Wikipedia

Artwork damaged or destroyed in the September 11 attacks

"Artwork at the World Trade Center (1973–2001)" redirects here. For artwork at the new complex, see Artwork at the World Trade Center (2001-present).

The original World Trade Center complex featured a variety of sculptures and other art pieces from 1973 until the destruction of the buildings in the September 11 attacks. Many of these art pieces were located on the Austin J. Tobin Plaza in the center of the complex, or in the lobby of 7 World Trade Center.

The Sphere, which was located on the plaza and ultimately survived the September 11 attacks.

Works

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Bent Propeller (1970) by Alexander Calder

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Main article: Bent Propeller
 
The lobby of 7 World Trade Center, Bent Propeller can be seen as the red sculpture to the left of the pedestrian bridge.

The sculpture was commissioned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 1969 and installed in 1970 at the World Trade Center in New York City.

The sculpture was heavily damaged in the collapse of 7 World Trade Center, where the sculpture was located. Only around 40 percent of the sculpture was recovered from the site after the attacks. With not enough of the original remaining for a restoration, the recovered elements were stored by the Calder Foundation. Today, a portion of the sculpture can be found at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.[1]

The Sphere (1971) by Fritz Koenig

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Main article: The Sphere
 
The Sphere, located in the center of the plaza.

The world's largest bronze sculpture of modern times stood between the Twin Towers on the Austin J. Tobin Plaza of the World Trade Center in New York City from 1972 until the September 11 attacks. The work, weighing more than 20 tons, was the only remaining work of art to be recovered largely intact from the ruins of the collapsed Twin Towers. After being dismantled and stored near a hangar at John F. Kennedy International Airport, the sculpture was the subject of the 2001 documentary Koenig's Sphere. Since then, the bronze sphere has become a memorial for the attacks.

The sculpture was installed in Battery Park between 2002 and 2017, when the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey moved it to Liberty Park, overlooking the September 11 Memorial and its original location.[2] The sculpture, rededicated at its permanent location on August 16, 2017, has been kept in the badly damaged condition it was found in after the September 11 attacks.[2]

Ideogram (1972) by James Rosati

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Main article: Ideogram (sculpture)
 
The Austin J. Tobin Plaza, with Ideogram in view.

Located on the Austin J. Tobin Plaza,[3] in front of the Marriott World Trade Center, the work was lost in the September 11 attacks. Though the sculpture may have survived the attacks and collapse of the buildings, its steel material was indistinguishable from the Ground Zero rubble. As a result, the sculpture was never recovered, and its remains were removed from Ground Zero along with the rest of the rubble.[4]

According to Saul Wenegrat, former director of the art program for the Port Authority, the sculpture may have been the most photographed piece of art in the World Trade Center Complex. It was also featured in many fashion advertisements.[3]

World Trade Center Plaza Sculpture (1972) by Masayuki Nagare

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Main article: World Trade Center Plaza Sculpture
 
The plaza, seen in 1976. The World Trade Center Plaza Sculpture can be seen in the center.

Completed in 1972, Cloud Fortress occupied a minor plaza between buildings 4 and 5 that gave access from Church Street to the large Austin J. Tobin Plaza central to the complex of World Trade Center buildings.[5]

The sculpture survived the immediate attacks and collapse of the adjacent buildings, but was demolished several days later by emergency efforts to access and clear the site[6] and provide a stable area for heavy machinery to further access Austin J. Tobin Plaza. Following the sculpture's demolition, its remains were removed from Ground Zero along with the rest of the rubble.[5]

In 2004, Nagare created a one-half replica and named it "Cloud Fortress Jr."("雲の砦Jr."). It is on display at Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art.[7]

The World Trade Center Tapestry (1974) by Doug Argue

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Main article: The World Trade Center Tapestry

Saul Wenegrat, former director of the art program for the Port Authority of New York, had suggested to Miró that he could make a tapestry for the World Trade Center, but the artist declined as he would only make the work with his own hands but had no experience of making a tapestry. However, after his daughter recovered from an accident in Spain, Miró agreed to make a tapestry for the hospital that had treated her as a token of his gratitude. Having learned the technique from tapestry maker Josep Royo, Miró made several other tapestries with Royo, including one for the World Trade Center, Woman for the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and one for the Fundació Joan Miró.[8]

The work was an abstract design, with bright blocks of colour, red, green, blue and yellow, with black elements and a light brown background. Made of wool and hemp, it measured 20 × 35 feet (6.1 × 10.7 m) and weighed 4 tons. It was completed in 1973 and displayed at a retrospective at the Grand Palais in Paris before being installed in New York City in 1974.[8]

Recollection Pond (1974) by Romare Bearden

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Recollection Pond was a 61″ x 79″ tapestry by Romare Bearden that was located in the World Trade Center from 1974 until its' destruction in 2001. It was also briefly displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[9]

Entablature (1975) by Roy Lichtenstein

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Entablature was an abstract painting designed by Roy Lichtenstein. It was destroyed in the attacks during the collapse of 7 World Trade Center, where it was located.[10]

Sky Gate, New York (1978) by Louise Nevelson

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Main article: Sky Gate, New York
 
The lobby of 1 World Trade Center in 2000. Sky Gate, New York is the black object that can be seen hanging on the wall.

The sculpture was commissioned by Saul Wenegrat, director of the art program for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, for the World Trade Center and its "Percent For Art" program.[11] The piece evolved through several redesigns before its dedication.

The largest work the sculptor had created to date,[11] the wall piece was 32 feet wide, 17 feet tall and a foot thick[11] — and comprised more than 35 segments, each a dark painted wood relief. Completed in 1977 or 1978 (reported variously), Sky Gate' was dedicated at the mezzanine of One World Trade Center on December 12, 1978, overlooking Austin J. Tobin Plaza.[12][13] Kitty Carlisle Hart, chair of the New York State Council on the Arts presided over the ceremony.[11]

The sculpture was destroyed during the September 11 attacks and was not recovered.[12]

The Third Circle (1986) by Al Held

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The painting, done by Al Held, was located in the lobby of 7 World Trade Center from 1986 until its' destruction in 2001.[14][15]

Crusading Euphoria (1989) by Ross Bleckner

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Crusading Euphoria was a large painting of vertical lines in a pattern completed by Ross Bleckner in 1989. It was located in the lobby of 7 World Trade Center, and was never recovered after the September 11 attacks.[16]

 
The plaza, as seen during the September 11 attacks. The 1993 World Trade Center Bombing Memorial is the circular fountain to the left of the stage.

1993 World Trade Center Bombing Memorial (1995) by Elyn Zimmerman

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Main article: 1993 World Trade Center Bombing Memorial

Designed by Elyn Zimmerman, the memorial and its surroundings were intentionally made to resemble a bullseye when observed from a bird's-eye view,[17] as it was situated directly above the ground zero site of the bombing, between One World Trade Center and the Marriott World Trade Center Hotel.[18]

The interior of the fountain had purposely cracked, white granite walls that evoked the appearance of ancient tumulus markers—mounds of earth raised over graves.[19][20]

Laestrygonia & Telepilus Laestrygonia II (1997) by Frank Stella

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Laestrygonia and Telepilus Laestrygonia II were a series of 10-foot by 10-foot paintings completed by artist Frank Stella, that hung in the lobby of 7 World Trade Center until they were both destroyed in 2001. They were bought by Larry Silverstein in 1997.[21]

World Trade Center Peace on Earth Sculpture (1998)

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The World Trade Center Peace on Earth Sculpture was a large sculpture that stood on the West Street stairs that led to the plaza from 1998 to 2001.[22]

Private art collections

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The World Trade Center alone held more than 430 tenants at the time of the attacks.[23] In addition to the decorative art that each office contained, some firms held large corporate art collections.

Three companies held major corporate art collections in the World Trade Center: Fred Alger, Cantor Fitzgerald, and Bank of America. Aside from these three, all other companies in the World Trade Center kept their artwork in other locations.[24]

Cantor Fitzgerald

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In addition to losing the most lives in the attack, Cantor Fitzgerald lost the most artwork. Their offices on the 105th floor of the North Tower housed a gallery which held an estimated 300 casts of Rodin sculptures.[24]

Some of the Rodin works were recovered a quarter mile away from Ground Zero, including a bust from The Burghers of Calais, two of the three figures from The Three Shades, and a cast of The Thinker. After being recovered, The Thinker cast went missing, possibly due to theft.[25]

Citigroup

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The collection of Citigroup, whose office was in World Trade Center Building 7, contained 1,113 works of art which were all lost on September 11, 2001, according to Suzanne F. W. Lemakis who was the Citigroup Art Curator at the time of the attacks.[26]

The Citigroup collection at the World Trade Center consisted of about 75% prints, many of which were mass-produced and were replaceable. Also lost were English and American antique furniture, and Asian porcelains.[27]

According to Lemakis, the most expensive painting in Citigroup's collection was a large mural depicting Wall Street, painted by an unknown designer.[27]

Fred Alger

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Also located in the North Tower, this firm lost a collection of photographs by photographers including Cindy Sherman and Hiroshi Sugimoto.[24]

Bank of America

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Bank of America's office in the World Trade Center lost over 100 works of art by contemporary artists.[24]

J.P. Morgan Chase

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At the time of the attack, the firm had only five lithographs in its Trade Center office, keeping most of its corporate art collection of over 17,000 works of art at its offices two blocks from the World Trade Center.[24][25]

Art studios in the World Trade Center

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The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council had its offices in Building 5 of the World Trade Center, and two studios on the 91st and 92nd floors of The North Tower. The Council hosted an artist-in-residency program, called World Views, which hosted 15 artists from around the globe and was supposed to run from May–November 2001. The 15 artists worked in the studios in the North Tower. Nearly all of their artwork was lost in the attack on and subsequent collapse of the towers. At least one of the artists, Jamaican-born sculptor Michael Richards, also died in the attacks. Richards had worked through the night in the towers on an unfinished sculpture, a memorial piece dedicated to the Tuskegee Airmen, which portrayed a pilot riding a burning meteor.[28][29][30]

The council also lost all of its archives that had been in their offices in Building 5.[29]

Government art collections

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At the Pentagon, a total of 24 artworks were destroyed with an additional 40 pieces receiving substantial damage. None of the works were insured, so there is no monetary estimate to what was lost. But Army art curator Renee Klish has noted that "the importance of the military collections is historic, not monetary."[31] Marine art curator Jack Dyer described the art pieces lost at the Pentagon and in New York as "cultural casualties."[31]

The Army lost eight paintings at the Pentagon in the Army Center of Military History including:

  • O.D. One Each by Gary Porter, 1967[31][32]
  • The Battle of Attleboro by Gary Porter, large oil painting[32]
  • The Nucklebusters[31]

Out of approximately 200 works the Navy held at the Pentagon, two are unaccounted for after the attack; one sustained extensive smoke damage; and roughly 40 more had minor smoke damage. The Air Force lost ten paintings, all of various aircraft. Seven artworks owned by the Marine Corps were also destroyed. They lost six lithographs, paintings, and one print. An additional seven other works were damaged.[31]

On September 11, American Airlines Flight 77 came to a stop with its nose cone resting on the back wall of the Pentagon library which held over 500,000 books and documents dating back to the early 1800s. All library staff escaped, but the Chief Army Librarian Ann Parham suffered facial burns. The collection was not fully catalogued, due to the rapid addition of new documents and regulations, and it was also not insured. The books and documents were damaged by mold; soot containing hydrochloric acid; asbestos debris; water damage; and smoke damage. The library’s restoration cost $500,000 and saved approximately 99% of the book collection and all of its historic materials.[33][31]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Alexandar Calder". Art of the World Trade Center. August 7, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Otterman, Sharon (November 29, 2017). "Battered and Scarred, 'Sphere' Returns to 9/11 Site". The New York Times.
  3. ^ a b Wenegrat, Saul (February 28, 2002). "September 11th: ART LOSS, DAMAGE, AND REPERCUSSIONS Proceedings of an IFAR Symposium on February 28, 2002". ifar.org. International Foundation For Art Research. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  4. ^ Quay, Sara E.; Damico, Amy M. (2010). September 11 in Popular Culture: A Guide: A Guide. United States of America: ABC-CLIO. p. 265. ISBN 978-0-313-35505-9.
  5. ^ a b Senle, Harriet F. (2016). Memorials to Shattered Myths: Vietnam to 9/11. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 124. ISBN 978-0-19-024839-0.
  6. ^ Corkill, Edan (September 13, 2007). "Memories of fortresses and clouds". Japan Times. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  7. ^ 雲の砦Jr., Database of Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art
  8. ^ a b "Lives and Treasures Taken (November 2002) - Library of Congress Information Bulletin". www.loc.gov. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  9. ^ october (April 17, 2012). "Recollection Pond (1975) – Aubusson Weave Wool Tapestry, 5.1′ x 6.7′". October Gallery. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  10. ^ "Roy Lichtenstein". Art of the World Trade Center. August 8, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d Wilson, Laurie (December 16, 2016). Louise Nevelson: Light and Shadow. New York: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978-0500773741 – via Google Books.
  12. ^ a b Wenegrat, Saul (February 28, 2002). "September 11th: ART LOSS, DAMAGE, AND REPERCUSSIONS Proceedings of an IFAR Symposium on February 28, 2002". International Foundation For Art Research. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  13. ^ Scott, Andrea K. (May 9, 2007). "A Life Made Out of Wood, Metal and Determination". The New York Times. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  14. ^ See: "Al Held". National Gallery of Australia. Archived from the original on June 9, 2007. Retrieved May 29, 2007. Plagens, Peter (April 17, 1989). "Is Bigger Necessarily Better?". Newsweek.
  15. ^ "Al Held". Art of the World Trade Center. August 7, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  16. ^ "Ross Bleckner". Art of the World Trade Center. August 8, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  17. ^ "World Trade Center Memorial 1995". ELYN ZIMMERMAN. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  18. ^ "NYC bombing memorial dedicated". The Ithaca Journal. May 26, 1995. p. 4. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  19. ^ "Memorial dedicated to victims of Blast at World Trade Center". The Herald Statesman. May 26, 1995. p. 24. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  20. ^ Zimmerman, Elyn (February 28, 2002). The World Trade Center Memorial, 1993 (PDF). September 11: Art Loss, Damage, and Repercussions. International Foundation for Art Research. pp. 13–14. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 27, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  21. ^ "Frank Stella". Art of the World Trade Center. August 7, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  22. ^ "Holidays at the World Trade Center | National September 11 Memorial & Museum". www.911memorial.org. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  23. ^ "List of World Trade Center tenants". cnn.com. CNN. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  24. ^ a b c d e "A museum in the sky". The Economist. October 11, 2001. Archived from the original on November 13, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  25. ^ a b Barry, Dan; Rashbaum, William K. (May 20, 2002). "Born of Hell, Lost After Inferno; Rodin Work From Trade Center Survived, and Vanished". New York Times. New York City. Archived from the original on December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  26. ^ Lemakis, Suzanne F.W. (February 28, 2002). "The Art Lost by Citigroup on 9/11". ifar.org. International Foundation for Art Research. Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  27. ^ a b Lemakis, Suzanne F.W. (February 28, 2002). "The Art Lost by Citigroup on 9/11". ifar.org. International Foundation for Art Research. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  28. ^ "Lost Art Hundreds of Works Were Destroyed in the Trade Center Attack". National Public Radio. October 16, 2001. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  29. ^ a b Cotter, Holland (December 3, 2001). "ART REVIEW; The Studios Were Lost, But the Artists Get Their Day". New York Times. New York City. Archived from the original on January 28, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  30. ^ "'Up to' $100m art lost in attacks". BBC. October 5, 2001. Archived from the original on November 22, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  31. ^ a b c d e f Cataclysm and Challenge: Impact of September 11, 2001, on Our Nation's Cultural Heritage (PDF). Heritage Preservation (Report). pp. 13–14.
  32. ^ a b Medal of Valor awarded. Masonic Travelers. December 24, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  33. ^ Bridge, Sarah; Kazi, Stastna (August 21, 2011). "9/11 anniversary: What was lost in the damage". CBC. Archived from the original on January 19, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
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