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Robert Strachan
World Trade Center Art Collection
Photograph Album, 2001-2002

SC23277

Quantity: 1 box 0.25 cubic ft.)
Access: Open to research
Acquisition: Gift from Robert Strachan, January 8, 2013
Processed By: Abigail L. F. Simkovic, Student Assistant, University at Albany, March 2013

View catalog record

Scope and Content Note:

In 2001 Robert Strachan visited the World Trade Center and photographed the artwork held therein. This collection contains 117 photographs of the World Trade Center public artwork and its environs. Most of the images were taken before the September 11, 2001, (aka 9/11) attacks. However, there are photographs of The Sphere by Fritz Koenig and Red Stabile aka Three Wings, Bent Propeller by Alexander Calder taken after the attacks as well. The photographs encompass both landscape views of the artwork and close-up views detailing particular aspects of the works. 

Each collection of images of a particular work includes a description of the work, the artist, the artwork's location, and the artwork's post-9/11 fate. In compiling the photograph album, Strachan prefaced the photographs with news articles concerning the World Trade Center artwork after 9/11. The exact dates of the photographs are unknown. In the years following the 9/11 attacks, Robert Strachan compiled his photographs with those of other artwork in the World Trade Center and newspaper articles on the subject into a three-ring binder.

Page Listing:


Page Photograph Number Description
1   "From the Rubble, Artifacts of Anguish" by Eric Lipton and James Glanz, New York Times, January 27, 2002. Color photocopy.
2   [blank page]
3   "Out of the Rubble, Artifacts of Anguish Saved for Posterity Continued from Page One" by Eric Lipton and James Glanz, New York Times, January 27, 2002.  Color photocopy. 1 of 2.
4   [blank page]
5   "Out of the Rubble, Artifacts of Anguish Saved for Posterity Continued from Page One" by Eric Lipton and James Glanz, New York Times, January 27, 2002.  Color photocopy. 2 of 2.
6   [blank page]
7   "Arts Groups at a Tragedy's Center Try to Assess Where to Begin" by Peter Marks and Carol Vogel, New York Times, September 17, 2001. Photocopy. 1 of 2.
8   [blank page]
9   "Arts Groups at a Tragedy's Center Try to Assess Where to Begin" by Peter Marks and Carol Vogel, New York Times, September 17, 2001. Photocopy. 2 of 2.
10   [blank page]
11   "Arts Groups Ponder Where to Begin Continued from First Arts Page" by Peter Marks and Carol Vogel, New York Times, September 17, 2001.  Photocopy.
12   [blank page]
13   "Wikipedia 'Lost Artworks,'" date unknown, 1 of 2.
14   [blank page]
15   "Wikipedia 'Lost Artworks,'" date unknown, 2 of 2.
16   [blank page]
17   "Lost Art", NPR [National Public Radio]: America Responds- The Home Front, October 16, 2001. Color Photocopy. 1 of 2.
18   [blank page]
19   "Lost Art", NPR: America Responds- The Home Front, October 16, 2001. Color Photocopy. 2 of 2.
20   [blank page]
    The Sphere, Fritz Koenig
21   "Sphere for Plaza Fountain," with description of the artwork and the artist, Fritz Koenig.
21 1 View of Austin J. Tobin Plaza and The Sphere as seen from below the plaza's steps with One World Trade Center and Six World Trade Center in the background, and an outdoor stage and Ideogram in the foreground (15 x 9.25cm).
22   [blank page]
23 2 View of The Sphere from the base of its dais fountain in Austin J. Tobin Plaza with One World Trade Center, Six World Trade Center, and the Verizon Building in the background, #18 (15c x 10 cm).
23 3 View of The Sphere as seen from its dais fountain in Austin J. Tobin Plaza with Six World Trade Center in the background, #19 (15 x 10cm).
24 4 Close view in whole form of The Sphere in Austin J. Tobin Plaza with Six World Trade Center in the background highlighting the contrapposto emergence of black metals from the gold sphere of The Sphere, #21 (15 x 10cm).
24 5 View of The Sphere, with its dais, highlighting the contrapposto emergence of The Sphere in Austin J. Tobin Plaza with Six World Trade Center in the background, #20 (15 x 10cm).
25 6 Close view highlighting the detail of seams between five pieces on the base of The Sphere, encompassing three types of metal in Austin J. Tobin Plaza, #25 (15 x 10cm).
25 7 Close view taken from below of the contrapposto emergence of black metal shapes from the gold enclosure of The Sphere in Austin J. Tobin Plaza with either One or Two World Trade Center in the background, #11 (15 x 10cm).
25 8 Close view detailing Fritz Koenig's signature and dates of execution on The Sphere in Austin J. Tobin Plaza with the One World Trade Center in the background, #33 (15 x 10cm).
26 9 Close view of the contrapposto negative space in black metal on The Sphere in Austin J. Tobin Plaza with Five World Trade Center in the background, #12 (15 x 10cm).
26 10 Close whole view of The Sphere without dais and shadow covering base in Austin J. Tobin Plaza with the Woolworth Building in the background, (15 x 10cm).
26 11 Close whole view of The Sphere with black contrapposto emergence and shadow behind in Austin J. Tobin Plaza with Five World Trade Center and Six World Trade Center in the background, #10 (15 x 10cm).
27 12 View of The Sphere and partial base of The Sphere detailing the positive space black metal emergence in Austin J. Tobin Plaza with Four World Trade Center in the background, #32 (15 x 10cm).
27 13 View of The Sphere and partial base of The Sphere detailing the many separate gold plates and black metal positive space emergence in Austin J. Tobin Plaza with Five World Trade Center in the background, #9.
28 14 View of The Sphere, partially melted and damaged within the rubble of the World Trade Center attacks (15 x 10cm).
28 15 Detail of the gold damaged globe of The Sphere highlighting the damaged, melted gash on the top of the globe next to a bicycle rack with bicycles (15 x 10cm).
29 16 Close view of the damaged sphere of The Sphere after the World Trade Center attacks, with the top of a bicycle rack (15 x 10cm).
29 17 Close view of the damaged base of The Sphere after the World Trade Center attacks spray-painted with "41" (15 x 10cm)
30 18 Detailed, close view of damaged fragments of the gold globe of The Sphere after the World Trade Center attacks (15 x 10cm).
30 19 The Sphere, reassembled, in Battery Park with people and trees in the background (15 x 10cm).
    WTC Stabile (aka Red Stabile, aka Bent Propeller, aka Three Wings), Alexander Calder
31   "Red Stabile aka Three Wings, Bent Propeller," with description of the artwork and the artist, Alexander Calder.
31 20 Red Stabile on the elevated walkway between Seven World Trade Center and the World Trade Center Plaza with Seven World Trade Center in the background (15 x 10cm).
32   [blank page]
33 21 Northeastern view of Red Stabile surrounded by black metal chairs on the elevated walkway between Seven World Trade Center and the World Trade Center Plaza with Seven World Trade Center and the Verizon Building in the background (15 x 10cm).
33 22 Northwestern view of Red Stabile on the elevated walkway between Seven World Trade Center and the World Trade Center Plaza with Seven World Trade Center in the background (15 x 10cm).
33 23 Southeastern view of Red Stabile on the elevated walkway between Seven World Trade Center and the World Trade Center Plaza surrounded by black metal chars and construction materials with Seven World Trade Center and the Federal Offices Building in the background (15 x 10cm).
34 24 Northwestern view of Red Stabile on the elevated walkway between Seven World Trade Center and the World Trade Center Plaza with the Verizon Building and Three World Finance Center in the background (15 x 10cm).
34 25 Southwestern view of Red Stabile on the elevated walkway between Seven World Trade Center and the World Trade Center Plaza with construction materials and equipment in the foreground and with Six World Trade Center and One World Trade Center in the background, #3 (15 x 10cm).
34 26 Northeastern view of Red Stabile on the elevated walkway between Seven World Trade Center and the World Trade Center Plaza with a flagpole in the foreground and construction equipment and Seven World Trade Center in the background (15 x 10cm).
35 27 Northeastern view of Red Stabile on the elevated walkway between Seven World Trade Center and the World Trade Center Plaza with stacked black metal chairs and construction equipment in the foreground and Seven World Trade Center encompassing the background, #7 (15 x 10cm).
35 28 Detailed, close view of Alexander Calder's signature and date of execution on Red Stabile on the elevated walkway between Seven World Trade Center and the World Trade Center Plaza with construction materials in the background, #4 (15 x 10cm).
35 29 Southeastern view of Red Stabile on the elevated walkway between Seven World Trade Center and the World Trade Center Plaza surrounded by construction materials and equipment with a man standing in front of the right-hand propeller and with Five World Trade Center and the Federal Offices Building in the background, #8 (15 x 10cm).
36 30 Melted, charred single fragment of Red Stabile, after the 9/11 attacks, on four slabs on plywood (15 x 10cm).
36 31 Close view of four melted, charred fragments of Red Stabile, after the 9/11 attacks, on plywood with a burnt brick and rubble in the background (15 x 10 cm).
37 32 View of four fragments of Red Stabile crushed, melted, and charred, after 9/11, with a close view of one of the damaged propellers, on slabs of plywood with chain link fence and a man walking behind (15 x 10cm).
37 33 Detailed view of several charred and melted fragments of the interior supporting structure of Red Stabile after 9/11 with a profile view of one of the crushed propellers (15 x 10cm).
38   [blank page]
    World Trade Center Memorial, Elyn Zimmerman
39   "World Trade [Center] Memorial," with description of the artwork and the artist, Elyn Zimmerman.
39 34 View into the park of the World Trade Center Memorial in Austin J. Tobin Plaza with view of two white granite benches, the fountain, and the surrounding shrubbery, a gray fence, construction trailer, and Three World Trade Center behind (10 x 15cm).
40   [blank page]
41 35 Western view of World Trade Center Memorial depicting the white granite patio and benches surrounding the fountain, the cracked gray granite and black granite exterior of the fountain, and the red granite dais in the center of the fountain with Three World Trade Center and shrubbery in the background, #101 (10 x 15cm).
41 36 Southeastern view of World Trade Center Memorial with shrubbery and the white granite benches in the foreground, depicting the patterns in the white granite patio surrounding the fountain and several World Trade Center visitors and with One World Trade Center and a fragment of Ideogram in the background, #104 (10 x 15cm).
42 37 Southwestern view of World Trade Center Memorial with a white granite bench and shrubbery in the foreground and Ideogram in the background with many visitors and vendors, #102 (10 x 15cm).
42 38 Northwestern view of World Trade Center Memorial depicting the full white granite paving around the fountain and Three World Trade Center in the background, #103 (10 x 15cm).
43 39 Detailed close view of the cracked granite segments of World Trade Center Memorial with black granite surrounds and gray granite below, #108 (10 x 15cm).
43 40 Detailed close view of the inscription on red granite in white in both English and Spanish below the red granite dais in the center of World Trade Center Memorial, #122 (10 x 15cm).
44 41 View of the interior of World Trade Center Memorial with red granite dais with red granite ring surrounding with inscription in both English and Spanish, showing the names of John DiGiovanni and Robert Kirkpatrick with the black granite and broken multi-colored granite interior surrounding pattern visible with gray fence in the background, #113 (10 x 15cm).
44 42 View detailing the center of World Trade Center Memorial with red granite dais fountain, surrounding inscribed red granite ring showing the name Robert Kirkpatrick, and polished black granite exterior ring, with Three World Trade Center and One World Trade Center reflected in the black granite exterior ring, #114 (10 x 15cm).
45 43 View detailing the red granite dais fountain and inscribed red granite ring within World Trade Center Memorial with both the English and Spanish inscription and the names Robert Kirkpatrick and Stephen Knapp, #116 (10 x 15cm).
45 44 View detailing the red granite dais fountain and the red granite inscribed ring within World Trade Center Memorial showing both the English and Spanish inscriptions and the names Stephen Knapp and William Macko, #117 (10 x 15cm).
46 45 View detailing the red granite dais fountain and inscribed red granite ring within World Trade Center Memorial with both English and Spanish inscriptions and the name Wilfredo Mercado, #119 (10 x 15cm).
46 46 View detailing the red granite dais fountain and inscribed surrounding red granite ring within World Trade Center Memorial with both English and Spanish inscriptions and "Monica Rodriguez Smith and her unborn child", #120 (10 x 15cm).
    Ideogram, James Rosati
47   "Ideogram," with description of the artwork and the artist, James Rosati.
47 47 Western view of Ideogram in Austin J. Tobin Plaza with World Trade Memorial in the background in front of Three World Trade Center and the corner of Two World Trade Center in the background, #85 (10 x 15cm).
48 48 Southeastern view of Ideogram with a view across Austin J. Tobin Plaza encompassing an outdoor stage with the top of The Sphere visible above the stage on the left and a grouping of vendors on the right and both Four World Trade Center and Five World Trade Center in the background, #74 (10 x 15cm).
49 49 Southwestern view of Ideogram in Austin J. Tobin Plaza with Two World Trade Center and Three World Trade Center in the background, #86 (10 x 15cm).
49 50 Southwestern view of Ideogram in Austin J. Tobin Plaza with Two World Trade Center and Three World Trade Center in the background with figure in red, #73 (10 x 15cm).
50   [blank page]
    Cloud Fortress, Magayuki Nagare
51   "Cloud Fortress," with description of the artwork and the artist, Magayuki Nagare.
51 51 Northwestern view of Cloud Fortress with a white granite bench in the foreground and Austin J. Tobin Plaza and Two World Trade Center, Three World Trade Center, and One World Trade Center in the background, #42 (10 x 15cm).
52   [blank page]
53   [blank page]
54 52 Southwestern view of Cloud Fortress in Austin J. Tobin Plaza with gray granite base and Four World Trade Center in the background, #45 (10 x 15cm).
54 53 Eastern view of Cloud Fortress and gray granite base with Five World Trade Center in the background in Austin J. Tobin Plaza, #46 (10 x 15cm).
55 54 Northwestern view of Cloud Fortress in Austin J. Tobin Plaza with Five World Trade Center and One World Trade Center in the background with view of The Sphere, #47 (10 x 15cm).
55 55 Western view of Cloud Fortress with Four World Trade Center and Three World Trade Center in the background, #54 (10 x 15cm).
56 56 Southeastern view of Cloud Fortress with Magayuki Nagare's signature visible in the center of the sculpture and a view of Church Street in the background, #43 (10 x 15cm).
56 57 Southeastern view of Cloud Fortress with a view of Church Street and the Century 21 department store in the background, #44 (10 x 15cm).
57 58 Northwestern view of Cloud Fortress in silhouette with Two World Trade Center, Three World Trade Center, and One World Trade Center in the background, (10 x 15cm).
57 59 Close detail view of a smooth black segment of Cloud Fortress attached to a smooth golden segment, #16 (10 x 15cm).
58 60 Close detail view of the mottled black granite surface of Cloud Fortress highlighting the texture of the stone, #48 (10 x 15cm).
58 61 Southeastern close view detailing the right interior edge Cloud Fortress and its small triangular cut-out, #61 (10 x 15cm).
59 62 Close view detailing Magayuki Nagare's signature in black granite on Cloud Fortress, #57 (10 x 15cm).
59 62 Close view detail photograph of the year (1975) and partial image of the artist's signature on Cloud Fortress, #56 (10 x 15cm).
60   [blank page]
    Union, Lancelot Samson
61   "Union," with description of the artwork and the artist, Lancelot Samson.
61 63 View of Union towards the mezzanine balcony in natural light with flags and a black suitcase in the background in Two World Trade Center mezzanine (10 x 15cm).
62   [blank page]
63 64 View taken from the right towards the windows of Union, including bronze plaque noting the donation of the artwork, with white marble wall and windows behind in Two World Trade Center mezzanine, #89 (10 x 15cm).
63 65 View taken towards the mezzanine balcony of Union in natural light with flags and black suitcase in the background. Item has a black marker in the bottom right-hand-corner (10 x 15cm).
64 66 Detailed view of the rear right-hand bottom corner of Union detailing the white marble of the sculpture and the gray marble of the base, #93 (10 x 15cm).
64 67 View of Union taken from the left towards the windows with bronze plaque detailing the donation of the item and with white granite walls and windows behind, #98 (10 x 15cm).
65 68 Detailed view of the circular cutout on Union highlighting the brown and gray notes in the white marble of the sculpture, #91 (10 x 15cm).
65 69 Detailed view of the rear bottom of Union, #94 (10 x 15cm).
66 70 Detailed close view of the right-hand tip of Union, #96 (10 x 15cm).
66 71 Detailed close view taken from the front and right of Union, highlighting the gold tones in the white marble, #90 (10 x 15cm).
    World Trade Center Tapestry, Joan Miro
67   "World Trade Tapestry," with description of the artwork and the artist, Joan Miro.
67 72 View of World Trade Center Tapestry from below with the top left-hand corner blocked by foliage in the Two World Trade Center mezzanine, #38 (10 x 15cm).
68   [blank page]
69 73 View from below and to the right of World Trade Center Tapestry in the Two World Trade Center mezzanine, #34 (10 x 15cm).
69 74 Close view detailing a green segment on the bottom right-hand side of World Trade Center Tapestry in the Two World Trade Center mezzanine, #37 (10 x 15cm).
70 75 Close view detailing the magenta circular portion in the upper left-hand portion of World Trade Center Tapestry in the Two World Trade Center mezzanine, #36 (10 x 15cm).
70 76 Close view detailing the bottom right-hand corner of World Trade Center Tapestry in the Two World Trade Center mezzanine, #41 (10 x 15cm).
71 77 Close view detailing a magenta, salmon, yellow, and green portion in the lower right-hand portion of World Trade Center Tapestry in the Two World Trade Center mezzanine, #39 (10 x 15cm).
71 78 Close view detailing the yellow and orange fringe on the central bottom of World Trade Center Tapestry in the Two World Trade Center mezzanine. #40 (10 x 15cm).
72   [blank page]
    Fan Dance, Hunt Sionem
73   "Fan Dance," with description of the artwork and the artist, Hunt Sionem.
73 79 View of Fan Dance in the Port Authority Executive Dining Room "printed from the internet", author and date unknown (10 x 15cm).
74   [blank page]
    Sky Gate, New York, Louise Nevelson
75   "Sky Gate," with description of the artwork and the artist, Louise Nevelson.
75 80 View of Sky Gate, New York, by Louise Nevelson, author and location unknown (10 x 15cm).
76   [blank page]
77 81 View of the left-hand side of Sky Gate, New York, in sunlight and shadow, taken from below, #66 (10 x 15cm).
77 82 Detailed close view of a segment in the upper left-hand corner of Sky Gate, New York, #65 (10 x 15cm).
78 83 Detailed close view of a segment in the lower central portion of Sky Gate, New York, with sunlight and shadow, #67 (10 x 15cm),
78 84 Detailed close view of the right-hand central portion of Sky Gate, New York, in sunlight and shadow, #70 (10 x 15cm).
79 85 Detailed close view of the bottom right-hand portion of Sky Gate, New York, taken vertically in sunlight and shadow, (10 x 15cm).
79 86 Detailed close view of the bottom right-hand portion of Sky Gate, New York, in sunlight and shadow, #72 (10 x 15cm).
80 87 Detailed close view of the bottom right-hand central portion of Sky Gate, New York, in sunlight and shadow, #69 (10 x 15cm).
80 88 Detailed close view of the bottom central portion of Sky Gate, New York, #71 (10 x 15cm).
    Laestrygonia I and Telepilus Laestrygonia II, Frank Stella
81   "Laestrygonia I / Laestrygonia II," with description of the artwork and the artist, Frank Stella.
81 89 View of both Laestrygonia I and Telepilus Laestrygonia II against a gray granite wall and lit from above, (10 x 15cm).
82   [blank page]
83 90 View of Laestrygonia I against a gray granite wall and lit from above, #18 (10 x 15cm).
83 91 View of Telepilus Laestrygonia II against a gray granite wall and lit from above with two patches of sunlight on the right-hand side (10 x 15cm).
84 92 View of Laestrygonia I against a gray granite wall, (10 x 15 cm).
84 93 View of Telepilus Laestrygonia II with a small portion of Laestrygonia I on the left-hand side of the image and one patch of sunlight in the lower right-hand corner, #19 (10 x 15cm).
    The Third Circle, Al Held
85   "Third Circle," with description of the artwork and the artist, Al Held.
85 94 View of The Third Circle lit from above and below and against a gray granite wall (10 x 15cm).
86   [blank page]
87 95 View of The Third Circle taken in the sunlight against a gray granite wall with a portion of shrubbery on the left-hand side (10 x 15cm).
87 96 View of The Third Circle lit only from above and below against a gray granite wall with a slight glare on the wall below.
88 97 View of The Third Circle from below, lit with a flash, and with a slight glare in the bottom center of the painting, #16 (10 x 15cm).
88 98 View of The Third Circle lit with a flash and with a slight glare on the bottom center of the painting (10 x 15cm).
    Painting from the Entablature series, Roy Lichtenstein
89   "Entablature," with description of the artwork and the artist, Roy Lichtenstein.
89 99 Entablature viewed from the front and left, lit from above, against a gray granite wall, and with the right-hand top corner of the piece obstructed by foliage. #1 (10 x 15cm).
90   [blank page]
91 100 Entablature viewed from below with the top right-hand corner obstructed by foliage, #2 (10 x 15cm).
91 101 Entablature as seen from below and to the left, lit from above, and with the top right-hand corner obstructed by foliage (10 x 15cm).
92   [blank page]
    Crusading Euphoria, Ross Blechner
93   "Crusading Euphoria," with description of the artwork and the artist, Ross Blechner.
93 102 Crusading Euphoria as seen from below and to the left, lit from above, and with a glare from a camera flash on the bottom left-hand side of the painting, (10 x 15cm).
94   [blank page]
95 103 Crusading Euphoria as seen from below with a glare from a camera flash on the granite wall on the bottom, central, right-hand portion of the painting, #14 (10 x 15cm).
95 104 Crusading Euphoria as seen from the bottom and to the right with a glare from a camera flash on the bottom right-hand corner of the painting, #13 (10 x 15cm).
96 105 Crusading Euphoria seen from below with a glare from a camera flash on the granite wall on the bottom, left-hand, central portion of the painting (10 x 15cm).
96 106 Crusading Euphoria viewed directly with a glare from a camera flash on the bottom, central, left-hand portion of the painting (10 x 15cm).
    Cloud [?], Louise Nevelson
97   "Cloud," with description of the artwork and the artist, Louise Nevelson.
97 107 Cloud as seen from below and to the left, lit from above and against a granite wall (10 x 15cm).
98   [blank page]
99 108 Cloud as viewed directly, lit from above, against a granite wall, #8 (10 x 15cm).
99 109 Close view detailing a portion on the left-hand side of Cloud highlighting the three-dimensionality of the relief, #10 (10 x 15cm).
99 110 Close view detailing a portion on the left-hand side of Cloud highlighting the varied textures of the relief, #12 (10 x 15cm).
100 111 View of Cloud directly lit by a camera flash against a granite wall with a glare from the flash centered beneath Cloud on the wall, #9 (10 x 15cm).
100 112 Close view detailing the central portion of the right-hand edge of Cloud, #11 (10 x 15cm).
    The Asymptote, Carol Szymanski
101   "The Asympote [sic]," with description of the artwork and the artist, Carol Szymanski.
101 113 View of The Asymptote  in the plaza of Seven World Trade Center with escalators and a reflective pillar in the background.
102   [blank page]
103 114 View of The Asymptote highlighting the length of the piece with windows and a view of Vesey Street in the background, #3 (10 x 15cm).
103 115 View of The Asymptote from the side highlighting the length of the sculpture with windows and a view of Vesey Street and a view of the interior plaza of the Seven World Trade Center in the background, #4 (10 x 15cm).
103 116 View through the center of The Asymptote with a view of escalators and the interior plaza of the Seven World Trade Center in the background, #5 (10 x 15cm).
104 117 View of The Asymptote's location within Seven World Trade Center with a view of three floors of the Seven World Trade Center taken from the mezzanine level (10 x 15cm).
Last Updated: March 7, 2022