Michael F LynchAmsterdam Ave between W 99th St and W 98th StHeart Four · Location 375 · Drawn July 2004Download photograph 1Download photograph 2Download photograph 3Download photograph 4Download photograph 5Download photograph 6Download photograph 7Download photograph 8Download photograph 9Download photograph 10Download photograph 11Download photograph 12Download photograph 13Download photograph 14Show all 14 photographsVideo podcast0:00This drawing is made on an interesting shade of brownish orange at the intersection of Amsterdam and West 99th Street.0:09On the east side of the street, it's just south of West 99th, on the most southerly corner of 791, a furniture store.0:18As of spring 2006, the furniture store has a handwritten sign saying that they've moved to New Jersey.0:24But the orange wall remains just wide enough for the drawing of a figure.0:28And to the right of it is a chain link fence and gates overlooking a park with a children's playground, chess, and basketball courts.0:36This is Michael F Lynch.0:39He was drawn in July of 2004.0:43His drawing is counting one person.0:46Well, the negative side is that the conclusion of this story is to be determined0:50because you really don't know what the public reaction is yet.0:54that, you know, as any good artist, you're considering your audience.0:57And that's somewhat terrifying because not only are you presenting a piece of artwork to the public,1:02but you're presenting one with tremendous weight and consequences and emotional baggage.1:08And the subject matter, it makes it touchy, for lack of a better word.1:12And I can imagine how terrifying that is.1:15Terrifying is a fair enough word.1:17So now we're back on Park Avenue.1:19But I mean, does that get at it?1:21If I asked you what is your relationship to the victims of September 11th, what would you say?1:25You can't sum it up in like a brief.1:28You know, we've met the cousins of the people.1:30We've talked to the friends and co-workers of the people.1:34We've done our best to recognize how gargantuan a single life can be1:41and then try to imagine that number inflated by thousands of times.1:48His nieces and nephews called Lieutenant Lynch Big Mike.1:52The firefighters in Ladder 4 called him Prancer,1:55a nickname given him the night he thought he heard a bell1:59and started jumping around the firehouse looking for it.2:03He was an unbelievable dad, said his wife to me.← Location 374Heart Four · Location 375Location 376 →
