Zwolle artist’s Freedom New York painting to hang at 9/11 Memorial

Zwolle artist Frank Dammers' painting Freedom New York will soon be a permanent part of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum's collection in New York. The Frank Dammers Fine Art Foundation decided to donate the painting to the Memorial, the foundation announced. Dammers will be the first international artist to have a painting in the memorial. According to the Foundation, Dammers got the idea for the Freedom New York painting while recuperating from a car accident in Mexico. There he began chatting with a group of people who survived the terrorist attacks in New York City on September 11, 2001. Their stories touched and inspired him, leading to his painted creation of "a future skyline of New York which radiates optimism and strength". An employee of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum discovered the painting at an art fair in New York several years later. The Memorial's management contacted Dammers and asked whether he would consider parting with the painting so that it could become part of the Memorial's permanent collection. They found the energetic painting perfect for the museum, as the bright colors will help visitors depart the museum not dejected, but with a positive outlook. The painting was shipped off to New York on Tuesday.