This was done from a photograph taken when I was at Montauk Point on Long Island, New York for a family reunion. Many years had passed — in fact it was September 9, 2001. The next day, Monday, I was returning home from NY to San Francisco via Boston. I was stopping in Boston for the day to visit my dad, who was in the hospital there. I had a great visit, Dad was recuperating well, and at 4:30 pm I headed off to Logan only to discover my flight was delayed. They pushed it out two more times and the last time I was given an alternative ticket for Tues, Sept 11. Yes, on the very flight that crashed into the World Trade Center. Fortunately, my flight took off that night and I arrived home safely. Also fortunately, my cousins (who worked in the WTC), didn't go into work Tuesday. They were still out at Montauk Point and were safe. But the trauma they experienced in losing colleagues, and almost having lost their own lives, plus my near brush, made us so grateful to be alive, and devastated at those who lost theirs.
When I came across this photo, the memories came rushing back and I decided that I wanted to do it as a way of banishing all the horror of that day. I wanted to create a new memory of beauty and joy and the love we experienced in being together at Montauk Point. And as a prayer for those who surely went to heaven that day.
Soft pastels on archival paper.
