Student essay on 9/11 photography, Oct 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

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Paintingfor Peace A Community United by Tragedy Jane Pae As New York City reeled from the shock of the “I really felt we as a school came together,” World Trade Center tragedy, hundreds of said senior Ethan Glasser-Camp. “1 wanted to Stuyvesant students gathered in Greenwich Village come because it was a chance to do something My teachers listened to all on Sunday, September 16, to paint two giant important.” the announcements and fol­ murals commemorating the previous Tuesday’s Marx said he chose the 12-by-80-foot pieces of lowed orders. It was weird destruction and the lives it claimed. tarp because he wanted “the dimensions of the At a time when volunteers and donations of murals [to] reflect the image of the two towers and because I was with a teacher food and clothing overwhelmed relief organiza­ serve as a precious reminder of the immense loss who was extremely confused tions around the city, Stuyvesant senior Eden Marx of human life,” and none of us understood organized an outlet for students, and encouraged Despite the size of the murals, there wasn’t him. I was mostly concerned everyone from freshmen to seniors to participate always enough space to accommodate all the stu­ about everyone in Stuy, in painting. dents at once. Marx said he was surprised by the including my brother.... I “It just struck me as a good idea,” said Marx. “I “incredible” turnout, considering the fact that all remember being in the lobby wanted to help out in some the information was sent as the second tower came way.” By bringing Stuy stu- out the night before, prima- dents together to express rily by e-mail. Even down and being really scared; themselves in a creative Principal Stanley Teitel, all of the emergency vehicles project, Marx hoped to I $|lKllj Stuyvesant Network and workers came rushing help by both "getting peo- I «•- Administrator Michael towards us and everyone pies feelings out and doing I R Zamansky, and Stuyvesant started pushing to go out the something nice.” I 'q father and U.S. Senator other way. Marx estimated that a Chuck Schumer stopped by over 400 students gathered If —Jeremy Wooster, freshman in Washington Square I 1'3 observe early afternoon to the progress. Village in Manhattan I 0 Marx’s mother. Walking closer to the World between 10 a.m. and 9:30 t ■ MKiri v-v Madeleine, purchased all Trade Center complex, we p.M. to sketch and paint the W M the supplies, making the were searching for a better two 12-by-80-foot pieces of K «*] event possible. Participants view. We found, literally, tarp. The first mural, _ nk were asked to contribute ten more than we could handle. designed by John Headley, dollars to help finance the Standing on the corner of a graduate of Teachers College at Columbia project. The profits will be donated to a charity to University, depicted a tree growing out of rubble oe selected. Chambers Street and with “Tree of Life” written in over 35 lanmages. Photos of the murals can be seen at Greenwich Street, time stood Senior Alzaber Rubayet designed the second mural www.stuy.edu/mural. Marx was very pleased with still. For what seemed like an on the spot. It was a montage of a city skyline, an how the project ran. “Everything went so smooth- eternity, I stood there, American flag, a police badge, a Red Cross arm ly,” he said. ‘^Everyone totally cooperated and were clutching my best friend, and band, and an upside-down fire helmet with a very spirited about the whole thing.” stared.... Then the tower fell. sapling growing out of it. At the bottom was a par- Mrs. Marx, who also created the Richard Scared out of my mind, I tidly destroyed brick wall spray-painted with the Rothenberg Memorial on the fourth floor of dragged my friend back words, "New York Thanks Its Heroes,” Stuyvesant, agreed, “It was a very important day Although mostly Stuyvesant students partici- for kids to get together and do something con- towards our school, hoping pated in the project, the school’s name was not structive and wonderful,” she said, “And I think to find my brother and run included in the murals because, according to sen- they accomplished that.” away. To the south, a dust ior Danny Garwood, to do so would have been cloud was going west and “selfish.” Note: The Tree of Life mural was displayed on the north—towards where we Nonetheless, Marx said he wants the murals eastern side of Stuyvesant. The mural was unable were standing. A mass of to hang on Stuyvesant’s walls. “We need somebody to withstand the wind, and was therefore removed. people moved, becoming at to physically put it up,” he said. For now, the The second mural was cut in half and bordered the murals are sitting in Marx’s apartment. United States flag for the senior photo, and will be once a single, frightened In addition to valuing the murals as artwork, used for the Graduation Ceremony in June. organism and several chaotic many students said they parts. Finally in school, I couldn't hold it in anymore.... For the first time since I enjoyed how students of all ed m the face of adversity. endings by Alison Shapiro ' 1 found out my mom was sick, “The mural painting was an The has gouged a kwouth Luto the side of the bui.Ldi.iAg. I cried. embodiment of the positive The MADuth exhales tidal waves of deep gTau siwotee results of this tragedy, in that that curl arouiAd the bulLdlug's sharp steel augles —Laurence Wooster, senior Stuyvesant students had a chance to reach out to one Lltee the way the skuotee froku the heroine's cigarette another and partake in a col­ always ouiTs perfectly aroukvd her face lu, old kuovles. lective event that I believe People fall Lltee kueteors aLougslde the debris. gave the school a greater The first guy l ever reaLLy Loved soruehow ervds up hoLdlug rue. sense of community,” said It Is the ftrst tlnxe we have touched lu- over a year senior Alice Cao. “I went to the mural painting because 1 I aru kbo herolkve. ( waLte uptown- chalkvskuotelng while dowkvtown, felt that we would be creat- people are dying froku breathing skuotee. i hear a kuother singing ing a project that represent­ ed the togetherness present the en-d of the song: Life Is but a drearu. Her daughter cries. at Stuy. It was great to see the I thln-te about the things I n-ever told people. large turnout and everyone I thln-te about the horrible beauty In, the collapse of a ruoun-taln,, so eager to lend a hand.’ l^akvd how graceful sokue things can- be, falling apart.

10 The Spectator • Fall 2001

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