How did the events of September 11, 2001 inspire a series of beach pictures?
September 11 changed the way I looked at the world, but these pictures are not about 9/11. They were influenced by it. That’s a really big distinction. These photographs are about how people are able in the face of huge tragedy to continue on and do things and have a good time and play and relax on the beach. What were you doing on September 11? I was at the Corcoran [Gallery of Art] when we heard what was going on in New York and also that a plane had just hit the Pentagon. They evacuated the Corcoran Gallery and we all left and rushed back to our hotels. I saw people in suits running from the White House, which was very eerie and strange. The next day or so we couldn’t leave, we couldn’t fly out or rent a car, couldn’t do anything. We were stuck there. I knew my son was in New York and I was trying to catch up with him. Finally I was able to make phone contact, so I decided to go up there and take him out of New York and go to a friend’s house to stay. [When I got to the city,] it wa
