Graffiti rises at the World Trade Center site
All across the construction zone at the site of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, more than 20,000 square feet of corrugated metal is being transformed by street artists.
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The art project started earlier this year when the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey asked developer Larry Silverstein to liven up his construction zone, which sported walls and walls of bland gray metal. He invited 50 street artists to festoon the grounds with graffiti.
"You could have hired anyone – why did you choose street art?" asked CBS News' Faith Salie.
"Maybe because it was the coolest kind of art we could find!" Silverstein laughed. "And I'm saying this to you as an 87-year-old guy!"
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"Summer Solstice" by Ben Angotti.
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The graffiti - like much graffiti elsewhere in New York City - is temporary, for as long as construction continues on the final tower at the site.
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Artist Dylan Bauvez. His artwork, titled "Wild Things," was in honor of his sister and mother, both of whom are fighting cancer.
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Dylan Bauvez at work.
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Above, flowers burst forth in "Vesey in Blooms" by Chinon Maria and Sebastrian Mitre. Below: "Hidden Dreams" by Brolga.
"You want to do something that honors the area, that brings hope, that brings life to a place that has gone through such tragedy," said Maria.
"That is a key word: rebirth," added Mitre.
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Flowers by Chinon Maria and Sebastian Mitre decorate the plaza.
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Creating Lynne Yun's mural inspired by "Greetings From ..." postcards.
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Mural by Lynne Yun.
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Street artist Stickymonger.
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Street artist Stickymonger.
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Stickymonger's mural, "Cosmic Traveler."
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Faith Salie asked street artist Boogie (pictured at work) whether art heals.
"In so many ways," she said. "Mind, body and soul."
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Dragon76 working on his mural.
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"Love is Love Hearts" by Hektad.
Artist Chinon Maria said, "You think about the location and how it is our job to really focus in and create something to respect all the lives that were lost, and to know that there is hope and there is a way for us to all unite together, and that is through the arts."
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An assistant applies touches to Todd Gray's mural.
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At work on Todd Gray's mural "Flabbergast."
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"To have all these murals, to me they're just these metaphors of wildflowers, just kind of growing through the rubble," said artist Todd Gray.
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Mural by BoogieRez.
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"Lotus Goddess" by Alice Mizrachi.
For more info:
Dylan Bauvez on Instagram (@bauvez)
Chinon Maria on Instagram
Sebastian Mitre on Instagram
Todd Gray on Instagram
Johee Park on Instagram (@stickymonger)
TC Weaver on Instagram (rezones)
Risa Tochigi on Instagram (@riiisaboogie)
Silverstein Properties
World Trade Center street murals (Frommer's)
By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan