Artist grieves

In what she calls her attempt at capturing the grief that shook her the three weeks following Sept. 11, alumna Justine Wollaston unveiled SMU’s first major artwork commemorating the terrorist attacks Thursday afternoon.

The mural, currently housed in the basement of Hughes-Trigg Student Center, is a collage of 5,622 words taken from newspaper headlines following the attacks, including headlines from The Dallas Morning News. Wollaston found the number of words on the mural significant as they represent the initial estimated death toll. A red, white and blue ribbon at the bottom right of the mural commemorates the thousands of Americans who donated blood following the attacks.

Wollaston’s former art history professor Alessandra Comini first approached her as initial plans for the university’s memoriam took shape. Both Comini and President R. Gerald Turner were pleased with Wollaston’s work.

“The best way to counter [Sept. 11] is to show the best of human spirit,” Turner said, “and the human spirit can express itself through art.”

The mural will be in the Hughes-Trigg basement Sept. 10-11, and students, faculty and staff are encouraged to sign the memorial banner in front of the work of art. The mural will be moved to a permanent display on campus following the Sept. 11 anniversary.