Painting Copyright(c)2001-2003
John Martinez
"Second in a Series of Paintings on
911" This is John's latest painting regarding
the triumph and heroism on that day. It is dedicated to all those who toiled
and struggled endlessly to clean up at Ground Zero. He wants to thank all those
who came to
help in everyway they could. Thank you." from John Martinez
That morning on September 11th,
I dropped my wife Ellen and my sister off at work just blocks from the WTC.
Since I live in Staten Island, travel across the Brooklyn Bridge was the
fastest means of return. I had just crossed the bridge into Brooklyn when
the first plane hit. I tried to return to see what I could do, and to
retrieve my wife and sister from work in the city, but no one was allowed to
leave until it was safe. So, I returned home, distraught and highly
disturbed. Being a former marine I wanted to get into the action... to help
to do something... just as every good American citizen felt that day, I am
sure.
The more I thought about it, pictures began to form in my mind, especially
after watching some of the attack on the television. As I began to focus, I
just kept watching and this picture formed. I sat down in my small studio
in the hall, looked at the canvas and I just began to paint. I continued to
paint, paint and paint, adding one thing onto another to show how America
was shocked by this terrible attack. For this reason, I pictured the
American Eagle with a shocking look on his face, not a fearful look, but a
shocking look in his eye. I painted him in a manner that looks like he just
stopped in mid-air with the flag in his talons and a ribbon across the beak
of the eagle that reads 9-11-01, Flight 93, Let's Roll!
Immediately below that I decided to paint myself in a camouflaged outfit
with an M16 assault riffle, and that was the only one that was in the
painting. Later, I added 3 more and a raft. I made it like a group of
recon marines springing into action, which is how I felt at the time. Right
below that I painted a marine F16, because I heard so many jets overhead and
all over the place. I put some bombs on it that read NYPD, FDNY and PAPD.
Below that I sketched up a couple of black hawk attack choppers, US Army
style and below that I have left it for all the heroes that we lost.
One thing that is very important. All over the news and everywhere I looked
I saw debris and the buildings, the towers coming down with all those
innocent people in them. No where did I see what was going on before the
collapses took place. In my heart I just wanted to capture what the scene
must have been like just moments before and during the towers collapsing.
The only way I could do that was to paint all the firefighters and rescue
people, including the civilians in the upper right hand corner, involved,
alive doing what they do best which is saving lives. They laid their lives
down for their friends and for many a stranger whom they did not even know.
This is the most honorable, brave and heroic thing anyone could ever do.
So, I named the painting "NO GREATER LOVE" after the Bible verse John
15:13 that says: "GREATER LOVE HATH NO ONE THAN THIS, THAN TO LAY
DOWN ONE'S LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS". I don't know how the name came to
me, it just hit me and immediately tears began to flow from my eyes, but
they were really from my heart. When I told my wife, Ellen, she said that
was a perfect name. She said "John, no way are you going to change that
name. It is perfect." So that is what I did.
John Martinez, Artist
Member of the Fraternal Order of Police in Hicksville, New York.
Posters
by John MartinezPainting of his 911 Masterpiece"No Greater Love"
This is a picture of the poster with John &
Barbara holding it
Shirts can be ordered directly from the NYS Court by contacting
Sergeant Bob Smith at 212-815-0889
Collaboration
with the website
www.heroes-nogreaterlove.com and celebrating the upcoming book
HEROES OF THE WTC by Barbara Lang (Lyras-Auffret)
T- Shirts with
John's painting on the back and the insignias of the US Court Police,
NYPD, FDNY & PAPD being sold for the
NYS Court Officers, NYC Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #35
Police
Officers & Firefighters or members of any Police or Fire Organization
especially FOP will receive a discount when ordering so please let us know
when you are ordering from us the name of your organization
A Portion of
the proceeds from the sale of this print will go to our Yearly Award
Which will be awarded to a Hero of 9/11
For
larger order amounts please contact us at
barbara@www.heroes-nogreaterlove.com
Firefighters and Police
Organizations
If you were at Ground Zero you are
entitled to a free poster please let us know when ordering!
|