PROPOSAL: Towers of Remembrance The events of September 11 left everyone who witnessed them suspended in a state of remorse, anger, and most of all, powerlessness. The aftershocks of these events have yet to cease, the long-term damage has yet to be fully realized. In response, the students, faculty, and staff of the Maine College of Art have gathered as a group, to envision ways we might address the tragedy and contribute our collective talents to the healing of our community. In the wake of such terror, public art - in particular, art made by the public rather than for the public - can assuage the excruciating sense of impotence we feel, by providing the opportunity to engage in an act of creation in direct response to destruction. While it may not bring back what has been lost, it is an act nonetheless - and any act undertaken in the face of helplessness, can serve to empower us, to channel rage and fear into catharsis, recovery, and reconciliation. Take a look at the what we have proposed. If you feel, as we do, that the time is ripe for a little anti-terrorism, then we will be grateful for your help.

Reclaiming a Symbol: The Structure and the Images   The footage of the Twin Towers' collapse has already become one of the most haunting, indelible images in the American psyche. Since they were targeted and struck down as a symbol, we believe they must be reclaimed as a symbol - a testament to endurance rather than vulnerability. As a community, perhaps the the most powerful gesture we can make is to re-build - if not the buildings themselves, then effigies of them. Therefore, we propose the following: A changing collage of projected images will illuminate two columns of windows of the Porteus Building at MeCA, rising 60' above street level. The images will be gathered from the community, in effect allowing these Towers of Remembrance to become an open-ended collaborative artwork of the broadest scope. Anyone affected directly or indirectly by this tragedy can contribute an image to be projected. The images might include memorials or tributes, children's drawings, original artworks, insignia, pictures of New York City, poems, protests, or other texts - any creative response the contributer feels is timely and meaningful. Images will be collected by mail, by hand, and through a dedicated website, thus giving the project both a regional and national scope. Submissions in any medium or format can easily be converted to slides at MeCA's Imaging Center.

Timeline We will have an official opening at MeCA's Porteus Building lobby, 522 Congress Street in Portland at 6 PM on Tuesday November 20. The date is doubly significant, as it not only falls just before Thanksgiving, but also coincides with the Islamic observance of Ramadan (which begins the 17th). The projections will run nightly from sundown to midnight, at least until December 2, possibly longer, depending on rental costs for projectors, building access, and other factors.   Cost Since many skilled volunteers have already stepped forward in support of the project, our projected expenses will go soley toward acquisition of materials. Whenever possible, we hope to ask for the support of local vendors through material donations. In short, we need your help. The link below will explain more fully how you can contribute to the Tower Project.

Howto Contribute Your Image

HowYou Can Help

ContactUs

 

This project is being made possible by the generosity of the following donors :     Headlight Audio-visual , Inc. Portland, ME www.headlightav.com                   Portland Color Portland, ME   Affordable Photo Portland, ME   Concerned Citizens of Montauk Montauk, NY   Express Copy Portland, ME Green Hut Galleries www.greenhutgalleries.com