Moving Memories

As the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approached, I realized that my three children (now grown) had never seen “Moving Memories,” the Arizona 9/11 memorial located at Wesley Bolin Plaza across from the Arizona State Capitol.

So I headed out one morning with my son Christopher to explore the 9/11 memorial — as well as other memorials located at the plaza. “Moving Memories,” the subject of controversy both during its development and after its installation, is the site of an interfaith memorial taking place Sun, Sept 11 (11:30am-12:30pm). Members of the public are welcome. www.azifm.org.

I’ve explored many a memorial while following coverage of 9/11-related events — and find some to be utterly lacking in imagination. That’s not the case with “Moving Memories.” The structure, designed by Jones Studio in Phoenix, captures light, creates shadows and shares words that reflect the diversity of an ever-evolving democracy.

The words stenciled into “Moving Memories” present a jarring juxtaposition of everyday life and larger than life events — which is exactly how life presented itself on 9/11. I was particularly struck by words reflecting personal experiences. Making T-shirts to raise memorial funds. Writing songs to honor a brother. Some are captured in the images below.

“Moving Memories” sits on a lawn opposite a circle of other Arizona memorials…

The memorial includes this section of a building from the World Trade Center…

This metal arc is stenciled with words so light passes through to the concrete below…

Sunlit words are projected on to the concrete circle at the memorial’s base…

Children intrigued by these stencils can create the same effect at home…

Examples of both readily accepted and controversial wording on the memorial…

Some wording reflects the ways everyday Americans responded to 9/11…

The most important words in this memorial may be those pictured below…

If you’re heading to outdoor memorial events today, remember to take along plenty of water and sunscreen — and to be especially kind on a day when many may be hurting.

— Lynn

Note: While you’re at Wesley Bolin Plaza, make time to explore other memorials you’ll find there — to peace officers, veterans, victims of genocide, canines who work with law enforcement, workers who’ve died on the job and many others. Visit the calendar section of www.raisingarizonakids.com to learn about additional 9/11 memorial events in the Valley. To learn more about controversial 9/11 art visit www.artinfo.com/news/story/38569/7-controversies-that-shaped-the-debate-about-911-art/?page=2. To explore additional images of “Moving Memories” visit www.jonesstudioinc.com/26/index.htm.

Coming up: Spotlight on “CATS,” A trio of tea parties, Honk if you love Hans!, From acting to anatomy, The making of “Munched”

Update: Ground Zero photos taken during the past ten years are now posted at www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/09/ground_zero_september_11_2001.html

National Days of Remembrance

"Never Again" Sign at the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site

Update: Click here to watch video of the May 17 national remembrance ceremony at the U.S. Capitol, which was broadcast live on the USHMM website. The ceremony included remarks by Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, who spoke of how “human compassion was out of fashion” during the Holocaust, and Isreal ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren, who shared that remembering alone is never enough — because goodness must be “galvanized by action.” Other speakers included U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, who spoke about justice and the law, and USHMM director Sara Bloomfield. Click here to follow Twitter comments on this ceremony.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. has been charged by the United States Congress with leading our country’s national commemoration of the Holocaust.

This year’s Holocaust remembrance week is May 1-8. The theme is “Justice and Accountability in the Face of Genocide: What Have We Learned?” But you don’t need to visit D.C. to participate.

Observances are being held by state and local governments, military bases, workplaces, schools, synagogues and civic centers throughout the country, according to the USHMM.

Arizona events include the “CMS 3rd Annual Days of Remembrance Community Event” in Cottonwood — taking place Thurs, May 5, at 6pm at Cottonwood Middle School. Students will open the event “by sharing their published books about genocide and the Holocaust.”

A special USHMM program titled “Life After Death: Holocaust Survivors in the Postwar World” takes place that same evening in Scottsdale. It features Mark Roseman, Ph.D. , the Museum’s 2010-11 Ina Levine Invitational Scholar and the Pat M. Glazer Chair in Jewish Studies at Indiana University Bloomington.

Roseman will “explore the trajectories that survivors’ lives took after World War II and how popular perceptions of the survivor became central to the late 20th-century consciousness” at 6:30pm at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus in Scottsdale. RSVP by May 2 to Gerry Hoch at 972-490-6300 or southwest@ushmm.org.

Visit the website for Jewish News of Greater Phoenix for additional information about Holocaust remembrance and related events. If your organization is hosting an event, please share details by commenting below to let our readers know.

Click here to share a comment on the USHMM website about how you plan to remember the Holocaust this week, here to watch a webcast of the May 17 commemoration at the U.S. Capitol and here to learn how you can participate in a virtual names reading ceremony remembering victims of the Holocaust.

If you’re looking for additional information about Holocaust remembrance for children and teens, read “Remember and Act: Engaging children in social justice” in the May 2011 issue of Raising Arizona Kids magazine.

The article ends with the following reflection: Memory is never passive, and silence never neutral. We must remember, we must remain vigilant and every one of us must act.

— Lynn

Note: Information about the Holocaust, as well as Holocaust remembrance, is also available from Yad Vashem in Israel. Click here to learn more about “Jewish American Heritage Month,” celebrated in May.

Coming up: Bringing a Holocaust museum to the Valley

A weekend to remember

This is your last weekend to enjoy the works of Metropolitan Arts Institute students in the Imagining Dance exhibit from the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art

It’s a weekend to remember for all sorts of reasons at our house. Celebrating Jennifer’s 20th birthday. Looking ahead to Lizabeth’s transition to college this fall. And readying for Christopher’s graduation with his first college degree.

But we’ll also be remembering more somber moments — in American and world history. Attending the ASA production of Laurie Brooks’ “Triangle,” a play about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 100 years ago (which made its world premiere at ASU in 2008). And recognizing “Holocaust Remembrance Day” on May 1.

Related community events include the “Yom Hashoah Holocaust Community Commemoration” at Temple Emanuel in Tempe. The service — which takes place Sun, May 1 at 7pm — will honor victims, survivors and their children.

“Habimah Emanuel,” the temple’s drama group, will present “a short performance” of the Broadway play “Rose” — which “deals with an aspect of the Holocaust.”

“Rose” was written by Martin Sherman. This production is directed by Paula Shulak. The cast includes Temple Emanuel members and local actors working in “an interfaith effort to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive in our own day.”

Phoenix Opera presents a benefit concert titled “Popera” — which features popular, spiritual and classical songs performed by “the stars of Phoenix Opera” — on Sun, May 1. Think “Bring Him Home” and “The Prayer.” Also “Ava Maria” and “Some Enchanted Evening.”

There’s a 2pm matinee at All Saints of the Desert in Sun City and a 7pm performance at All Saints Episcopal Church in Phoenix. The concert features ten Phoenix Opera singers and “international opera star” Robert Hale. Tickets are $20.

This weekend is your last chance to experience student works by young artists from Metropolitan Arts Institute on exhibit in the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art young@art gallery (which is actually located inside the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts).

And it’s the perfect weekend to visit the Musical Instrument Museum of Phoenix. Their “Listen to the World” event — featuring music, dance and workshops in celebration of their first anniversary — is free with museum admission.

“Jordin Sparks & Friends” perform at the MIM Music Theater Friday night. Tickets start at $75 and include both a reception that evening and museum admission for April 30 or May 1. “Alaska’s fiddling poet” Ken Waldman presents free poetry, storytelling and song on Saturday.

The Poetry Center at the University of Arizona presents their young@art festival “From Page to Stage” on Sat, April 30 from 10am-5pm. The festival is all about youth writing and art. The Poetry Center is located at 1508 E. Helen St. in Tucson.

Youth are invited to “come play with words, make books and help write Tucson’s longest poem.” Performers include “Stories That Soar,” the “Silver Thread Trio,” “Puppets Amongus,” “Mr. Tidy Paws & the Funtime Orange Band” and many more.

There’s haiku improv, a youth poetry slam championship and even art projects. Think tie-dye. Chalk art. Origami poetry. A detailed schedule of offerings is available online.

Whatever your weekend plans, make time to enjoy at least a bit of arts and culture with your children big or small. Time is so fleeting — and experiences with song, dance, theater, literature and art create some of our warmest memories, as families and communities.

— Lynn

Note: Read more about the topic of Holocaust remembrance in “Remember and Act: Engaging children in social justice” in the May 2011 issue of Raising Arizona Kids magazine.

Coming up: “The Other King & I”