Art in Response to Tragedy: A 9/11 Survivor's Story

Let's start out by saying this: I'm not big on dwelling on the hurt or tragedy of this anniversary every year, but I do believe in honoring and remembering good people, especially when they leave unexpectedly. And even moreso, I believe in attempting to see life in a bigger context and looking beyond our own singular view of things.

So when I read this article about Schandra Singh, who happens to be an amazing portrait artist and was living next door to the World Trade Center in 2001, I found the story of her creation of a huge work related the event really fascinating. Even she is not sure of the reason, but she was driven to create a painting including EVERY person who died in the event, as well as an equal amount of Muslims balancing the picture. It occupied her for a year until it was completed, and now hangs in the 9/11 Museum.

Her easel with the originally blank canvas was her only possession that survived the towers' fall. See her story here: http://www.vulture.com/2016/09/911-survivor-who-painted-everyone-who-died.html

For more of her work, go to: http://www.schandrasingh.com/

#arttherapy #tragedy