Colorful Colombian painter Nelson Vianey has created a commemorative postcard from the expressive face of his painting “Liberty” to record what he calls “one of the saddest days of my life”–September 11, 2001.
Viany has been living in Miami, Florida, and painting expressive faces for over 12 years, including various representations of the Statue of Liberty. Viany was deeply affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks and wanted to commemorate the memory with one of his faces. “Liberty” depicts the face of the statue in a moment of sadness, the moment of watching the passenger planes hit the World Trade Center towers.
“I am very attached to the flag and the symbols of patriotism, and having created a postcard from one of the most successful paintings I have had in exhibitions makes me very proud,” the artist told news source El Sentinel.
The original painting stands 6 feet fall, by 4 feet wide, and is painted with the red, white and blue of the American flag. “Liberty” includes gold leaf detail, and a reflection in her left eye where one can see the details of the tragic moment that will always be in the memory of the United States and those affected by September 11.
The commemorative card made from “Liberty” marks 10 years since the terrorist attacks. Supported by the Colombian consulate and Chelsea Art Museum in New York City, the postcard is being sold in museums for $2. The profits will be donated to the “9-11 Police Aid Foundation.”
“What we wanted to do with the card is to create a memory of the heroes and, at the same time, contribute to the Foundation” Viany said.
The “9-11 Police Aid Foundation” was created by ex-police officers and ex-firefighters to provide financial and medical help to emergency personnel that were a part of the World Trade Center rescues who are now sick or debilitated because of the toxic dust and chemicals that were present on that fateful morning.