After September 11th people gathered in Union Square to share information, to mourn and to pay tribute, to debate and to just share the time with others. Artwork from around the world: shrines, candles, flowers, flags and cards appeared daily for months. The tall object in the photo covered with tributes is a large “candle” with a wire “flame” that became the focal point for the rest of the large shrine at the South end of the Square.

Photograph taken September 16, 2001 by Martha Cooper. View more photographs of the spontaneous shrines that appeared after September 11, 2001 in the Labor Arts exhibit “Missing.”