LTS - The Sphere
Lunch Time Series - "The Sphere"
Welcome to the first edition of LTS! I decided to start LTS as a way to motivate myself to leave the office for a short walk around town during my brief lunch break. I also thought it was a great way for me to see NYC from the eye of a tourist. Did I ever tell you that I asked a tourist where the subway station was? She looked at me in disbelief and answered in broken English as she pointed in a direction that she came from. Yes... I have no sense of direction.
Today... I take you on a tour of "The Sphere" (aka "Great Spherical Caryatid"). "The Sphere" is a magnificent piece of artwork by the German artist Fritz Koenig. "The Sphere" is currently on display in Battery Park since March 11, 2002, but it's original home was Austin Tobin Plaza of the World Trade Center. "The Sphere" represented world peace through world trade; hence the original location and the installation of it when the World Trade Towers were opened.
When "The Sphere" was still located at the WTC, it sat in the center of a ring of water fountains. The ring of fountains was the design of architect Minosoru Yamasaki and the surrounding decorative artwork was designed to mimic the grace of the Grand Mosque of Mecca; in which "The Sphere" stood in place of Kaaba. "The Sphere" was set to rotate once every 24 hours and served as a favorite sitting area for downtown office workers during lunch time. I too sat near these beautiful fountains for lunch.
The crashing of the planes and the final collapse of the two towers sent debris hurling into "The Sphere" and destroyed a top portion of it. When "The Sphere" was recovered from the pile of rubble, an airplane seat and a copy of a Bible was found inside of the hollow center. "The Sphere" was originally a sculpture and now it is a monument in remembrance of 9/11.
Isn't it ironic how a symbol of world peace became a casualty of an act of war and decorative design work borrowed from the Muslim world became a target of a few Muslim fundamentalists?
The discovery of a copy of a Bible inside the torn "Sphere" is such a strong symbol to me. With every challenge in life, God is there.
With peace and love, I present you "The Sphere". Come to NYC to see it. I will be looking for you for subway directions! :)
Enjoy... and may "The Sphere" remind you the importance of love and tolerance. Amen.
Click here for a picture of "The Sphere" Pre-9/11
Come back again for another Lunch Time Series Attraction!
Welcome to the first edition of LTS! I decided to start LTS as a way to motivate myself to leave the office for a short walk around town during my brief lunch break. I also thought it was a great way for me to see NYC from the eye of a tourist. Did I ever tell you that I asked a tourist where the subway station was? She looked at me in disbelief and answered in broken English as she pointed in a direction that she came from. Yes... I have no sense of direction.
Today... I take you on a tour of "The Sphere" (aka "Great Spherical Caryatid"). "The Sphere" is a magnificent piece of artwork by the German artist Fritz Koenig. "The Sphere" is currently on display in Battery Park since March 11, 2002, but it's original home was Austin Tobin Plaza of the World Trade Center. "The Sphere" represented world peace through world trade; hence the original location and the installation of it when the World Trade Towers were opened.
When "The Sphere" was still located at the WTC, it sat in the center of a ring of water fountains. The ring of fountains was the design of architect Minosoru Yamasaki and the surrounding decorative artwork was designed to mimic the grace of the Grand Mosque of Mecca; in which "The Sphere" stood in place of Kaaba. "The Sphere" was set to rotate once every 24 hours and served as a favorite sitting area for downtown office workers during lunch time. I too sat near these beautiful fountains for lunch.
The crashing of the planes and the final collapse of the two towers sent debris hurling into "The Sphere" and destroyed a top portion of it. When "The Sphere" was recovered from the pile of rubble, an airplane seat and a copy of a Bible was found inside of the hollow center. "The Sphere" was originally a sculpture and now it is a monument in remembrance of 9/11.
Isn't it ironic how a symbol of world peace became a casualty of an act of war and decorative design work borrowed from the Muslim world became a target of a few Muslim fundamentalists?
The discovery of a copy of a Bible inside the torn "Sphere" is such a strong symbol to me. With every challenge in life, God is there.
With peace and love, I present you "The Sphere". Come to NYC to see it. I will be looking for you for subway directions! :)
Enjoy... and may "The Sphere" remind you the importance of love and tolerance. Amen.
Click here for a picture of "The Sphere" Pre-9/11
Come back again for another Lunch Time Series Attraction!
posted by Sparky X | 3:26 PM
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