After September 11th: Images from Ground Zero

Monday, May 13th, 2002

The New York Institute for the Humanities at New York University presents

After September 11th: Images from Ground Zero
A Slide-Show and Talk by Photographer Joel Meyerowitz

7-9 PM
Tishman Auditorium
NYU Law School
40 Washington Square South, corner of MacDougal Street
*Valid ID required*

The New York Institute for the Humanities at NYU presents an evening slide-show and talk by renowned photographer Joel Meyerowitz on his ongoing photo-documentary work at the site of the World Trade Center disaster.

Last September, with the support of the Museum of the City of New York and Mayor Giulianiís office, Meyerowitz obtained unrestricted 24-hour access to Ground Zero for the purpose of building up a photographic archive documenting the full sweep of the recovery, reclamation, demolition and excavation work under way there he is the only photographer to have been granted such access. Since late-September, he has taken over 6000 such photographs and on May 13th he will be drawing on many of those images as a backdrop to his account of the hours he has spent at Ground Zero and the things he has witnessed there.

It is a privilege to work at Ground Zero, Meyorwitz says. Everyone who works there has been transformed by the spirituality of the place. The camaraderie among the workers in the zone reminds me of the stories we've heard about the World Wars, where men and women are thrown together by a common cause, share tragedies and victories, and are forever bound to one another by their effort. My task is to make a photographic record of the aftermath: the awesome spectacle of destruction; the reverence for the dead; the steadfast, painstaking effort of recovery; the life of those whose act of salvation has embedded itself deeply into the consciousness of all of us in America and around the world.î

The Ground Zero archive will become part of the permanent collection of the Museum of the City of New York where it will be available for research, exhibition, and publication. Currently, 28 images from the archive have been on exhibit, though The Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. State Department, in 31 countries around the world.

Joel Meyerowitz has published 11 books of color photographs, including Cape Light and St. Louis and the Arch, as well as a book on the history of street photography. His photographs are featured in many of the foremost museums and private collections in the world. He recently completed his first film, ìPop,î an intimate feature-length documentary about a three week long road trip he took with his son and father, Hy, who had Alzheimerís Disease. His Ground Zero work has been featured, among other places, on Terry Grossís ìFresh Airî (NPR) and ABCís ìNightline.î

The New York Institute for the Humanities at NYU was established in 1976 for promoting the exchange of ideas between academics, professionals, politicians, diplomats, writers, journalists, musicians, painters, and other artists in New York Cityóand between all of them and the city. It currently comprises 120 fellows. Throughout the year, the NYIH organizes numerous public events and symposia such as December's memorable Art and Optics conference.

For more information and press accreditation please contact Shonna Keogan at the NYU press office at 212.998.6797 or the NYIH at 212.998.2100.