Roused by Memory

Today is Friday. An image wakes me up from an auto pilot stupor. I would not have seen this work, had I not happened to pick up The New Yorker while waiting for the lunch crew to meet. The illustrated jokes were amusing and then I saw it, a photo spread. I haven’t seen the The New Yorker magazine in years, so the photos took me by surprise. Didn’t that magazine only use illustrations?

It was a September, 2011 issue and the images of ‘Ten Years Later’ show a quiet determination of subjects. The photographer, Chris Anderson, is Magnum Photos member. While the notoriety of that group might intimidate, that fear quickly dissipates by viewing Magnum images. Their virture lies in their ability to convey information in a powerful storytelling manner, one frame at a time.

 Stages of recovery for both the city and those who live and work there as seen in video below:

A city of memories, as photographed by Christopher Anderson

©The New Yorker

 
  

I haven't been to see the site. Although the memorial looks beautiful, no amount of architectural mastery  brings back what is lost. What does contribute to healing, is the culmination of so many who've labored hard so that 'we never forget'.