Kris' Artworks

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FDNY Black Sunday Never Forget

The FDNY has faced many tragic events, Black Sunday being one of them.

Black Sunday has been used to describe January 23, 2005, when four firefighters of the New York City Fire Department died in two fires: two at a tenement fire in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx, with four others being seriously injured, one of which later died due to his injuries from that day, and one at a house fire in the East New York section of Brooklyn. It was the deadliest day for the FDNY since the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001, and the first time since 1918 that firefighters had died at two separate incidents on the same day.

I was commissioned by one of the survivors to do a memorial drawing that he had always envisioned. He wanted the four LODD (Line of Duty Death) firefighters from that day in front of Heaven's Gates with the three survivors from that day looking on. This is what I came up with....

Black Sunday Memorial Drawing

The original drawing is framed and is hanging in Jeff's office. Several prints have been made for the survivors, family members, and one is hanging at the FDNY Training Academy, also known as the Rock.


It is such a great honor to be chosen to create such a special piece. Being a firefighter and an artist make this type of work difficult, but very rewarding and meaningful.

If you would like to learn more about the events of that day, click here... "Black Sunday" and the FDNY (fireengineering.com)

I want to include the reference pictures I had of these firemen next to their portrait that I drew, so you would be able to see what I used to create the portraits in this drawing.

The original drawing is 16"x24" Graphite on Strathmore grey toned paper

Please feel free to leave a comment, say Hi, or ask a question.

Reference:

"Black Sunday" and the FDNY (fireengineering.com)

Black Sunday (2005) - Wikipedia