Triangle 100th Anniversary

March commemorating the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire


Today is the anniversary of one of the most tragic events in New York City's history.

People gathered at Union Square Park this morning, many of them family members, holding aloft 146 shirtwaists with a name attached.

Among the many events planned to mark this day, was a march down Broadway, starting at Union Square Park and ending at the corner of Greene Street and Washington Place.

I went to see the exhibit "Art • Memory • Place" at the Grey Art Gallery this week. The exhibit was fascinating and is located in the very same building where the factory had been located 100 years ago.

The Asch Building, now called the Brown Building and part of NYU, was the site of the fire. Many of the workers were young women, Jewish and Italian immigrants.

The event spurred outrage about workplace safety.

Many changes were enacted as a result of this tragedy, but 100 years later, unions then and now are still at odds over many issues.

Today's blog post does not share my paintings of the city but photos I took this morning remembering the Triangle Fire event. As the history of the city is so entwined with my art, I wanted to share this remembrance with you today.