In the six years since September 11, 2001, families and a nation have found a way to remember and cope. Local artist Debra Holt has done both through her interactive art installation Cathartic, currently on display at Abba Fine Art. We spoke to her about inspiration and hope.
What inspired you to create Cathartic? It’s about hope, renewal and moving forward. 911 Revisited, in Gallery 1 [on display since 2006], emphasizes tragedy through A Heroes’ Wall, The Prayer Wall and a Grief Wall. Cathartic adds a new hopeful element, emphasizing to the victims’ families and the nation to have hope and healing and to move forward.
What’s your personal connection to the day?I lived in New York City for almost 15 years and worked a lot in the World Trade Center, so 9/11 was very personal. My brother-in-law was on a rescue team; he was up there everyday for a month looking for survivors. I knew lot of people who worked in those buildings. Cathartic is a tribute and memorial to the victims, the firefighters and police officers and the nation.Why use so many different artistic mediums: painting, displays, etc.?I wanted to convey the message in different ways. I took many paintings that reflected suffering and despair and put together different elements like antiques and newspapers to better convey the meaning. Each of the walls were created for a different goal and in different ways.
Which piece was most personally cathartic?I would say the whole exhibition was very cathartic—the month that it took to put together helped me express my own grief. Even though I didn’t have anyone who died in 9/11, I felt a lot of compassion for the families and the suffering.
What’s been the response to the exhibit?Everyone who’s come through has been inspired in some way. There have been a few people angry about the war and the situation after the attack, but the exhibit is not about war or politics. It’s about rebuilding, hope, renewal and the strength to move on.
Cathartic is on display through October 31. Visit AbbaFineArt.com or DebraHolt.com for hours, admission and additional information.
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