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

Kids remember 9/11

This 9/11 Peace Story Quilt on exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art was designed by Faith Ringgold. It features three panels created by NYC students ages 8-19.

Folks in NYC have plenty of art-related opportunities to reflect on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 this week. An art installation “made from 9/11 dust” and paintings “which contain ash from ground zero.” A quilt featuring NYC’s skyline and a quilt with three panels crafted by NYC students (pictured above). www.metmuseum.org.

A roving memorial called “Dances for Airports.” A concert for peace featuring the Juilliard String Quartet. A release of balloons inscribed with poetry in several languages. Even a human chain open to anyone who wants to join hands in Battery Park at 8:46am on Sept 10.

Work by a student from the Calhoun School class of 2006

My favorite events and exhibits feature the words and works of youth — like a series of collages created by 31 thirteen year olds who started 8th grade together at Calhoun School that tragic day. Their “9/11: Through Young Eyes,” a project coordinated by teachers Helen Bruno and Jessica Houston, will be exhibited at the D C Moore Gallery in Chelsea Sept 8 – Oct 8. www.dcmooregallery.com.

Several Arizona youth are participating in a community memorial service called “Moving Memories — Moving Forward.” The Sun, Sept 11 event is being presented by the Arizona Interfaith Movement, which seeks to “build bridges…through dialogue, service and the implementation of the Golden Rule.”

It’s taking place from 11:30am-12:30pm at the 9/11 memorial located at Wesley Bolin Plaza. The plaza is adjacent to the Arizona State Capitol at 17th Avenue and Adams Street just west of downtown Phoenix. Program highlights include remarks by Donna Killoughey Bird, a mother of two whose husband Gary Bird (a UA grad and longtime resident of Tempe) died in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.

High school student Kris Curtis will play the national anthem on trumpet after emcee Pat McMahon opens the ceremony. Following several prayers and speakers, ten children will “say the Golden Rule from ten different faith traditions.” www.azifm.org.

Eighth grade students from the Temple Emanu-El Kurn Religious School in Tucson will lead a “9/11 Interfaith Memorial Service” Sun, Sept 11 (10am) at Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging. www.handmaker.org.

A new book titled “Art for Heart: Remembering 9/11” (with introduction by Alice M. Greenwald) features drawings, murals, paintings and poems by children who were affected by the terrorist attack.

“The Day Our World Changed: Children’s Art of 9/11” (by Robin F. Goodman, Ph.D. and Andrea Henderson Fahnestock) began as a project of the New York Child Study Center in NYC. It was published several years ago, but it’s every bit as compelling today.

Many of the works featured in “The Day Our World Changed” have been donated to the 9/11 Memorial Museum in Lower Manhattan, which first opens for families on 9/11 this year. The general public can visit the museum (with pre-purchased tickets due to high demand) starting 9/12. My daughter Lizabeth plans to tour the museum this week with other students from Pace University. www.911memorial.org.

NBC airs a Darlow Smithson Productions documentary titled “Children of 9/11” tonight, Sept 5, but folks who miss it can watch local listings for rebroadcast information. More than 3,000 children lost a parent on 9/11, and this special follows 11 of them for a period of one year.

The Day Our World Changed includes this work by Matthew Sussman

If you missed the Sept 1 broadcast of “What Happened? The Story of September 11, 2001,” a 30-minute Nickelodeon program geared for younger viewers, you can watch it online — then read an online discussion guide created by psychologist Robin H. Gurwitch, Ph.D. for Nickelodeon and the American Psychological Association. www.nicknews.com and www.parentsconnect.com.

Stories of more than 40 twins who lost a sibling on 9/11 are the subject of a BBC Wales documentary titled “Twins of the Twin Towers.” It’s being broadcast on Sun, Sept 11 on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).

Be thoughtful, in the days ahead, about how much time you spend watching programs that show the traumatic events of 9/11 in graphic detail. Most aren’t suitable for children, and even kids who didn’t lose a loved one on 9/11 can feel traumatized by exposure to the events of that day.

— Lynn

Note: Donna Killoughey Bird will share her story several times in comings days. Hear her speak Tues, Sept 6 (noon) at the Mustang Library auditorium or Thurs, Sept 15 (6pm) at the Civic Center Library auditorium in Scottsdale (Register at www.scottsdaleaz.gov). Or meet her Sun, Sept 11 (3pm) at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, where she’ll be signing “Nothing Will Separate Us” (part of the proceeds go to scholarships, service awards and educational support for young adults). www.changinghands.com/event.

Coming up: 9/11 takes center stage, Children’s books inspired by 9/11

Update: Find a collection of children’s drawings from “The Day Our World Changed” at www.pbs.org/newshour/multimedia/911children