Saratogian
World Trade Center steel used in 9/11 sculpture commissioned for Wilton Firehouse
By PAUL POST
ppost@saratogian.com
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WILTON — A piece of steel beam from the World Trade Center is featured in a 9/11 memorial sculpture that will soon go on permanent display at the Wilton Firehouse on Ballard Road.
Former Wilton Fire Department President Ray Bailey applied to receive a World Trade Center artifact about 2-1/2 years ago.
To his surprise, earlier this summer it showed up in a box on his doorstep.
Then he contacted local artist miChelle M. Vara to use the piece in a sculpture that pays tribute to the events of Sept. 11, 2001, and those who lost their lives.
Vara specializes in iron, metal and steel work at her Ballard Road art studio, near the corner of Route 50 and Ballard Road.
Her completed work is full of symbolism.
“It’s small, but powerful,” she said. “I was completely thrilled to get this opportunity.”
Two of the sculpture’s three legs are made from a piece of bent steel.
Vara said the piece represents the orderly, yet bizarre scene of countless people walking home across Brooklyn Bridge on Sept. 11, 2001, after it was closed to vehicles.
“That just captivated me and left a mark in my mind,” she said.
The bend in the piece symbolizes the dramatic change in history and people’s idealism that occurred that day. The main piece of World Trade Center steel, about 2 feet along, is partially bent, too.
Another leg of the sculpture is a wavy piece of steel that represents the uncertainty about exactly what transpired.
“Nobody really knows the whole story,” Vara said. “There are a lot of different takes on what happened.”
One leg has a small offshoot because “everybody had a different story, an idea to share,” she said. “There’s all these fractional pieces.”
Vara force-rusted the sculpture’s legs to give them the same color as the World Trade Center beam.
The one completely clean element is a circular piece that symbolizes the clarity of purpose and American unity that was evident, not only on 9/11, but in the weeks and months that followed.
“People from all walks of life joined hands to do a task,” she said. “We came together as a country. It was the first time in New York City’s history that neighbors were helping each other, sharing, pulling in one direction. People came from all over the country to help.
The sculpture will be moved to the fire station. Details for a dedication ceremony are still being worked out and will be announced soon, Bailey said.