Seismic Shift

It was a huge privilege when I was asked to create an art piece for the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. The ‘Ground Zero 360’ exhibition, which will be held at the Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas, Texas, will feature artists from all over the world and will open on the 9th of September this year. Before the opening of the exhibition there was a special viewing of some of the art pieces at the US Ambassadors residence in the Phoenix Park, Dublin.

To use while creating my art piece I was entrusted with a very special piece of steel I-beam. This section of I-beam was actually salvaged from the remains of fallen Twin Towers. I remember the hairs on the back of neck standing on end when I first held it. The magnitude of what happened on that terrible day and the sorrow from needless loss of so many lives seemed to be somehow seeping out of this piece of steel. When setting out on my artistic journey I had intended to only ever feature natural elements in my art and not use anything manmade. But as soon as I was asked to contribute to this incredible exhibition I knew my stance was about to change.

Material

I-beam salvaged from 9/11 Ground Zero