Ground Zero Art Center and Frank Gehry

A few years back there was a wonderful Frank Gehry exhibit at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. As part of the exhibit, I remember looking at models of a proposed cultural arts building that was to be situated near the World Trade Center. In true Gehry style, the building’s architecture fit perfectly with the other buildings’ designs, including the height of the World Trade Center and the other buildings’ shapes. When the World Trade Center was destroyed, besides thinking about all the other tragedy surrounding this disaster, I thought of this wonderful model and wondered what would become of Gehry’s vision that is the type that celebrates creativity and what is spectacular about humanity.

As plans for the rebuilding of Ground Zero are underway, Gehry is part of the process. His architect firm is one of the designers of the Ground Zero Arts Center which was to house the Joyce Theater and the Signature Theatre Company. According to an article in the New York Times, the Signature Theatre Company is no longer going to be housed here, but a new location will be found. As the article points out, putting up masterpiece buildings cost mega bucks so the design isn’t going to be able to accommodate two theaters. Regardless, it’s comforting to know that Gehry still will have a mark on this part of the city and the skyline he is helping to create will be one we will recognize no matter where we are in the world. The poster is for the documentary film Sketches of Frank Gehry by Sidney Pollack.