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Alba Wheels Up brings in 9-11 Monument
October 16, 2006

Zurab Tsereteli is a Russian artist, leader, and goodwill ambassador. Currently the President of the Russian Academy of Art, Tsereteli is as well-known for his charisma as he is for his works, which are displayed worldwide. His devotion to art as a mechanism for philanthropy and fostering goodwill among nations is illustrated in his recent works, which include a tribute to victims of terrorist attacks and a historic sculpture for the Israeli people documenting the strength of the Jewish people during the horrors of the Holocaust.
The monument, entitled “To the Struggle Against World Terrorism,” is a gift from the Russian Federation to the United States. Tsereteli conceived the work as he walked the streets of Moscow after the attacks on September 11, 2001. He observed Russians weeping as they mourned the loss of so many Americans, visualizing their tears as a dual representation of universal grief and united strength in the fight against terrorism.
The rectangular memorial, made of steel and sheathed in bronze, stands 100 feet high, and includes the names of those killed in the attacks on 9/11, and those killed during the 1993 attacks on the World Trade Center. A powerful tribute to both the victims of terrorism and to the international fight against terrorism, the monument will stand as the centerpiece of a new park in Bayonne Harbor.
The Chairman of Bayonne's 9-11 Commission, Frank Perrucci, stated: “The September 11 committee looked for a truly memorable and outstanding monument that would reflect the significance of September 11 and the Bayonne community's strong interest in memorializing those who perished. Zurab Tsereteli is an impressive international artist who will provide Bayonne with a significant and attractive memorial that will have great historic value.”
The groundbreaking for “To the Struggle” is scheduled for September 15, 2005. It will join several of Tsereteli's prominent works in the United States, including
“Good Defeats Evil” at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, and “Happiness for the Children of the World” and “Prometheus”, both located in Brockport, New York.
In addition to his continued work on the site design and memorial planning, Tsereteli recently displayed his paintings, graphic designs, and sculptures at an exhibition at the Manezh in St. Petersburg. He also received the Jewish National Fund's “Tree of Life Award” in New York City for having “greatly contributed to the development and prosperity of the world.”
On April 28, 2005, Tsereteli will travel with President Putin of Russia to Israel for the installation of “Tragedy of the Jewish People” at Knesset, the Israeli Parliament. Their journey will mark the first time in history that a current Russian President has visited Israel. “Tragedy” depicts a mother covering her son's eyes from the horror they are experiencing, as well as four adults in a bronze circle. A gesture of solidarity between the nations and a gesture commemorating the memory of Jewish victims of the Holocaust, the memorial is a gift from the Russian Federation to the People of Israel.
Born and educated in Tbilisi, Georgia, Tsereteli has devoted his life to the study and creation of art, and exploring new ways to utilize art as a means of fostering goodwill among nations. Both “To the Struggle” and “Tragedy” reflect this commitment, as well as the artist's ability to capture the emotions and narratives of historical events.