Michael KieferE 50th St between 3rd Ave and Lexington AveHeart Three · Location 343 · Drawn March 2004Hover over or select the image to reveal a hidden view.PhotographsDownload photograph 1Download photograph 2Download photograph 3Download photograph 4Download photograph 5Download photograph 6Download photograph 7Video podcast0:00About halfway down East 50th Street between 3rd Avenue and Lexington, on the south side of the street, is a restaurant and lounge called Mint.0:09Mint is new to us as of spring 2006.0:13We drew on a glass panel, which now has the decorative, well-thought-out themes in front of it and behind it.0:20On the sidewalk, it has plants and metal plant holders.0:23And just on the other side of the glass are about two dozen fancy bowl-like vases that seem to serve to hold candles.0:31Beyond that, fanciness and chicness is yours.0:35The drawing was done in the lower left-hand corner.0:38This is Michael Kiefer.0:40He was drawn in March of 2004.0:44His drawing is counting one person.0:48This was a great and stress-free location to draw.0:51We are drawing Michael Kiefer.0:53who is the 343rd drawing in our dedication.0:57The number is only of interest in this case0:59because that is also the total number of firemen who passed away.1:03The number 343 is one that I am painfully aware of,1:07and occasionally I recount all the faces on the New York Times1:10two-page spread of their portraits to confirm their numbers.1:13Unbelievable.1:15But we have made a decision that no one will ever see the numbers1:18related to any particular person's name.1:20on our computers at home and to juggle the sheer magnitude of information we1:25are dealing with every person has to have a dedicated number in the final web1:30pages there will never be an indication of the numbers we're going to do our1:34best to have everything displayed by last names the numbers will not appear1:38in the file names web addresses status bar or search pages it is too easy to1:43disassociate the immensity and importance of people who did die when1:47when only a number is used.1:48If someone took the time to go through our entire finished website,1:52it would give a slightly better sense of the numbers.1:54The act of drawing the select group of the firemen and airline passengers1:57has given us a broader sense.2:00But honestly, loss at that volume cannot be measured by anything2:05except numbers.2:06Michael Vernon Kiefer wanted to be a New York City fireman as long as anyone can2:11remember.2:11As a toddler, he and his father Bud would visit the firehouse in Franklin Square,2:17so that he could sit on the trucks.2:19As a schoolboy, his impression of a siren was so convincing2:23that he once caused a bus driver to pull over abruptly,2:26and his sisters were often drilled on how to rescue their dolls2:29from pretend fires in the backyard shed.← Location 342Heart Three · Location 343Location 344 →
