As noted here last week, artist (and musician) David Ouimet was creating a new 9/11 mural — incorporating part of the original — starting today here on Ninth Street at Avenue A.
The original 9/11 mural here was in bad shape. (Nigel, an owner of Gelarto, the corner business, had asked for feedback about the mural.) Ouimet saved what he could from that work.
He started earlier this morning... and will be joined by his kids at some point today...
Jesse Fischler, who co-owned the former Shrine Records on Ninth Street, created the original mural.
Updated 9/11
The mural will be finished this evening...
Updated 5 p.m.
Before the mural was completed (and while Ouimet was away) building management installed new trash bins, bolting them into the sidewalk in front of the work...
When apprised of the situation, landlord Icon Realty gave Gelarto the OK to incorporate the trash bins into the final work... so now the artist will figure out how to make this work ...
Photos by Steven
Previously on EV Grieve:
A new (and refurbished) 9/11 mural for 9th Street and Avenue A
Thoughts on the 9/11 mural on 9th and A
The 9/11 mural on 9th and A
14 comments:
I don't why they felt compelled to mess with this wall. No offense to the artist taking over the task but this mural may be the only remaining (In the East Village) tribute to those we lost on that infamous day 16 years ago. The graffiti which surrounded the original mural although having nothing to do with this tribute reflected how people too young to remember or indifferent to history do what those people always do, disfigure someone else's art. Nothing will stop this from happening again on this now smaller version. Perhaps the owners of the Gelato place want one more Instagram opportunity for their transient clientette once the in store props get old.
Listen, if Michelangelo's paintings in the Sistine Chapel could undergo restoration, so can this mural. You want to be outraged? Then go yell at the owner of the Dion Cleaners building on west side of 14th and A, who whitewashed over that fantastic Chico 9-11 mural, which was actually begun the night of 9-11-01, so they could put up a wall of advertising for shit like the next must-have vodka or trendy gadget. Track down the guys from the old Stuyvesant Grocery on the east side of 14th and A, who covered up Chico's second 9-11 sister mural with their outdoor flower stall, leaving nothing but the top 6" of the mural visible. Send out a voodoo curse against George Campbell Jr. and the other hacks in Cooper Union who had the exquisite mural on the side of the landmarks-worthy 35 Cooper Square painted over. Yes, we have lost many original murals to greed, indifference, and vandalism, but at least the Gelarto people care enough to have a portion of the original saved, and have the wall refurbished.
It was time for this wall to be renewed. It was a total eyesore for the past few months and was about to be completely tagged over. Thanks to the Gelarto owner for doing this, and I can't wait to see what it look like when it is done.
Gojira, I'm glad that I'm not the only one who remembers (and mourns the loss of) the beautiful "Forever Tall" mural on 35 Cooper Square. It was an example of when art truly spoke to and for the needs of the community.
I deplore the graffiti on the original mural on 9th and am gratified that the effort is being made to restore even a portion of the memorial.
I have to agree with Gojira and Giovanni. So far it's a thoughtful approach to blending the old with the new, which is all you can ask for in this world. Some of us made fun of the name Gelarto but they seem to respect art more than most. Thanks!
I assume the postings above which approve of this revisionist revamp of the 9/11 memorial are somewhat long time residents of the EV yet you all think that this framed Sears quality refresh will not get tagged and covered with graffiti by the same or new assholes that disrespected the original one. The Gelato place must have a fan club posting here some people think we have become 100% gentrified and spray paint free. I would have preferred the mural to have vanished a more dignified vanishing under years of graffiti than this poor restoration effort.
Anon. 8:55, I've lived here for 39 years, so, yes, long time resident of the EV and one, by the way, who has never set foot in Gelarto, since I'm not a big ice cream fan. And my desire to see this mural refreshed has nothing to do with wanting the neighborhood to be "100% gentrified and spray paint free" - I am always on here lamenting the demise of the old EV and snarking about how glitzy it has become. So that argument doesn't hold water, either. What I also am is curious as to your pronouncement that this is a "poor restoration effort" when it only in its beginning stages, and is far from finished. Your ESP working overtime to let you know what it's going to look like when it's finished? And who are you, anyway, a combination of John Simon and The Amazing Kreskin? (Look 'em up.)
No, the real reason I want to see this mural re-done is because of a lingering sense of respect, grief and loss, for both the buildings and all of the people who died that day and in the years after from related complications. You can say the graffiti is "authentic" and will just show up again, I say it's a desecration of what should still be regarded as sacred. Youthful boredom, easy access to spray paint, and an "I don't give a shit" attitude is far from "dignified", and I can't help but wonder how you'd react if somebody tagged your parents' headstone the way this small but heartfelt memorial to so many whose bodies were never found, and who have no final resting place but the ether, was. Care to clue me in?
Fish, pigeons and a tribute to the towers, 1973-2001, I guess the victims don''t get mention on this version.
Gojira @11:52? Amen! I've been here 40 years myself. So--not born in my building, but here long enough to have a stake in the neighborhood. I'm assuming that the commenters who are dismissive of the desire to restore the mural are very young and perhaps incapable of imagining the grief and shock of 9/11. I'd propose that it is possible to want an East Village where art is respected and not have that wish confused with approval of gentrification, hipsterization, high commercial rents, and all of the other ills that we deplore. "Gentrified" and "spray-paint-free" (to cite Anonymous 8:55) are NOT the same thing.
@Gojira
Let me first say that I always admire your comments, they are clear, intelligent and reasoned. I am also a long time resident 36 last month and I believe that the heyday of graffiti as art form and often social statement are well behind us now. The very idea that this 16 year old memorial to our fellow citizens who were murdered that day was tagged mercilessly by fools too young to know it's significance or simply didn't care is disheartening. Having said that this "clean up" job is in my opinion a bigger disaster than I imagined. Please keep in. mind that real estate like Icon who owns this building uses mural which are safe, non-threatening to make our neighborhood feel less threatening to tourist and the new transient renters, this mural was just castrated by the Gelato place, Icon and this artist. The incredible ironic placement of the new trash containers show's what Icon really thinks about memorial. The garbage container will provide a platform for anyone wanting to tag this mural now and at this. point I would welcome it. Those of us which lived through that day will never forget it but I bet if you stood at this cornier and ask passers by what the mural stood for most of today would have no idea.
LOL Gojira! I have lived on this block for over 25 years and you are NOW questioning where Icon Realty put the garbage cans? I hate Icon; but I hope you know that those cans have been there since I moved in.
Remember this is a city that functions as a city. Every block can not be a shrine to the way it was in 1985 and not everything has hidden meaning behind it. Icon is very open about the shitty things they do so there is much to complain about. But garbage cans! Why didn't anyone complain to the previous landlord about putting necessary garbage cans in front of the old mural.
Stop complaining about EVERYTHING! It minimizes the real important things.
Better late than never reply to Anon. 12:22 - please re-read my statements; I never once mentioned Icon's placement of the garbage cans against the mural wall. They were there when it was painted, so I don't take issue with them still being there.
"The incredible ironic placement of the new trash containers show's what Icon really thinks about memorial"
No worries Gojira, I thought is was amusing!!!!
Again, Anon., that is not me. That is the Anonymous posting on September 11, 2017 at 8:10 PM, who starts his/her post with my screen name; perhaps that is why you thought I wrote it.
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