This Saturday, a giant crane smashed the studio of the artists rep I work with (Richard Solomon Artists Representative). (Image copyright Cheng Lee - New York Times) The crane, by a comapny called New York Cranes, was breaking several safety rules, and carrying a heavy load when the carrying-cord snapped. The load fell through one of the crane support beams, causing the crane to lose stability, and fall from its perch. When the crane crashed into a building on 51st street, the top of the crane sheared off and was flung like a fishing pole into our building, crushing it completely. The crane now sits where I sit when I go in to assist Richard: 305 East 50th Street New York NY. Greg Manchess and I went down to see the remains of our office that night.

I feel very sorry for all the people that were wounded and killed in the accident. Several of the people who run the fubar below us and a woman that works above us are still missing. We feel very fortunate that no one from Richard's company was in the building when it was destroyed.
Before knowing anyone died, my first reaction was to laugh. I mean, it just sounded so cartoony! Whoever heard of a crane smashing through your studio. I pictured this circular, bowling ball hole with people looking out and a horizontal line running up to the top of the buidling. I, luckily, was out plein aire painting at the time. When Gregory Manchess, one of the artists Richard reps, called and asked where I was, I told him I was in a cemetery. Kind of ironic.
Thank you too, Brad, for checking on me.
We're meeting tomorrow to talk about what to do next. Everyone is o.k., and we're going to just act like professionals. We have no reason to slow down in our work, and luckily no reason to grieve, save the loss of the irreplaceable original art, and all the tasty food in the fridge.