Standing Still

Raw from the Road, February 3, 2017

Standing Still

If your heart is broken, make art with the pieces.

Shane Koyczan

Standing Still is one of the first few pieces I painted with ‘well-traveled’ motorcycle tires (used tires).

I was born and raised in New York and though I love the paradise and countryside in which I live now, I will always have a strong connection to New York, the city where I learned and experienced so many important lessons in life.

My memories from my time there are so special and countless.

I was living in Santa Cruz, CA when 9/11 happened.

The winter before, I had visited a friend of mine at the WTC where he worked. On that tragic day, I couldn’t reach my family, who all live in New York and I felt panic.

I also couldn’t reach that friend who worked in one of the towers.

There really are no words to describe how awful this day was.

Later that night, I was relieved to finally get in touch with my family and to hear that my friend had no longer worked in the World Trade Center.

I wanted to pay homage to that day, the city, the people…the towers, and the one I watched get built from my apartment on the Upper East Side in New York City in the mid-eighties.

Standing Still was one of the first Treads paintings I created, an experiment with defined shapes, colors and texture.

For me, the sun represents the healing and resilience of the city, the people and better days for all.

Be Brave. Be Strong.

Nothing can knock your beautiful self down…nothing.

Robbie