Painting is a Tribute to First Responders Nationwide Sales of Prints to Benefit Tunnel to Towers COVID-19 Heroes Fund
Staten Island, NY, May 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The COVID-19 pandemic has changed every aspect of American life, but the courage and strength of this country has not wavered. To recognize and honor the heroism of our frontline heroes, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation partnered with America’s Artist Scott LoBaido to create “Sunrise: A Tribute to First Responders.”
Utilizing a vast array of colors and shades, Sunrise: A Tribute to First Responders depicts the heroes of this pandemic - a firefighter, police officer, member of the military, health care worker and an EMT - raising a tattered American flag at sunrise, as the bottom of the flagpole jams the coronavirus into the ground.
LoBaido says the use of different hues was deliberate. The light cast by the subtle green sunrise gradually transitions into turquoise, symbolizing the eventual vanquishment of the COVID-19 virus. The 5 ft. by 6 ft. masterpiece is influenced by the iconic images of Marines raising the flag at Iwo Jima during World War II, firefighters raising the flag at 9/11’s Ground Zero and the recent flyover salutes to today’s heroes, performed by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, which LoBaido incorporated as the final touch to his masterwork.
“I have always wanted to do a patriotic piece that was a national tribute to first responders, and with Tunnel to Towers, this was the perfect opportunity to do just that. Through my work I wanted to capture the spirit of hope, resilience, and commitment to duty of those brave men and women at the forefront of this battle,” Lobaido said. “My goal was to create the ideal piece to represent the war we are fighting today, while at the same time inspire and instill hope in all Americans that their courage and sacrifice - like the sacrifices made on frontlines throughout history - will get America through this crisis.”
In recognition of New York City as the epicenter of this pandemic, the piece was unveiled Sunday in four New York City papers, Newsday, Daily News, New York Post, and the Staten Island Advance.
Said Frank Siller, Chairman and CEO of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, “The COVID-19 pandemic is a global fight against an invisible enemy. These heroes show up each day, doing everything they can to save as many lives as they can, while risking their own. Tunnel to Towers is honored to present this masterpiece as a way to immortalize their bravery at this pivotal, historic moment and to thank them for showing us you cannot conquer the American spirit.”
Prints, bearing the digital signature of LoBaido, will be available for a limited time, from May 10 through Memorial Day, May 25, 2020. You can receive a print for free by becoming an $11 a month donor between now and Memorial Day, or by purchasing it for $100 at Tunnel2Towers.org.
The proceeds from these sales will support the Tunnel to Towers COVID-19 Heroes Fund. Established with an initial pledge of $3 million, the fund has grown to $5 million and counting, all in support of America’s heroes. To address the overwhelming need, the Foundation has set a goal of raising $10 million.