no engineer, nor do I want to be the one who has to pay the electric bill, but in my imagination, it looks beautiful. Dr. Stewart - North Port, FL New York has to much cement there! Build a bad azz park. Some expensive "super" thick glasss with some water, but not to much, it freezes! Walking Park. "WorkingPark" Marilee Ford - Petaluma, CA The Memorial would ideally be something interactive. It is one thing to come and stare and take it all in. It is another to respond to what you see in some way. I disagree with those who pan the platforms that are there now, in that people are writing their prayers, hopes and dreams, as well as sorrows on the wooden structure. Art becomes alive when we can be in relationship to it. Lucinda Luvaas - Hemet, CA I am a native New Yorker--remember a temp job working at Merrill Lynch, quite close to the WTC towers. I was really devastated when the event happened and did some artwork relating to it which right now is featured in an exhibition in Houston and NYC. For me, the most appropriate memorial would be to use the shards, the remains of the buildings--to have them there with a wall which would list the names of the people who perished in the disaster. The remaining segments of wall should reach up to the sky on an angle so that the perspective would approximate the perspective of the towers when they were reaching up to the sky, when they were still here. I wouldn't like to see an artist do a piece, I would like to see the remains be the piece. Scott Moore - San Francsico, CA a sloping hill on the site with a walkway spiraling from the bottom up... cycle of life etc... with weeping willows along the way (can they live through a new york winter?)... get to the top of the hill and there is a huge sloping smooth concave bowl done in black marble that people meditate on... deep enough so that there is the feeling of staring into nothing, everything, allowing for a space that people fill with a personal thought, memory... there is no dictation of feeling. Susan Ralston - New York, NY One suggestion in the Sunday NY Times review of possibilities a few months ago has stuck in my mind, though I don't recall the name of the architect. Rebuild the towers to whatever height, put a parapet wall of transparent Plexiglas around the roof of each, and etch into that material the names of the people who died in the building. Their names (like their ashes and spirits) will then float between earth and heaven, and we will recall them whenever we stand on the buildings. Kristin - Rochester Hills, MI I think Maya Lin should design the memorial. She did such a wonderful job with the Vietnam Memorial. It is so beautiful and touching. The American people need something like this that they can visit. Anonymous - Tallahassee, Florida It is my opinion that a memorial for what happened in NY is very good idea, but only if the right monument is built. It should commemorate those that died, and the people who risked their personal safety to save them. It should also represent the more nationalistic theme of coming together as a country; for though we are all different, we are all living in the same nation, America. This catastrophe has tiered many apart as it brought many together, and this monument should represent the unity as a nation that Americans have shown since the day everything changed. Jennifer Holmes - NYC, NY I think Richard Serra and Maya Lin are two great candidates for a memorial design. Richard's studio is very near the site, so he has had very close contact with the entire lifespan of the incident. His works are also solemn, and that is fitting. Mona T. Plummer - Cohoes, NY What a wonderful idea - a memorial to the tragic disaster of 9/11. It should certainly be considered "holy ground" as memorialized in the area in Oklahoma City. Maybe a group of artists could work together to create a place to mourn and contemplate. R Haye - Richmond, VA Who to build it: Anyone capable - I thought open entries similar to those for the Vietnam war memorial would be appropriate Who should choose the design: those affected by the tragedy What should it be: Not a memorial so much as a monument to peace. This not only honors those who perished in the tragedy but also conveys what everyone is striving for. Rebuilding or remaking tower-like images diminishes the severity and issues behind the attack. Tara - Seattle, WA I would rather see a quite, green grassy park space. Artist should be a talented landscape architect. Lots of people died right there and that is their grave. A grave should be covered with grass and be meditative. Jill Mirch - Michigan I believe that children should submit the designs. I would like to see their point of view. Thomas J. McGrath III - Pittsburgh, PA I would provide an opportunity to an unknown artist or better yet a group of unknown artists to develop, design and create the WTC Memorial. This is too big of an event to give to one person. It means too much. It is not about ego or who is most widely known but rather about the COMMON MAN/WOMAN and therefore should go to common artists as well. FWIW Longo - Franklin Square, NY I believe Nicholas V. Macchio's "HOME OF THE BRAVE" should be reviewed as THE iconic image of Sept.11. Macchio's inclusive painting is the only work in the collections of all 3 FDNY, PAPD & NYPD commissioner's offices. To view this most important painting please visit: www.rhinoart.com C. Carter Walker - Albuquerque, New Mexico The problem with choosing one of the artists mentioned on your list is that what would come of it is the same kind of things we have seen before. Not to take anything away from them. The city needs transformation. Once the site is totally cleared, and this should happen. There will be a moment of nothing. Only true possibility, creativity can then begin. I say start a premise with that. Maybe an artist(s) is not necessarily the right choice. Whom then......? Laurie Spigel - New York, New York I would like to see plans for a memorial (submitted by artists) before there are plans for usable structures (office space, housing, etc., submitted by architects). After a panel of artists and city planners select their top ten (or so) choices for a memorial, I would like to see the group of voters include those who are next of kin to the bodies still buried in the rubble. Members of the local community who will be neighbors to the site should also have their say. Sheila Ganch - Wheaton, Illinois I envision the sculpture in a park like setting-an abstraction capturing the essence of what really happened. Whatever the form or scale I think some form of engraved ceremonial signatures by those closest to those who lost their lives would be meaningful and appropriate. Molly Sanger Carpenter - Salem, NJ The land where the World Trade Center stood has now become a sacred burial ground. No one sculpture can express the loss of every individual who perished there. I propose a place of reflection in the form of a park, with a sculpture (of modest size) for every person who was killed that day. As many sculptors could be chosen to realize this project, each working closely with the families and friends left behind to achieve a lasting memorial that is not generic, but personal. A celebration of humanity. (http//www.mollycarpenter.com) Jacques Bakke - Lander, Wyoming I would stay away from selecting so called NY artists who are not really trained or educated in their craft but are rather, the eventists, conartists, bilkers of those (patrons) who cannot distinguish excellence, Most of these NY art practitioners are not from NY originally anyway. I would look to sensitive types, skilled and successful, with gallery representation in figurative bronze work from across the country, especially those represented west of the Mississippi if that kind of memorial is decided upon. The victims deserve a sacred, hallowed, venerated, excellence in this space and it would be better to leave it vacant than leave it to some artist wannabe involved in abstract concepts and nonsense. Anything that is done will be met with criticism no matter what the final verdict is. Mark Lymer - Tempe, Arizona Of course there should be a 'memorial', WTC is hallowed ground. Of course there will be commercial buildings again. I think the process should be thoughtful. Not knee jerk reaction, not architectural/artistic hubris. Include those who lost their lives in DC and Penn too. The people who died were not soldiers. They were from all around the globe, living their lives as we all try to do. What we are and what we can become. The dead will live in the memories of the friends and families. Give the survivors a place to feel them close again. Give us all a place to think about where we fit in. give us all sorrow and tears and hope and joy. Give us peace. Dan Cook 1. What do you think the World Trade Center Memorial should be? REALISTICALLY, TIME DIMINISHES MEMORY OF EARTH-SHAKING EVENTS EVEN FOR THOSE WHO LIVED THROUGH THEM. THEY BECOME GENERALLY ABSTRACT HISTORY TO THOSE WHO DIDN'T . MANY NOTABLE PERSONALITIES MEMORIALIZED IN STATUARY ARE SOON MORE SIGNIFICANT IN A COMMUNITY AS PIGEON ROOSTS THAN STIMULI TO RECOLLECTION OF WHO AND WHAT THAT PERSON ACCOMPLISHED. AFTER A WHILE, SOME ARE EVEN MOVED AWAY TO MAKE SPACE FOR SOMETHING ELSE MORE IMPORTANT TO TODAY'S CONTEMPORARIES. THOSE "MEMORIALS" THAT SURVIVE LONG-TERM (A) SERVE SOME FUNCTIONAL OR ENTERTAINING PURPOSE AND (B) HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ACCOMMODATE LARGE NUMBERS OF VISITORS. EXAMPLES: The "average" person's reason for visiting and possibly even thinking about what a memorial really means... The Washington Monument -- Vantage View of the Mall; The Statue of Liberty -- Boat Ride & Vantage View of Harbor/Manhattan; Lenin's Tomb -- Beautiful Stonework and old dead Russian mummy not wrapped. etc. etc. NOT TO DIMINISH THE EVENTS, PAIN OR HORROR OF 9-11 IN ANY WAY, BEFORE I CAN FULLY ANSWER QUESTION 1, I MUST ASK PRACTICAL QUESTIONS: HOW MUCH SPACE, VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL, WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR THE MEMORIAL? PRECISELY WHERE WILL THAT SPACE BE? ROUND-FIGURE BUDGET? OTHERWISE THERE CAN BE A HUGE AMOUNT OF CREATIVE ENERGY WASTED BY OVER OR UNDER-DESIGNING EVEN IN THE PRESENT MIND'S-EYE BRAIN-PICKING CONCEPT PHASE. 2. Who should it commemorate and how? HUMANITY IN SIMPLE, EXPRESSIVE TERMS. IF ATTEMPT IS MADE TO DEPICT IN THE MEMORIAL EVERY JOB TITLE, RACE, CREED, RELIGION, HEROIC ACT AND OTHER PIGEONHOLE FOR PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE EVENTS OF THAT DAY IN NEW YORK AND ELSEWHERE, IT WILL BECOME AN IMPOSSIBLE MURAL WHICH CAN NEVER BE FULLY COMPLETE AND WILL EVOKE ANGER FROM THOSE LEFT OUT OR WHOM CRITICS MAY FEEL ARE UNDERREPRESENTED. 3. What is your vision for the memorial? SIMPLE DRAMATIC FORM WITH USEFUL INTERACTIVE FUNCTION(s). 4. Who would you choose to design such an auspicious monument and why? DAN COOK. IN THE WORDS OF PAUL "CROCODILE DUNDEE" HOGAN: "THE BEST FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS A BENEVOLENT DICTATORSHIP, UNFORTUNATELY I DON"T TRUST ANYONE TO DO A GOOD JOB OF IT EXCEPT ME." 5. Do you think there should even be a memorial? I HAVE MIXED FEELINGS. I WENT TO THAT DAMNED INFERNAL THING UNDER THE GROUND IN WASHINGTON ONCE AND FOUND THE NAMES OF FRIENDS WHOSE LIVES WERE WASTED FOR NAUGHT. I SAW THE MAIMED IN WHEELCHAIRS AND MOTHERS AND WIDOWS SOFTLY CRYING AND FLOWERS AND LITTLE FLAGS AND PICTURES AND PEOPLE MAKING PENCIL TRACINGS. THAT WAS NEARLY 20 YEARS AFTER THE LAST CHOPPER LEFT SAIGON SO I WONDERED HOW SUCH A THING AS THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP PEOPLE HEAL? IT CERTAINLY DIDN'T HELP ME. IF IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO THE REVERSE -- MAKE US REMEMBER THE FOLLY, IT DID SO QUITE SUCCESSFULLY. BUT WHAT WILL IT DO FOR THOSE WHO GO THERE 100 YEARS FROM NOW? WILL IT HAVE AS MUCH CURRENT SIGNIFICANCE THEN AS THE LIST OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBER'S NAMES ONE SEES TODAY ON A BRONZE PLAQUE IN A CITY HALL BUILT IN 1903? I'M NOT A MASOCHIST SO I SWORE I'D NEVER GO BACK BUT SOME YEARS LATER WAS SHOWING AN EXCHANGE STUDENT AROUND OUR CAPITAL AND HE WANTED TO SEE IT. NOTHING HAD CHANGED ABOUT THAT PLACE OR MY REACTION TO IT. THE SECOND TIME, I MADE IT A POINT NOT TO GO DOWN IN THE "HOLE." Isaac Wood Dugan - Litchfield, CT We are proposing "The Human Spirit" to be built entirely of glass with internal colored panels be selected as the memorial for the new World Trade Center Complex. It will be over 41 feet tall and weight about 430 tons set in an oval reflecting pool. It can be viewed at: www.thehumanspirit.net Victoria Varley - Santa Fe, NM Thank you for giving me a platform. I am a Sculptor. When the Trade Center was bombed several people said to me "there will probably be lots of opportunities for sculptors" but I was so distressed over the incident it has taken me until now to feel like offering my designs up for consideration. I have not seen a forum for such a competition and would like to know where I may submit my ideas. I am so glad the Vietnam look alike of three Fire Fighters has been put on the backburners as it does not represent all the many helpers and workers that rushed to the scene to give aid whether they had a high profile or not. Many different people were there to help. So how does one represent the mood of the American people in art? I have something in mind but I fear only New York and surrounding artists have had privy to exhibitions etc.. This is a tragedy that affected all of us and all of us need to be given a chance to offer our suggestions and designs for consideration... Elaine M. Rowan I prefer the two "Beams of Light" that were featured yesterday on MSNBC; I don't recall who the architect was. Louise Lanzilotti - Honolulu, HI I thought that the light sculpture of the towers that was printed on the cover of Art In America (I believe) was brilliant. I realize that it would be visible only at night, but the spiritual feeling of the concept is very strong. I think that a park in the footprint of the buildings with the light sculpture visible at night would be wonderful. I do not think it would be wise to rebuild office buildings, because the site has taken on great national significance and should be a place of remembrance. Lisa Shaftel, SPGA/Seattle Chapter President, Graphic Artists Guild There is tremendous sentiment around the country to leave open space at the World Trade Center as hallowed ground in memoriam to the thousands who lost their lives there. The even sadder reality of economics is that the property value is too great to not rebuild. Many also believe the towers should be rebuilt to show the world we will not be defeated by atrocity. Both perspectives ought to be incorporated into the memorial and reconstruction. New towers with a new design should be built on the site; that location will never be the same and the original towers and those who perished can never be replaced. A sizable space also ought to be set aside for a memorial to those who lost their lives, particularly because there were so few identifiable remains for loved ones to properly lay to rest elsewhere. The memorial site ought to incorporate a portion of the towers salvaged from the wreckage as a tribute to an American icon destroyed, but any architectural elements resembling specific religious symbols of any sort should be avoided. Names of the victims need to be incorporated in the memorial as well. Because the remains of the victims were scattered over such a large area, and the devastation so profound, some sort of delineation of "Ground Zero" might be set into the rebuilt streets and sidewalks to remind those who visit the location of the scale of the atrocity. Smaller, specific sites could be set aside for specific groups who lost so many employees, such as the N.Y.F.D., the N.Y.P.D, Cantor Fitzgerald, and Windows On the World to install their own memorials if they wish. A team of an architect, an environmental designer, and a sculptor should develop the design of the memorial. I urge us not to choose a ?star? architect, lest the memorial become another vehicle for self-promotion of one individual. Interested professionals ought to submit proposals [and their intellectual property rights respected]. Those with similar ideas would be teamed together, and each team would submit a proposal for review. The Graphic Artists Guild's "Pricing & Ethical Guidelines" manual outlines ethical, just, and workable guidelines for such a contest. Ira Pinto I seriously believe that something similar to Maya Lin's Veterans Memorial would be the most appropriate manner to show our deepest sympathy and honor the people who has lost their lives in one of our Country worst act of "Terrorism" ! Everyone that perished on September 11th. should have their names on a wall and in Bronze . Anyone; who has visited the "Veteran's Memorial" has a sense of how many of our Veteran's lost their lives and we can never forget them. Joyce Pomeroy Schwartz That there will be a memorial seems to be a fact. It is an charged site forever. There are victims who lost lives, but many were affected by seeing the event. It is history with implications. It needs however, the best possible process to select people to do the memorial. It also need discussion about a MISSION. What are we commemorating. What else could happen on the site that is important. There has to be a process that listens first to everyone, discusses all thoughts and ramifications and then the best should happen. It needs more time for a permanent memorial, but the process must be started now. I think an artist is the best person to deal with content with possible the collaboration or architects and landscape artists The concept is the first order, in my mind to be thought of. Too many ideas are seeming to come too quickly that they are flip and not happening thoughtfully enough. This is my opinion today. As Public Art consultant. I am prejudiced in favor of any artist. The Vietnam Memorial is the fresh unique vision of an artist. Copying its form or concept is not the way to go. J Katelier - Kirkland WA I definitely think there should be a memorial. The subject should be about a positive pledge to stop violence against races, religions, etc. that are different from our own, (racial and religious intolerance which is at the basis of terrorism). This idea can be achieved by the pledge coming from the children of the victims of Sept. 11th to stop terrorism. Perhaps as a show of hands as a monumental wall or sculpture. - For more details of this idea contact: Judith Kindler (Artist): JKatelier@aol.com Francesca Todd - Wethersfield, CT After listening to the survivors of the event, those who lost loved ones and then, people like myself that felt affected, I began to think immediately how best all could be served. A memorial is of the utmost importance and it should honor those who's lives were innocently lost and those who gave their lives in the line of duty. This would be only fitting, especially since people from around the world have been affected by this tragic event and would want to pay homage, which is the purpose of a memorial. And, YES, a tower should be rebuilt - not a twin tower - but only one magnificent tower to show those who would enjoy a sense of our defeat that they cannot squash the American spirit of enterprise, freedom, and perseverance. And, a part of this new tower should house a small museum that contains some of those items recovered from Ground Zero, photographs and maybe letters from the many children who have written about their feelings... Tina - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania I strongly believe that a memorial site should be built at the WTC site. So many souls died there, how can they not make some kind of spiritual site there? Whether people realize it or not, that IS where thousands of people died and were buried. So, you can rebuild your skyscraper as high as you'd like, but think of those dead souls and their surviving loved ones. Also included should be people who died at the Pentagon and on those planes. Porter Arneill - St. Louis, MO So many people have been affected by the September 11 tragedy. Grieving and healing take time and can't be forced. In that spirit, I think a carefully intentioned public process of developing a memorial should occur. Over the past several hundred years, more often than not, the talents of individual artists, designers and architects have been the focus of public art projects. Here is an opportunity to take advantage of the skills and energies of many people with mixed backgrounds to develop and implement a holistic solution (solutions?) to the concept of a memorial. Much like the process of rescue and cleaning up after the tragedy, here is a chance to create a process AND a product (memorial)that maintain the spirit of healing and community that is vital today and in the future. Carolyn Fisk - Atlanta, GA Personally,I feel that we should not build another WTC there. That ground is not very hallowed and should remain that way. A memorial would be very fitting so the families of the remains there would have a place to come to remember their love ones. It would never feel right there building over all of those thousands of people that were never found. Mamie Mitchell - Santa Fe, NM as with the Vietnam memorial, the victims names should be included in whatever the memorial is. The Vietnam memorial design is brilliant for many reasons but for me - (I've seen it 4 times) - it speaks of the mistake of the Vietnam war. First of all you cannot see it from afar. And as you walk to the site it looks as if someone has dug up the earth - or it's hiding - it looks like a mistake - which is exactly what Vietnam was. I hope the world trade center memorial tells a bigger story in the design. Good and evil - something like that. Anonymous - Brooklyn, NY The memorial for the WTC should be built in honor of all the WTC workers, patrons and visitors who were victims, as well as the families of victims of the attack. RJH - West Virginia I think there would be nothing wrong with a memorial. I think it should be something of beauty as well as provide a refuge for anyone who needs a place to take a break from the world. I think it should be a living place. I think beauty should live, and grow there. It could me a learning museum, a botanical garden, or an aviary or aquarium, or any combination of wonderful tributes of life on this planet. I believe it should be dedicated to all the American people, but especially the people who died there, as well as the men and women of the armed services that are avenging this terrible act of evil. The memorial should be designed by Americans, created by Americans, and built by Americans. G. Moore - New York, NY I still miss sorely the sight of the towers standing guard over the city. Minimal in design, they yet bore a strong presence; sentinels providing solace and direction in any part of town, from northern avenues to the darkest Village or Lower Nolita lanes. It was always reassuring to see them in the distance, letting you get your bearings straight. Jennifer Ralph - Columbus, OH The World Trade Center Memorial should be a tribute not only to the people who lost their lives on Sept. 11, but also to the United States symbolic loss of innocence. Since the tragedy of Vietnam, there has been little to connect us to the reality that persons living in more unstable countries face on a daily basis. To that end, the primary focus of the memorial should extend beyond a nationalistic image, regardless of how comforting that image is to us. A replica of the three steel support structures that stretched hungrily from ground zero seem a more appropriate representation, both of the tragedy that occurred and the lessons we need to glean from that horrific event. They are more of a reminder to us not to forget - the people who died, the trade center itself - and to not become complacent with the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. KS - Armonk, NY I think the site should be a memorial site and not another set of towers no matter what the size. There are too many remains that we will never be able to recover in the rubble underneath. Jeremy Zilar - Denver, CO I think what ever is done with the "idea" of a memorial, should be well thought out seven generations in advance. I think heroicizing the times we live in or the times we had, or the deeds we did during those time, brave, valiant, or not, it should reflect a more timeless notion of duty and humanity. It should not be victimizing, but rather surviving. The focus should be on the future, and how we choose to remember this, or write this down in history,... not on the people lost. It should show/teach the people of the future, that we can move on. Chris Jordan - Chinatown, NY The NYC and global community need for a central place of morning, education, understanding, is tremendous. A friend of mine was on the first plane. She lived in Jamaica, Berry Perkins, the widow of Anthony Perkins. When I wrote to her community there, people asked me to light a candle at ground zero for her. When I went downtown to do this, there was no central place to convene. No place that seemed appropriate. My fear is that big business, in the hope of economic revival, will try and quickly put this out of our physical, geographical memory. Amanda - Rochester Hills, Michigan I think that the Children of New York should submit designs for the monument. Children were effected just as much as the adults, so I think they deserve to have a say in what the monument should be and look like. Alyse - Rochester Hills, Michigan I think that the site should be turned into a park and there should be a memorial there designed by children. Paul Taylor - Morgantown, WV I feel that it is FAR TOO EARLY to even begin this discussion on WHAT to build or re-build. To the best of "our" ability, let's concentrate on victim recovery first and foremost. Let me state the obvious-the REAL ,visceral memorial is already on site, working relentlessly round the clock on this unfathomable grim task of reclamation. To keep one's emotions at bay in order to get the job done day after week after month bespeaks a testimony of courage, perseverance, love, faith, and shear physical endurance that utterly eclipses what any kind of static object (building or memorial) could ever possibly convey. And I'm in the public-arts business. Suzanne - Sioux Falls, SD While I applaud the desire to erect a memorial for the World Trade Center victims and understand the desire to do so, I would not encourage it if the site in Pennsylvania and/or the Pentagon are overlooked. My suggestion would be to create a monument in triplicate which would be placed at each site commemorating ALL of the victims of 9-11. All are heroes and should be given the same level of acknowledgment at each of their given occurrences. Hence, I would recommend a monument NOT of the World Trade Centers, but one which would depict strength, courage and freedom, perhaps an eagle in flight keeping watch over it's mate protecting the nest done in bronze (conducive to color and strength for outdoor placement.) I would suggest Dale Lamphere in South Dakota. He is quite capable of creating very powerful yet graceful sculpture and has done so for our state capital. Thank you for the opportunity to express my view. Good luck in your endeavors, but please don't forget the Pentagon and Pennsylvania HEROES when creating this very thoughtful memorial. Ruth Hartman - Oxnard, CA I think there needs to be a memorial, because this was such a unique event in our lifetime. It had repercussions around the world--but even if there had been no notice (!) or damage beyond New York City, it did strike at that city's heart, and requires a physical memorial. I think the memorial should include two factors: the buildings themselves, and the people who died within. One marvelous feature of the buildings was the view from the top. I would like to see the floor of the monument a relief map of NYC as seen from the top floor. I see walls around three sides of this floor (a square with one open side and no roof). The back wall reproduces the fallen facade visible after the collapse. The side walls memorialize the people killed within--in a way similar to the Oklahoma City bombing memorial. As for who would design a monument--I'd like it to be a student competition, open to anyone under the age of __, or currently enrolled in an art or architecture school or college. Shirley C. Lally - Chapel Hill, NC I think there needs to be a memorial at ground zero to all the people who died doing their jobs and those who came to help their fellow New Yorkers in need. I think it should be a tribute to the people of New York - to their courage and strength. I think the memorial itself should epitomize these qualities. Although, I'm an art dealer, I cannot choose a particular artist capable of accurately rendering the memorial. I only hope that the artist chosen will keep in mind that this memorial will be viewed by many generations to come. It should inspire awe, reverence and pride - to honor all those souls whose lives ended on September 11. I do not think that the entire disaster area, as we know it, should be devoted to the memorial. Rather, another commercial complex should be built. This would allow the rest of us to feel a sense of continuity. It would also show the world, that nothing can stop New York from fulfilling its destiny as the financial capital of the world. The memorial should be in a prominent location - perhaps in the center of the new complex that will rise in the ashes of the present disaster area. G - Philadelphia, PA I think that a 24 hour loop of "I Dream of Jeanie" should be played at the spot on a wide screen t.v. so that people can get a better understanding of arab culture. William B. Milligan, Jr. - N. Richland Hills, TX NO! I do not wish to see a Memorial on the site. A Memorial would be appropriate, but not at the site. The Memorial should be somewhere else, e.g., Washington, DC or somewhere else. The WTC site would be wasted with a Memorial. Brian Auwarter - Sculptor I believe that the two square footprints of Tower 1 and 2 should each incorporate a separate police station on one and a fire station on the other even if they were just offices for each. They could be large or very small but have a large wall that connects and runs through both in tribute to everyone. Each would then be a living monument of holding together for those that lost their life and would be an honored place for those serving in them. Each square should be separated in some way by streets and sidewalks from the rest of the area. At each of the four corners of each footprint could be lights installed as envisioned on the cover of the NY Times Magazine or appropriate memorials. The rest of the area within the perimeter where the buildings landed then should be developed with codes that restricted that sidewalks, curbing and paving be made out of materials that would distinctly contrast and set apart from standard street materials and unify all areas within. This way whenever you were walking, riding or going in or out a building something distinct in style or material would let one know you are in a sacred area and an outline could then be followed or seen from above to feel the magnitude of the site. Also construction workers that worked on the tearing down of the area would then have something distinct they could take part in with constructing. The biggest monument would be that new buildings in that area could have restrictions on the height and very top shape or material so that over the years as any are built slowly a unifying element to the tops of all of them starts to appear setting it apart from the rest of the skyline in tribute, yet each may remain distinct in style as those that lost their life. Dale Craghead I think it is far too early to make such a huge commitment. The Families of lost loved ones should be the ones to choose an appropriate monument. My personal vision as an artist is something low key park-like with an information center much like the Holocaust Museum. Interactive with personal stories and memorabilia so we never forget..... Anonymous I feel there should be a memorial in honor of those whose lost their lives in the World Trade Center tragedy. I feel the memorial designed by Hans and Torrey Butzer for those who lost their lives in the Oklahoma City bombing is a powerful example of what could be created to memorialize the victims of September 11th. Susan Aurinko, Gallery Director/FLATFILEphotographyGALLERY My take on the proposed memorial would be to build a new set of buildings to be used for the same purpose as the trade towers were - thus proving that our country is not so easily daunted. The structures would be lower, with gardens on the top, and it would be from these gardens that the two enormous beams of light would rise - creating a memorial that speaks of life, not of death and sings of growth and of the resilience of the human spirit. PH Linn Yes I do think there should be a memorial to the dead and the brave at the world trade center. One of the most moving memorial sites I have ever experienced is the one in Washington to honor the dead of the Vietnam war. Maya Lin captured the IDEA of honor for the lost in that endless listing of names. It is moving wonderously beautiful and spiritual. The ideas for a memorial at the site of the World Trade center should be about spirituality, honoring the dead and the brave, and acknowledging the aspirations, audacity, power and sculptural beauty of the towers themselves and the great city they stood in and for. Good luck with your efforts. Suzann McKiernan Anderson - Kearon-Hempenstall Gallery Yes there should definitely be a memorial. Oklahoma City has a very moving one which really shows the loss of lives through the visual message of the empty chairs. There should be a proposal sent out for architects/artists to design a memorial and chose through a panel of family, co-workers, PATH, police/fire etc. Personally, I don't think the buildings should be rebuilt as they were. I don't think there would be enough tenants to fill the building. Therese Heyman No memorial on site but instead a working modern office and amenities place with a wall or label about the destruction of the first bldg. Adrienne Wincor I would like to answer. Tell me what to say!!!!!!! Nepotism, yeah!!!!! E. Law Yes, there definitely should be a memorial at the site of Ground Zero. This will not only be for the memories of the lost, but also be the reminder of the present and the future. This memorial should serve as a reminder that the war against terrorists and violence is constant and continuous. Part of the destroyed old buildings should be erected at the site, so that we will remember their past and what happened to them. It also symbolizes the undying American spirit of peace and freedom. A group of architects, artists, construction crews and New York Public officials should make a joint decision of how the memorial is to be presented. May God bless America. Joan Byrd - Leonia, NJ I would like to see a memorial to peace. Most memorials commemorate various battles and their heroes. There were many heroes in the WTC tragedy, and many lives were lost because of hatred and misunderstanding. Would it not help us all to have a place where people could view the events of September 11th through visuals with the names of all the victims on display as well. Adjacent to this display could be an visual/informational area explaining the world's major religions such as Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and their off shoots, with places within these areas to be in silence. Then perhaps visitors could see the similarities among all people, and contemplate a world of relative peace rather than consistently celebrating war and its subsequent aftermath. I believe Maya Lin, whose well-designed, respectful architectural work, would be the artist to create such a memorial. T Collins - Pittsburgh, PA In the destruction of the twin towers - a space of democratic discourse has emerged. I think we should take the time to let the destruction of the world trade center - and our response in Afghanistan sink in. Defend the space from market interest. Assemble a group of *public-intellectuals to teach and discuss the range of form and meaning of the modern memorial. Use this opportunity to create a discursive public space which leads to an appropriate public response. The planning for the site and its memorial should be a open competition. Its process should reflect - democracy, diversity and vision rather than self interest and fevered desire. (*Example: See Kirk Savage on the Washington Memorial, or Civil war memorials to understand how the best of intentions can be undermined by self-interest, bureaucracy and misguided vision.) If the seawall happened to fail, and the Hudson flowed back into the body of the island... "The assuaging waters cool slowly bringing relief, abstracting form from all that can be touched, the quivering fever heat of long repressed desire yields to the cooling draft. Water and pain negate each other. Long is the process of the cooling draught." -Author unknown Veronica - The Netherlands September 11th: The horror. The heroes. The many deaths. The sorrow. Lost of loved ones. The consequences; war, more deaths, hate, insecurity and anger. Can art say more than thousand words? I would like to see the large, now deformed Calder sculpture that was placed in front of or outside? the World Trade Centre in its current state as a memory piece. It is symbolic because it was there, in situ and I see the deformity of it as a metaphor for the consequences of the attack. Paul Adelson - Dallas, TX We absolutely should do a first class memorial-New York is the greatest city in America and the world! New Yorkers provided to the world what they had and what they can provide when the rubber meets the road. I salute them for the togetherness they showed, for uniting as one and what they could provide for others in a crisis of this dimensions. I think this should be played back by building a memorial the whole world will never forget and I think it should be done by a collaboration of artists from the New York area. After all, it was New Yorkers who made this happen. I think we should honor New York artists to express their vision of what this memorial should look like and express to the world. It was a collaboration that made this the event that it was and it should be a collaboration that now defines it to all of us. Artists could be selected by jury, as often done, by a selected panel of people, including the Mayor, who was such a powerful force in this whole event.... John Seed - Hemet, California I feel that a monument should reflect America's freedom of religion and taste. For that reason, I envision a park where various religious denominations have been given areas to create chapels, shrines, spaces and monuments, by a range of artists and architects. Each religion could then have a chance to express how it wishes to mourn, but the overall message could be that the beauty of our nation is our mutual respect. Kent Dur Russell - Worcester, MA Keep part of the damaged WTC building standing and have several stories below for visitors to "descend" to and experience the actual event, understand the magnitude of the collapse (see the crushed basements, the subway car trapped underneath the weight of the fallen debris, hear stories of rescuers and victims, see names and memorials. The site should be largely re-developed for office buildings. To set aside the entire site as a memorial would be to accept defeat and to compromise New York's overall development plans. Rebuild the site for business use, celebrate what makes New York such a powerful world economic engine and a symbol. (ex New Yorker and now director of Higgins Armory Museum, Worcester MA) S. M. Payne - Minneapolis, MN As they do in Pierre,ND, they should obviously commemorate the EMT's, Fire, Police and Security guards. Included s/b all the victims, and a brief roundup of all the accused for historical reasons. The structure should mimic the Twin Towers as they were, only in miniature, again, for proper historical perspective. It should NOT be called Ground Zero as this is a nuclear term and doesn't apply here. Tom Sachs - NYC, NY We should rebuild it exactly the same but 3% larger (every detail including doorknobs and material thicknesses. This re-scaling would humble the new users, be a monument to our loss, and re-make it the tallest building(s) in the world. Made to be taller than Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, WTC1&2(ll) will be a bold all American kick ass statement about our resiliency. Bill Shipley Certainly a memorial, but the cover of November issue of Art in America had it right - the Towers of Light project by several architect/artists...from Creative Time I think. That makes sense. No actual buildings, no "wall" like in Washington for Vietnam vets...no corny "multicultural" sculpture like already happening....towers of light. Period. Let the rest of commerce fall where it might....Border's Books etc., like before....The SPACE is sacred, and the light sculpture reflects that idea. Nothing else makes sense. Let the rest of the commerce fall where it may - another Border's Books, etc. where I shopped often. Sincerely, Bill Shipley - Bill Shipley Fine Arts. Lynn Solte I feel there should be a memorial at the WTC site and that it should take the form of a beautiful, peaceful, park filled with exotic gardens and trees no commercial enterprises whatsoever (no hotdog vendors, etc.) Personally, I do not think buildings should be built on the site, nor do I think any buildings ever should be nearly as tall as the Twin Towers (I lived in NY when they were built and never liked them). They are ostentatious and cold, not to mention easy targets for terror. I do know others feel the same about the park, but, unfortunately, have no suggestions as to who might actually design and/or do the work. Kathleen Ross It should remain a commerce site with a significant memorial at the entrance or on the plaza. This would signify the future and make a statement that the USA is built on a sound and good foundation of freedom and eternal hope, and that no person or country can diminish it's importance and place in the world. Channah Pastorius - Beaverton, OR I don't feel that any of these artists would be able to create a work that represents both the collapse of the WTC and the vast loss of life. The lost lives were not military, employees of the government, or members of a large militant group. Those human beings were average Americans who got up, ate breakfast, drank as much coffee as would make them somewhat functional, took a shower, got dressed, and left their home in a rushed panic that they might be late for work. Those who rode the subway, took the bus or sat in traffic while listening to their favorite morning DJ and cursing the idiot blocking the intersection. Those human being on their way to their job. That place where they go each and everyday. Wondering, thinking, fearing, remembering, fantasizing, planning and plotting while making their daily trek. Any of the presented artist can, of course, create an acceptable and supposed representation that of the event but can they truly capture the soul of our country's overwhelming sense of horror? The shattered security in thinking that these kinds things can only happen in other countries. This work must not only represent the loss of the WTC and the lives with it, but it must scream that our entire nation grieved and pulled together to stand united. It must scream so loud our grief will echo through the universe. I fear that we will be forced to accept a redundant abstract freeform sculpture and be told, this represents September 11, 2001. And when we visit New York, we will pose in front of it and hastily have our picture taken before rushing off to make the ferry headed to the Statue of Liberty. Ed - CA I think there should be some type of a park set up and the center of the park or the site where the towers once stood there should be a scaled down version of the towers with the names of all the people lives who were lost in the tragedy sort of like Pearl Harbor and the Vietnam Memorial in Washington. That way people can go and be with their lost ones whenever they want and people can feel a sense of peace. Allan Wexler , Ellen Wexler I did a project in 1973, based on the newly completed WTC, that was recently publishes again in the NY Times. As to a memorial, we are still sitting Shiva. Kory Rountree - Moscow, Idaho rebuild on the site, original design or new. rebuilding would be the fittest memorial for all involved... Susan Conway Too soon to know. Boo White I know there are many,many wonderful artists to design the memorial, but it is very difficult to choose the right artist to do this job. My suggestion is to get the artists' sample for the families of victims, firemen's families, etc (that made an impact on them) to choose the design with expert's helpful counsels. I feel that it is better to choose a site for the memorial, closer to ground zero. This is my suggestion for WTC memorial. Thank you for asking for my feedback. Pari Stave I think there should be a memorial at or near the site of the World Trade Center. I would like to see it memorialize all of the innocent people--in New York City, and elsewhere--who died as a result of the terrorist attack on September 11th. I would also like to see the buildings memorialized. As with the design process for most memorials, I think artists and architects should be asked to submit ideas--the creative class of our society that can bring the greatest historical perspective on memorializations of the past and present. The ideas should be judged by experts in the field of architecture, art, and art history, working alongside certain leading city officials. I am not sure about the timing--about whether this is something we should wait to do (as with the Viet Nam Memorial in Washington) or whether the people of New York need the closure more urgently than that. Letting time heal some wounds would give us perspective...and allow for the integration of the memorial into what ever else is to be built on the grounds. Sarah Gay - Denver, CO I believe that rather than a static memorial in the traditional sense, a 'thing' that simply facilitates the mourning and remembering process, what is reconstructed on the site where the towers fell should be some kind of center for connecting cultures, for reaching out to people. An active 'memorial', one that is not simply to those who died, nor just to the idea of pride in America, but one which also speaks to the spirit of world trade, cultural exchange, and global understanding. What if a building could be constructed that holds a place for such cultural exchange, bridging the gap of understanding and connecting us more to the world instead of drawing us back and making us feel yet more separate? I believe we must challenge ourselves to meet disaster with an opening up, a reaching out, much as all the great prophets of the ages have exhorted us to do. By constructing something that is an active center for human interaction with others, we celebrate the healing of the human spirit... Shaun Johnston - New Paltz, NY, ex NYC I would like to see a return to the old tradition of a garden of remembrance. I would like to see gardens sunk perhaps 10 feet, filling the towers' footprints. I would like these to be not just flower beds, but more like parks in the English tradition, with rock-garden slopes around the edges, and slow-growing trees such as beeches to signify the duration of our commitment to remember this event. To do this, the pits would probably have to be dug to 30 feet or so, to be filled with enough soil to support such trees. This investment would be subtly felt on entering wooded parks where the towers once stood. This is a memorial that would grace the city, and be a fitting response to the act of passionate destruction that destroyed the towers. Leslee Paquette - Renton, WA The collapse of the towers affected every freedom-loving soul on the planet. Not because of the power the World Trade Centers represented, but because those powerful edifices were so vulnerable. Our freedom is equally vulnerable. The site represents more than New York. It represents the Pentagon and the field in Pennsylvania as well. No man-made structure can really do justice to the lives lost, the lives willingly given to save others, or the lives changed in an instant. The ground should remain hallowed. Each mourner bringing to the site their own remembrances and their own prayers for a world of justice and peace. I would hope there would simply be the footprint of the buildings with the skeleton of the last steel beams upright. No commerce. No profit-making. No competition. Nothing but a place to reflect and respect. Joanna Schwartz - Washington, DC I would like to see the area turned into a grassy park.. where people could fell a sense of peace.. I think building on top of the site is denying what happened... Laura Malinowski - Doylestown, PA I think the thoughts shared so far are all very valid and insightful. My opinion is to keep the memorial very close to "the people". I think the main lesson we all got from this tragedy is the importance of life and people's capacity for compassion. I believe it was in the NY Times magazine section that I saw the proposal for a memorial made up of two very large beams of light pointed toward the sky. I think this is wonderful as it leaves a ghost image of the towers that can never be destroyed and gives an impression of that which goes beyond what man can create or take away, paralleling human compassion. Perhaps around the source of the lights should be a platform with simple plaques of victims' names. My other thought is to maintain a 'presentation' of all of the notes, pictures, etc. that people have felt compelled to leave at the site. We should all be forever reminded of how this event affected peoples' attitudes toward each other. Maybe we could all remember to try and maintain that attitude outside of tragedy. Eric Avera - Houston, Texas I would hope that a WTC memorial could be spiritual without being sectarian -- i.e. meaningful to people of any religion. I would want it to preserve the best that emerged from this tragedy: the sense of love conveyed by the countless signs posted by the families of the missing, the courage and self-sacrifice of the rescue workers, the spirit of the city that would not be crushed under the weight of those buildings. I would ideally hope that the names of all those who lost their lives in this tragedy could be recorded in this memorial. James Turrell would be my first choice as well. Catherine - Los Angeles I think a memorial designed in collaboration with Serra (because of his use of steel/iron in space) and Lin (similar sensibilities of serenity and awareness of space). It'd be interesting to have male and female energies entwined in a project commemorating many different types of people lost in these disasters. Meaning, they should also have related pieces in D.C. and Pennsylvania since it was a day of terrorism in all three locations. M Z - Plymouth, MA Of the artists suggested, the work of Maya Lin certainly leaves a deep impression on the psyche. However, a collaborative effort among these artists would act as a reflection of reality; how the people of USA grieve(d) together due to the events of 9-11. Although I am disturbed by the now "incomplete" NYC skyline, perhaps a memorial park and/or reflecting pool, would provide completion for the soul. The rebuilding of office buildings would seem to harbor bad karma. Yet, it would be historically and socially valuable to incorporate into the memorial a portion of the "lace-like" structure of the remaining tower. A reminder that although we are of flesh and blood, we are strong and withstanding. J. Walden - Valhalla, NY If the 'World Bridge Project' by Eytan Kaufman can be pulled off - it sounds, and looks to be a wondrous and worthwhile answer to "what comes next".... I followed the link provided by Jason Farago and was amazed by what I found. H. Rieder - Prescott, AZ I do not feel this is the place for a large memorial, but for a park, a quiet resting place. Perhaps a part of it might be a cemetery for firemen and policemen who lose their lives in the line of duty. Many smaller works could be installed over the years in the park, creating a "sculpture garden." Stephie - Honolulu, HI Although the WTC buildings were in the U.S.A., the people who worked (and died) in them were from all over the world. I believe whoever creates a memorial should emphasize that global mix, first and foremost. The international scope of the losses seems to get lost in the noisy emphasis on patriotism for our country. We're always touting our concept of diversity. We need to reflect that in whatever we do to memorialize the lost lives. It was, after all, a WORLD trade center, not solely an American one. Leif Harmsen - Toronto, Ontario A powerful, patriotic and very American memorial would be to rebuild the towers - never mind that they were dull ugly international style towers and a very bad density error especially given their location. They would have to be reopened by Sep 11 2002 to send a clear message that the US can regenerate like the Borg: terror is futile. Perhaps we can build three 110 floor towers just to rub in our unparalleled industrial output. Failing that, it is a good place for a memorial garden above the WTC and Courtlandt St. stations. It would include a large pond, and just under its surface two squares of powerful vertical water jet nozzles would be capable of creating the watery shape of the twin towers for a minute every quarter hour. Between times the fountain would maintain a half dozen low power jets. The water and the life in the garden would be memorials to the significant loss of life, not to the insignificant material and architectural loss. Vivien Cord - Armonk, NY I would love to see the memorial use the structures which remained after the devastation...the steel cross, the moving arches. I suggest that two high beam lights point skyward to signify the Twin Towers and that steam be allowed to continuously rise from the site. (easily done from the steam pipes under the city). There should be a mound on which this is built so that there will be a resemblance of a grave, an eternal light and the memory of the (what seems to be) never ending smoke. Dick Ebert - San Francisco, CA I think a wall of marble 10"wide and 24" high would follow the edge of the property. At certain spaces a hole would be made for holding cut flowers. These places would serve for a person's name that perished in this act. The places could be grouped or individual. The space in between names would serve as a resting seat. The wall would be a foundation of cement covered with the marble. A sidewalk of design made in the shape of the towers exterior siding would be made on the ground level of this wall. Irene Brady Thomas - Alameda, CA Someone told me about an idea where lights would superimpose the WTC in the air where it was as a memorial. It would be an eerie reminder of the Center and also guarantee that it's "spirit" was still very much intact. I think this idea has been published but I am not sure of it's origin. I think it would be completely fitting. Elliot Anderson - San Francisco, CA Given that I am an artist I would welcome the privilege of being among artists to participate in what could be the most significant artwork of the new century. You have posted a stellar short list of artists, all them personal favorites and inspiration in my work. My initial reaction to the events of Sept. 11th was that language was "emptied out." My immediate thought was that the only response was silence. This was the "emptying" of the meanings that language provides for us, the comfort, the rationales, etc. This event--at least for me--changed the way language operates. I felt like I couldn't speak. I was struck mute. However, given that the media abhors a vacuum it seems that all we've done is talk. There needs to be silence. Following the event I had a dream. In the dream the hole left by one of the towers was filled to its depth with water. A still, dark, glass surfaced square pool. When I approached the pool I looked down into it and it seemed bottomless. I could see pipes, conduits, girders, etc. running across, down and through the water. Water cools, heals, renews and calms. It is the substance of baptisms. In its stillness it is silent. The pipes, conduits, etc. represented the reconnecting of person to person. Communications and language were restored--as they will be. The event is submerged, but not buried. The new meanings of language that come after silence are re-presented through the reconnections to each other. The water reflects ourselves on its surface and allows us to see into its depths through this reflection. We are now being reflected back after a rift in time and space created by the opening at the WTC site. We now have to create new meanings for our lives and our language. And that is the purpose of the monument--to help reconnect us to who we are. Elliot Anderson, Assistant Professor of Art - University of California, Santa Cruz. Matt - St. Paul, MN A memorial at the World Trade Center site is an idea that should be given a great deal of consideration. Not only for those who lost their lives and not only for the ones left to carry on. The memorial should stand for the shift in consciousness that was forced into the soul of the planet herself. Humanity as a whole was forced into changing old behavior patterns. Instead of lurking in the shadows of darkness and suffering, what is occurring within people seems to be a spirit of light and hope for a new age of world peace and unity as one. Although there has been much suffering and pain through all of this, the thing that is getting us to the other side is the hope and courage of every one of us. The more we reflect the light of love on each other, the more we make strides to put the tragedy behind us. My choice for a memorial would be a sculpture by artist Ben Marxhausen called "Spirit of Light" the sculpture would be made of steel and chrome plated to reflect the light and the shapes of a changing world... Tom Parrett - NY, NY MEMO TO: The WTC Memorial Committee FROM: A Citizen RE: What's Most Important The best memorials are not just acts of commemoration, but of defiance. Our attackers wanted - and want - to turn back the clock to seventh-century religiosity. This memorial should stand in for the Trade Center as if to say, "Nice try, pal, we hardly felt a thing." Critical attributes: Enormously vertical õ which is what the WTC was, and why it was struck. Twin: Generationally durable - not subject to pollution, seismic event, fire, water, or political whim - An attraction for the people of the whole world because it not only commemorates an event killed people from many countries and that touched billions, it offers hope that its causes are being confronted and will diminish - Invulnerable: so that the promise of such hope is not false. Money:making for Manhattan, the region, and the country - so that what is lost economically is regained. Kimberley - Ohio I think a monument showing the skeleton remains of the WTC rising into a soaring eagle would be fantastic. I also see people linking hands amidst the rubble. It's something I've had in my mind's eye for months now, but I am not a sculptor and can't execute the design myself. Lonnie Dunbier - Scottsdale, AZ I really like the idea of a memorial with lighting effects--something that has a lot of dramatic visual appear with sky-high lights. I suspect that James Turrell might be a very good choice, but undoubtedly there are others well qualified as well. Spare us from something that is too literal or that tourists can crawl all over. It should be a site that invites reverence and not a lot of Kodak moments. Zennis - Plainsboro, NJ I think we should build a memorial. It should be a building that visually represents the event. The lower part having plaques with the names of the people who lost their lives in the event. A reference to the attempt to destroy the liberty and freedom this country represents. The rest of the building should be exactly as it was except for the top. The top should represent the outpouring of patriotism that occurred as a result of the event. MJB - Rhinebeck, NY There needs to be a memorial to ALL innocent victims of armed conflict, not just the ones who died in the WTC attack. A memorial of this nature would concatenate victims of Hiroshima, WTC, Vietnam or any other place or time that unarmed innocent civilians who were not part of an armed struggle got in the way and were killed anyway. A memorial of this nature would truly honor the victims and not the conflict. Mary Connole - Washington, DC I would love to see children invited to submit designs. It could be a country-wide effort with children submitting drawings, 3-D models or photographs of models. Adults could be consultants but the ideas would come from children. Bruce Lewin - New York, NY I would like to see a square or rectangular highly manicured lawn, at least one acre in size. In the center should be a large rock monument with a memorial plaque. The plaque should say, " On this site stood the twin towers of the World Trade Center. On September 11, 2001 terrorists guided two passenger planes, one into each of the towers, causing them to collapse. 2897 innocent civilians perished in this cowardly attack. Ricky A. Lenart - New Orleans, LA Yes, I definately think they should put a Memorial where the World Trade Center use to stand. It should be dedicated to all those who died in the 2 buildings; in the 2 planes that hit the 2 buildings; plus those who died in the Pentagon& the people in the plane that hit the Pentagon; & honoring the people who died in the 4th plane that crashed (of course excluding all terrorists!). There should be names of all Firemen & Policemen who lost their lives helping save other peoples' lives of the buildings. A special dedication to those saving lives! Mike Grogan - Minneapolis, MN There are several questions here and I would like to deal with each in turn. It seems to me that there must be a memorial of some kind, too much was lost and that loss needs acknowledgment. I also believe that there is a need to rebuild, one good suggestion that I heard was that the memorial should be built on the "footprint" of the towers, this is hallowed ground and should be treated as such. Redevelopment could then take place on the rest of the site. As to who should design the memorial, a plan similar to the Oklahoma City memorial plan seems appropriate. Take submissions and let the relatives of the victims serve as the final arbiters. While we all lost some of ourselves on Sept. 11th, they have suffered the most, if they are to go there someday to remember lost loved ones, they should decide what that place should look like. Sara - Woodstock, IL Due to the fact that a huge amount of people died because of the evil doings of another, I believe that there should be a memorial built on the former WTC grounds. These were innocent people living as they normally would, then the unexpected occurred. There perhaps could be a collage of all the victims faces on this memorial so that they can always be remembered as who they were. This would also give the future a look into the past to see what happened, and to what type of people. It would also show that these types of things can happen to anybody, no matter what color they are, what age, what sex. Perhaps the memorial could suggest to the future that we all need to come together all the time, not just in the time of crisis. If I were to design the memorial, I would construct it as a huge heart, have the images and names of the victims all over the heart, and place a big flaming torch on top of this heart that always burns, symbolizing courage, and eternity. Nahid Mahdavi - New York, NY In my opinion if a memorial is decided it should be by artists from all the countries who lost people in the tragedy. Although it was in Manhattan it was an international center of business. The memorial should respect the sensibilities of all these different cultures and people. An open forum for better understanding and respect of different cultures and it should not be another religious site which would antagonize a lot of people. A memorial to the enduring strength of human intelligence. Reiko Habe - Arlington, VA Although I would select Maya Lin if we have to select from the list provided, I think that the competition should be held for this kind of project. Without a competition, there was no Vietnam Memorial like the one we have there now and no Maya Lin either as she is now. It was an imaginative, innovative, provocative yet spiritually very deep conception of commemorating the dead heroes which would not have been discovered without such a process of open competition and the strong, confident, themselves-imaginative and innovative juries' determination to weather many political and other obstacles against the chosen design. While Lin's design proved to be superb, this does not mean that there will not be any other different or even better solution to the WTC project. Angelo Carrion - New York City, NY Of course Maya Lin is the front runner in these kinds of funerary memorials. But I would like to see a collaborative body work on it. That would include Frank Gehry and Richard Serra. We need a builder and a very spiritual person like these two gentlemen are. Corine Gebhardt - Allendale, New Jersey I would like to see as some part of the memorial a very large tapestry/quilt like flag made from the victims clothing. It could be placed behind a glass wall. Relatives could donate red, white and blue clothing from the their loved ones. The names of the person would be engraved over there part of the flag. I think that those who died there should be made a part of it in this very intimate way! Muero Perez-Fuerto - New York, NY I think the memorial should be designed by someone not in the "art world". As someone who lives on the Lower East Side I see everyday complex and unique "sculptures" that line the streets and business institutions in Lower Manhattan. While these are nice, I think they are not very approachable to the 'non-art world educated' public in terms of thinking deeper about meaning etc. I am afraid that if the memorial's idea creation is restricted to only "art people" the type of memorial that will happen will not be fresh, but just the another "abstract exploration" of the artists will. I hope that, just like with the selection of Lin (ironically for this statement) when the Vietnam Memorial was built, that the person who builds this memorial will be someone 'out of the blue' with a good idea, not a someone who will just build the same thing in a new context (like a Serra 'metal place-space experiment' which it seems like every city has now). In the end I think that a deep breath should be taken and all options explored. Susan - Carmichael, CA I would choose James Turrell because he may be able to somehow capture the mystical quality of light immediately after the collapse of the Trade Center and and the light of flood lights in which workers have been steadily working at night to find remains and remove the crumbled building. Also, I would choose Maya Lin because of her minimalist style and her incredible ability to make memorials accessible, understandable to everyone and for her ability to recognize each individual victim with due respect. Also because people can actively participate in her structures. Lastly, I would choose Richard Serra for his ability to create massive structures that defy gravity and conventional ideas of balance. I could see him creating in steel a semblance of the structure that was left standing in the middle of the rubble; Maya Lin putting her stamp on it with names of all the victims, and Turrell's facility with light illuminating it with reverence. Marion - Brooklyn, NY I think Richard Serra should do the WTC memorial. When I see his sculptures I say "A man made that." This is the same thing I used to say when I looked at the Twin Towers. I think he really felt it to see such a huge beautiful structure fall. Also he's born an American. This is very important. I feel that people who are not born in America - although they may love this country and want to be an American - their hearts are always in their country. Jason Farago - New Haven, CT There's a wondrous proposal by Eytan Kaufman to replace the lost real estate with a bridge that connects Battery Park to Jersey City. You can see it here: www.ny-worldbridge.com John Fronza - Atlanta, GA I think maybe someone like myself should be considered as a candidate for a memorial design. I remember the scenes of the World Trade Center, and the most mind emblazoned image I can remember are the two pieces of the building that where left and almost gave the illusion of saying, "I will be remembered, and I will prevail". When I lived in the City I remember seeing the World Trade Center for the first time as a very young man. I remember seeing those beautiful cathedral arches on the first level that where almost spiritual in there appearance. And that was the last thing I saw standing. As the light from the excavation project showed on it, it was one of the most moving moments in my artistic career. The memorial has to have both a day and evening impact on the emotions of the mind. SA Murray - Los Angeles, CA I think the WTC remnants should be made into a dignified and beautiful marble memorial with each person that died having a permanent place where their name is engraved along with any other symbols of the person like some photos or a poem they wrote. It needs to be a place where folks can come and mourn and remember their loved ones. Also to have spotlights going up to the sky which is an idea another artist's group had and flowers. It would also be place that all of us would want to visit to remember the innocents lost. I am an artist and responded to the 9/11 horror with my own interpretations which are now published in CHILD ART Magazine along with a child's work: http://www.samurray.com/911art.htm Thanks for giving me a place to share about this. |
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