In remembrance of the 2,700 people who were killed during the attack on the Twin Towers 14 years ago, John F Germany Public Library will be hosting a documentary photography and art exhibition entitled And Then There Was Quiet: New York After The Attacks.
David Gordon, an artist from Sarasota, curated the exhibit, which provides a unique perspective through his pieces by focusing on “intimate moments” from the aftermath of the event not previously covered. The exhibit is rich with photographs and artifacts in dedication to 9/11.
Some displays include gripping pieces like “The Wall of Missing Posters,” which is shows a variety of photos of “missing persons” posters as families struggled to locate their loved ones.
Gordon was inspired to document the attack after watching the on-going surplus of media coverage surrounding the event back in 2001. He left his Massachusetts home, traveling to Manhattan with the intention of capturing the finer details of the tragic scene.
“Everybody who was there tried to photograph the big things," Gordon said. "I tried to focus on small things, and the intimate moments."
Gordon added that he saw a side of New York during that time that was largely missing from the news reports. He described the hustling bustling city as “quiet and somber.” The support he witnessed from the community is at the forefront of the travelling exhibit. And Then There Was Quiet: New York After the Attack has traveled to libraries all across the country, as well as galleries and government buildings.
The artwork is emotionally charged and meticulously organized to allow for viewer discussion and reflection. One of the most moving displays is that of a terrarium of dust that came from the collapsing towers and rained over the terrorized city.
Gordon also re-creates memorial shrines that were commonly scattered across Manhattan during the aftermath of the attack. Free Admission.
Today through Sept. 30, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. John F. Germany Library, 900 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa. 813-273-3652. [email protected]
