New York, New York
18 x 24 inches Oil on Canvas
This painting was painted in 1984 when I was living in New York City or Manhatten as they call it.
I was so fascinated living in that huge, busy city. The lights at night where a sight to see. I used to take many cab rides at night around the city just so I could see all the beautiful lights. New York city never dies. You can have steak and eggs delivered to your door, hot, at 3am if you want and Broadway is always open and so amazing at night!
I remember the first time I visited the World Trade Center and went all the way to the top. The whole floor had windows all around with outlines of maps of what you were seeing looking out the windows of the different states. You could actually see the curve of the earth and you could feel the building swaying! I am so afraid of heights that after 30 minutes up there, I was back down the two elevators to get out of there. Those buildings were so high that you had to get off the first elevators and change to the next one to get down. It was too high for one elevator.
Went I got back down to the ground I sat on a bench outside in the court. I had to lay my head way back on the back of the bench to be able to look up that high at the Trade Center buildings. They were so high that they looked curved towards each other. I have photos I wish I could find now.
I was just amazed at what man and technology can do. Amazed at the all the beautiful glass and the height of this magnitude. I swore I would never go in those buildings ever again and I never did!
What a sight to see at night! Just amazing!
On 9/ 11/ 2001 my husband and I stood arm and arm in our living room in front of the TV and watched in amazement and cried our eyes out. All of my feelings of being in those buildings raged though me
an my emotions were uncontrollable. I don't think I stopped crying for a year. I just could not imagine being caught in one of those buildings. Watching this horror of people trying to escape by jumping out windows is a sight I will never forget.
But this is the USA! This can't be happening! This is a bad joke! A movie? No, it was real! Who would ever believe this? All my husband Dominic could say is, "Here goes another war!" I could not absorb what he was saying. I could not think of another war! Dominic served in The Marine Corp, front lines, grunt, 1968 -69, Vietnam and came home a highly decorated Marine, with the Purple Heart, Cross of Gallentry, Bronze Star and 10 other metals and citations from the President and his commanding officers for his heroism in Vietnam. The other thing he came home with beside his injuries to his body was Post Traumatic Stress Disorder of which he has been suffering from all of his life and is 100% disabled. I am so proud of him and his services for me and our country and I thank him everyday for coming home. God was surely with him.
So many of our military men and woman have been killed, injured, suffer from PTSD and so many other issues. I want to thank all of them for all that they have done and continue to do for us and our country. Please pray for our loss and for God to keep our men and women safe until this is all over.
This I always a sad day for America and the rest of the world. May God Bless us all!
Needless to say I had no idea of how much this painting would mean to me some day. I am happy that I kept it for my collections and till have it hanging today on my wall.
"We will Never Forget"
God Bless America
Thank You
I had such overwhelming response to this post today that I just had to come back and post them. Since they were email to me I have only posted initials and locations. Thanks to all you for your good wishes for Dominic. He sends his thanks as well. God Bless or Vets and America!
Thanks so much everyone,
Madison
What a beautiful tribute and remembrance message for today.
I also remember the sense of awe when I visited [only once] the WTC and rode to the top. We were actually on the roof of the shorter tower – and have pictures somewhere too.
Then on that horrible morning in 2001 – I recall my usual drive into work, which starts on rural roads, noticing how beautifully blue the sky was, air was early fall crisp, some leaves turning yellow and red and brown, CBC talk radio jabbering on in the background. The news on the ½ hour reported a plane crashing into the WTC tower, but no clear details . As usual, some speculation of small plane off course. I remember thinking – that does not happen with trained pilots – this was terrorism. Maybe because of having recently read ‘The Lion’s Game’ by Nelson DeMille. CBC did not continue with any ongoing reporting at that time and I continued on my drive in blissful ignorance.
By the time I arrived in the office, there was a bit more talk about the early reports now airing from multiple sources, so a few of us went to our client lounge and turned on the TV to CNN. Before long, a crowd of us were watching the huge cloud of black smoke trailing out of the first tower. It was awful and unreal – many of us still contemplating such a terrible “accident”. Then the second plane hit and it was confirmed. Within the next ½ hour as the first tower fell, followed shortly by the second, we were all stunned and feeling so helpless and hopeless. Then reports from Washington and Pennsylvania. As the day unfolded and the skies became quiet, we knew the world had changed.
A big hug to you and Dom!!
MS - Canada
Yes, And God help us all of the future that awaits us if a real change does not take place soon in our society.
EG
My husband Joe is 70% PTSD. He was Army artillery 1966-1967. He ws shot and injured in combat, but fortunately, he did not suffer any long term physical issues. And he is doing better wtih his PTSD. He goes to a VA group once a week. It has helped him a lot. He sends his best to your husband.
CE - California
I had the time today to read your story about NY - 9/11 etc -- and I just wanted to tell you - it was touching to read. Thank you -- and thank you to your husband also for what he had to do. I am also from that generation.
IP- Illinois
WOW! Very moving, and brought tears to my eyes! I have a son who has just left for a second tour to Iraq and is very proud to serve our country. His desire to join the Army started with 9-11, and he serves proudly and strives to accomplish more every day, because of what happened to those who died, those who survived and their families!
Thank you for creating and sharing such a wonderful piece of artwork!
DB - South Carolina
Your painting is beautiful Madison! Also a beautiful and poignant reflection--thank you so much for sharing your experience. Hugs to your husband and all those who have sacrificed for our freedom. It is a day we will never forget.
DL MD -Canada
Very beautiful..I love the red/white/blue roses.
I too will never forget that day. Thank your husband for all that he has done, and I thank you for sticking by such a brave man.
DB - South Carolina
Madison, this is a beautiful painting to post on the day we remember all who lost their lives on 9-11 and those who continue to sacrifice their lives for our freedom and safety. Dominic is a true hero!! I am so glad God brought him home safely to you. Thank you for sharing and blessing us with this post.
CDM - Tennesse
Thank you for sharing your experiences of the Trade Center with us. Thank you to your husband, too, for his bravery and for sacrificing so much for this country.
TP- California
Thanks Madison!
I wanted to thank you for your prayers. I have always felt strongly about those who serve, and I remember having long talks with Miles when we started the war in Iraq and protests started. I was so worried we would end up with vets being treated like those from the war in Vietnam. I was passionate, and I think that had a lot to do with Miles joining the Army. My feelings were so mixed the day he graduated boot camp! I felt guilt, joy, pride and fear and sick on my stomach!
Please tell your husband that I appreciate his service as well. I am a nurse and recently left a long term acute care hospital as a case manager, and we cared for a good number of vets with disabing injuries. It breaks my heart to see these wonderful, strong individuals dealing with such pain (emotional and physical). These are the people (in times of war and in times of peace) that keep me feeling safe. I am proud to be an American!
DB - South Carolina
A Boot Camp Grad
I hope no one will find this inappropriate for our forum. I am a photographer as well as an artist and this is a photo near and dear to my heart, as my son is serving our country in the armed services. It is a dramatic photo of light and shadow. A portrait of a man emerged from the shadows of a boy's footsteps.
9-11 NEVER FORGET WHAT WE HAVE LOST.
I remember standing in a patient's room and looking up at the tv...at first I thought it was a movie, then I realized he was watching the news. I was horrified, and rushed out to alert everyone on the floor. Word quickly spread through the hospital and we all watched in horror and through tears as the story that would become one of America's worst tragedies.
My son and I talked at great length and over many days, weeks, months and years, as the story, and fight began to unfold, and continued.
I am proud of my son who now serves the Army and has left this month on his second tour to Iraq.
This is a picture I took of him the day he graduated boot camp. I felt pride, fear, joy, and saw a man, where a boy once stood.
I cannot even post this without those same tears from 9-11 and his graduation day coming to my eyes.
"United we stand, Divided we fall". We need to remember this, especially now where we seem so divided on so many issues in this country. We need to never forget that we are privleged to live in a free country, where we can speak our minds and live as individuals.
Deborah Boyet -
Blog
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It was a painting that took a life of its own and I humbly followed its lead. I feel bad you are crying--but understand as we will never forget that fateful day! I truly believe if we all join together peace is possible --there are greater numbers that want peace than not.
I loved your tribute as well and was very touched by your personal experience. It encouraged me to share "A Tribute" on AIG.
I loved your tribute as well and was very touched by your personal experience. It encouraged me to share "A Tribute" on AIG.
Wishing you a beautiful weekend!
Thanks for your friendship,
Warmly,
Debbie
A Loving Dedication for 9/11
Private Collection
A Tribute
The journey and creation of “A Tribute” began August 2nd 2001 between the hours of 8:45 and 9:30 a.m. It was an incredibly quiet day as I set up on location to paint a study of my subject. Two gnarled old apple trees stood before me with an expanse of distance behind them. The stillness enveloped me like an invisible dome. The quiet was so pronounced that early morning, that it almost felt surreal. Not a whisper of a breeze was present; only the bright clear sky and intense sun. Sounds of nature resonated clearly. Beside me I could hear rustling in the grass, insect voices zinged and clicked while birds’ wings gently motioned in the air just overhead. With my eyes closed, I could feel the intensity of the quiet caress and soothe my spirit. I left that day feeling an intense calm and great appreciation for the gifts of nature.
On September 9th, 2001, I returned to the same location to take slides of my subject for future reference. While I sat in observation of these two gnarled old apple trees, they became personified. One’s appearance seemed to possess male attributes and the other female. The tree to the right I assigned as female. It was slender and smaller. It seemed to be more decorative, possessing more leaves and fruit. The apple tree to the left was my male version. It was broader and lacked the foliage and fruit of its counterpart. I left thinking about the relationship of these two old apple trees and wondered how long they had stood side by side.
Two days later on September 11th, 2001, the world as we knew it changed with the attack and fall of the “Twin Towers”. The twin towers, icons of New York City’s skyline, disappeared along with the many souls whose lives were sacrificed. Reeling from the immensity of such a violent act the world came to a standstill.
A couple of days later while driving to work, my thoughts and emotions focused on the towers and the dreadful loss of life when suddenly I felt an overwhelming connection between the towers and the two old gnarled apple trees. The trees had stood beside each other for many years, as did the twin towers. The humanness of the apple trees was symbolic of the lives that existed in the towers. Thus, the seed for the creation of “A Tribute” evolved.
May “A Tribute” serve as a symbol of life’s renewal and hope. The cycle of life presses onward, but only now with a higher consciousness and sacred appreciation for life itself. A Tribute is dedicated to all those who lost loved ones and especially to all those who perished in the September 11th terrorists attacks. May their sacrifice to the world awaken our consciousness and propel us to better serve mankind.
Yours Very Sincerely,
Debbie Lamey-MacDonald
"A Tribute" can also be found on my website. May peace reign in our world!
