After the events of last Tuesday 9/11/2001 worrying about an art show seemed futile and disrespectful of the terrible tragedy wrought upon, not only the victims of the brutal attack, but also their friends and families.

The first image in the list is similar to view from the windows of our Brooklyn Studio. Just under the bridge on the right hand side you can just see the very edge of the World Trade Center. Now there is just a pall of smoke and ashes, seemingly permanent, in the sky.

While the destruction of "bricks and mortar" can in no way be compared to the human tragedy, the loss of the World Trade Center has special meaning and significance for me. It was a symbol of the brash optimism that is America.

As an ex-pat Brit on my first visit to New York in the very early 80's I was staggered by their immense stature. If you have not been close to the towers it was difficult to conceive of how big they really were. Seventy and eighty story buildings were dwarfed by them.

No staggered construction where buildings taper to an elegant top for the WTC, just two massive elongated cubes totally dominating the skyline for miles and miles around.

Inside the bar or restaurant on the 110th floor was like being on a massive plane drifting slowly in the sky. On the first visit you were in awe. Some people, on subsequent visits, would become increasing uneasy--your mind had problems getting around the height coupled with lack of sound and movement.

When I took my young nephew and his lady friend there for a drink at sundown he declared it to be the most romantic place in the world, he almost proposed!

I took my parents there on a trip from England. My father, like many Brits, was very defensive about Britain in the face of the American way. I would say "we are going over a big bridge soon" (the Verazano Bridge) and he would instantly tell me of equally large or elegant bridges in England or Europe. When I told him we were going to one of the tallest buildings in the world for lunch his immediate response was "we have tall buildings in London". When we approached the WTC he became quiet and outside in the plaza he looked up and laughing with astonishment said "THIS is big".

My brother and his wife celebrated an unforgettable birthday dancing the night away 110 floors above Manhattan.

I remember countless visits to the bar or restaurant to say hello, welcome to America or good-bye hope you had a great visit, to friends and relatives from Europe.

These memories will stay with me forever as I hope will the memories of the thousands of people rich and poor who lost their lives.

Rick De Coyte