In 1966 - upon WTC architect Minoru Yamasaki's recommendation -
Fritz Koenig of Landshut (Germany) was commissioned by the Port
Authority of New York and New Jersey to create a massive sculpture
as the center piece for Manhattan's new World Trade Center.
Created in Fritz Koenig's work shop on his 'Ganslberg' farm outside
Landshut, 'The Sphere' (Große Kugelkaryatide) was placed on top
of Austin J. Tobin Plaza Fountain, where it kept rotating from 1969
until September 11, 2001. It miraculously survived - though heavily
damaged - the collapse of the Twin Towers as one of only a few
recognizable objects.
Rescued from Ground Zero, 'The Sphere' was initially stored inside a
JFK Airport hangar and later moved to Battery Park as a temporary
location, while the World Trade Center area was being reconstructed.
On August 16, 2017 - thanks to a 16 year campaign by
Michael Burke and many passionate supporters,
'The Sphere' was finally brought home to stand as a
permament monument in the newly created 'Liberty Park'
overlooking the WTC Memorial grounds.
In Fritz Koenig's own words:
"It was a sculpture, now it is a memorial. Today it has a
different kind of beauty, one I could have never have
imagined."
The purpose of his intervention at Ground Zero wasn't
to safeguard his own personal legacy. His intent was to
lessen public sorrow by reclaiming something affirmative
out of mass destruction; something demonstrative of
society's inherent strength and capacity to survive
the traumas inflicted on it.
Koenig's expansive and varied body of work also
includes memorials for the victims of the terror attack
at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich and
the former Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria.
The KOENIGmuseum in Landshut houses the largest
public collection of Fritz Koenig's artwork.
This film is a tribute by
R. Michael Stecher and
Teresa Scavetta-Stecher
Music: 'Tröstende Worte' by Ronny Matthes
In memory of Fritz Koenig
† February 22, 2017 in Landshut, Germany
Our thanks to Stefanje Weinmayr and her staff at the
'KOENIGmuseum' in Landshut,
Michael Burke, Lester Levine, Jan S. Ramirez,
Anthony Gardner, Zach & Ann Janisch, Arthur
Sferlazzo, Margaret Donovan, Marilyn Masaryk,
and Roberta Kahan.
Dedicated to all the victims of the
tragic events on September 11, 2001
Historic photos courtesy of the
'KOENIGmuseum' in Landshut, Germany
and
" R. Baker & Son (Return to WTC)"
Many thanks to everyone for their
testimonials - sharing personal
feelings and thoughts when asked
"What does The Sphere mean to you"
28 авг 2024
