Artist Paints Fake 'Low Flying Planes' Sign Near Ground Zero

WNBC.com ^ | May 13, 2003

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

An artist who painted a fake "CAUTION Low Flying Planes" sign on a building near ground zero said Tuesday that he did not mean to offend anyone.

"If you take a low humor view of it, that's really in your mind, not mine," said artist James Peterson, who titled his acrylic-on-brick work "Caution: 2003." "It wasn't meant to be offensive."

But the painting, which includes an image of a flickering flame, has angered neighbors and provoked complaints to the city Landmarks Preservation Commission.

City Hall spokeswoman Lark Anton said a letter went out to the building's owner to remove the painting or apply to legalize it within 20 working days.

The building, a converted stable in Tribeca, falls under the landmarks commission's jurisdiction because it is in a historic district.

Speaking to reporters gathered outside the building, Peterson said he never applied for a permit or notified the building's owner, listed in city records as 17 Leonard St. Inc.

"I just did it," he said. "It was more of a guerrilla art piece."

Peterson, who is 36 and lives in Brooklyn, said he painted the 10-foot-by-14-foot artwork over the weekend.

"I was walking down the street one day and I saw a caution sign," he said. "It just all came together in my head. And then I was like, I just saw the wall and I went up and did it."

He said the painting was meant to as a memorial to the attack on the World Trade Center, a few blocks to the south.

"I was just trying to make a piece about what happened, like, after the second plane hit," he said. "Art, you know ... it doesn't just have to be pretty behind somebody's couch."

Christopher Roilph, who lives in the building, said he appreciated Peterson's point.

"The nature of art is that it changes your mind about things and causes you to have feelings," Roilph said.

Some passersby agreed while others said the painting should be removed.

"It's disturbing but I guess it wouldn't be art if it didn't disturb you in some way," said real estate agent Vanessa Low.

Donnahue Osbourne, an engineering technician, said the painting was not as offensive as vendors selling trade center souvenirs at the site.

But he added, "It doesn't fit. It just doesn't fit."

[HitmanLV]

Well, it is insensitive but a lot of humor is hurtful. It's just expressed in a context that is acceptable. Sometimes people cross the line. I lived in nyc about 1/3 mile from the former WTC, and amidst the atrocity, I still found stuff like Gilbert Godfried's 'I need a direct flight from NYC to LA' joke very very funny.

[HitmanLV]

People react differently to different situations. Some people were more shaken than others. Some people react to tragedy with wisecracks and humor.

By the way, the line about hitting the streets for distraught women was a joke.

[HitmanLV]

Humor is a great way to release stress - it's touchy and its easy to say something wrong, but laughter releases stress. I understand what you are saying.

[HitmanLV]

It may be clever, but it's not f**king funny.

No, I think its pretty funny. It's just a matter of taste.

[gatex]

"...By the way, the line about hitting the streets for distraught women was a joke...."

Could you post the definition of "joke" --- and explain how it was a joke?

[HitmanLV]

Relax, I was just kidding. And for what it's worth, I'm always thinking of scoring!

9-11 was an atrocity, for sure. But that doesn't mean we can't cope with tragedy with humor. It's as old as time itself.

And also, I lived in NYC for 33 years, but I am not a mark for the myth and legend that are beginning to grow around 9-11. There was a ton of looting going on downtown - the primary suspects were some members of the NYPD themselves!! Believe it or not!

NYPD pulled it's cops out of the towers so they wouldn't get crushed, while the FDNY sent their men in to their certain deaths.

Do you know why NYC needs new firemen? One reason is that over 300 died on 9-11. Another reason is that a record number retired after January 1, 2002. Seems they all had a ton of overtime in the last 1/3 of 2001 (predictable) and their deal is that their pension is based on their income in their last full year of service (2001), which in many cases was 33-50% more money than they usually make because of their crazy OT in the post 9-11, Ground Zero work.

They are screwing the city out of a lot of money. Three cheers for our selfless heroes of 9-11!!!!! Hip, hip, hooray!

I know several women who tell stories of firemen at bars milking 9-11 for all it was worth, looking for what is colloquially called a 'mercy f*@k.' Now that guy's behavior is far worse than cracking a few jokes to release some stress, I hope we can agree.

Heroes.

It's easier for some people to believe in their heroes with their shiny badges, but the truth is that the men and women of 9-11 tend to fall somewhat shy of that ideal.

I honor the heroes of 9-11, the police, firemen, and EMTs, and others. But the truth is that many of their rank fell well short of a heroic ideal, both on and after 9-11. Painting them all with a super heroic brush is as intellectually dishonest as painting them all as lowlifes.

The truth is that they are human beings, some behaving some heroic than others, and some behaving more criminally than others, and everything in between.

[HitmanLV]

Many NYCers are complete morons, but I'm not. Releasing stress with humor isn't new.

[man of Yosemite]

He paints well, but he thinks poorly.

[katnip]

Did you live in NY on 09-11-01?

[A Navy Vet]

"No, I think its pretty funny. It's just a matter of taste."

Whatever. Make lite of it if you want, but why should the relatives of those who perished have to see it on the side of a wall? I agree with an earlier post, a couple of glass jars of paint would make this discussion moot.

[HitmanLV]

kat,

I lived on Prince Street in NYC, about 1/3 of a mile from the former WTC. I grew up on Prince Street also. I lived in manhattan for over 33 years, and I was there on September 11, 2001.

[HitmanLV]

Dear Navy,

I don't disagree with you. I agree that it is insensitive, but that a lot of humor is insensitive and hurtful. To me, there is a difference between a wisecrack or joke (Gilbert Godfried's 9-11 joke is a riot!) and putting up a sign that victim's families have to see.

Personally I would just as soon see the message painted over like you said. That being said, I think there is a place for humor even in tragic situations.

[katnip]

It's hard for me to find anything funny about that day. I'll admit, I've lost much of my old sense of humor since then.

All I remember is the worry about how and when I would ever get home and a numbness waiting and wondering what horrors would happen each moment.

I have read other posts you've made over these years here, so your original post about finding that day funny surprised me.

I know some people handle stress with humor. I'll assume you are one such person and can only wish you the best.

[HitmanLV]

hey kat,

I'm not a monster! ;-) To say I found 9-11 funny isn't what I meant to convey at all. But I do handle stress with humor (and have for as long as I can remember), but at the same time recognize that it isn't a blanket license to say anything for a laugh in a time of crisis.

If I go to a memorial service and crack witty remarks, that would make me pretty much a jerk.

If I go to a 9-11 widow and orphan and crack wise about the atrocity, that would make me a lowlife beyond compare.

But me going to a tense friend on 9-11 at my office and saying "Hey, I bet there are a lot of distraught women on the street right now looking for some comfort. Let's MOVE!!" in anticipation of getting him to crack a smile and get a little less tense (I assure you he knew I was kidding, and I assure you he was thankful someone lightened a terrible day, even for a few seconds) isn't monstrous at all.

So please don't think I found anything funny about 9-11. That being said, I think there is a value in making jokes in times of crisis.

[Mr. Silverback]

Someone please find this guy, take him to a FDNY or NYPD station in lower Manhattan and allow nature to take it's course.

Well said.

[BSunday]

I'm not against humor, per se..

But before noon on 9-11??? Think about it...

[weegee]

Funny how the article never calls it vandalism.