Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Inside the Tribute in Light
Control Geek: It's been five years since I was once again fortunate (2010 and also 1985 pictures here) to be able to visit my friends at the moving and beautiful Tribute in Light here in New York on September 11. Here's a few photos and a video of the lights being turned on after one of the times they turned the lights off to disperse migrating birds who end up circling in the lights
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3 comments:
The spectacle of this tribute is absolutely gorgeous. Creating a memorial out of light is such a powerful concept. Two towers of light that go infinitely high and will never be knocked down. I love it. To the person who designed it, It kind of reminds me of the holocaust memorial in Berlin. One of many, of course, but the one I'm referring to is the full city block devoted to varying heights of concrete blocks with about three feet in between each. That monument, when visited, is so powerful, and it just leaves me to wonder how somebody could design memorials for tragic events? This is one architectural and design aspect that terrifies me. I could never imagine designing and creating a structure, or in this case a light structure, that can symbolize the tragedy of the event and simultaneously, signify power and hope for the future. All the war memorials in Washington DC also terrify me. Not in their scale or their meaning, but merely the thought of the poor soul who had to encompass one huge horrific event into a simple structure which can get that message across to people who weren't directly affected by it. I do not envy the work that these designers have to do.
I really do love beam-itecture, and in the haze of new york city, the light art installation really works nicely. I think the two square columns of light are a very fitting and tasteful tribute to the 9/11 tragedy. The two beams of angelic light are moving and simple in a way that allows the viewer to remember the tragedy, but also provides a place for them to reflect on themselves. Like many moving works of art, the art is canvas for the interpretations and thoughts of the viewer, people will always be drawn to things for reasons completely their own, and this installation is a brilliant use of simple line and form to create the image of a national memory. The towering height of the project, and how the top disappears into infinity drives home the immortality of the event, in a simple and elegant way.
I’ve only been to New York City one time, and that was this past summer. Unfortunately though I was unable to visit one of the few places I really wanted to go to, the 9/11 Memorial. I remember where I was on that fateful day fourteen years ago. I have friends who had relatives in those buildings. I don’t know if being raised in Texas helped with my patriotism for this country, but every year, I always remind myself of what happened back then. One of the few things about those events, was how we were able to stand together and rise up from the ashes. Amidst all of the wreckage, having a tribute like this, as simplistic as it is with just a few lights, it brings a calm reminder to those fateful days. To go to New York City and look upon the memorial, I’m sure it will bring about some emotions, but those who are too young to know what it was all about, might not get the same feelings, and think it’s just a cool fountain.
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