Panel
Photo credit: Conservation staff
Dimensions (Metric): 236.22 cm X 30.48 cm X 3.81 cm
Pandora's Lantern panel consisting of eight colorful children's drawings on vellum arranged vertically within a wooden frame. The panel attaches to the roof of the sculpture with two hook-and-eye latches.
Artwork 1 (top)
Marker drawing depicting a cross radiating yellow light in a blue sky with clouds.
Artwork 2
Mixed media artwork depicting a sun, a tree, a pink heart, purple stars, the Earth, and four red stick figures with a green line above them. The background is black.
Artwork 3
Mixed media artwork depicting four overlapping hands in diverse skin tones against a blue background.
Artwork 4
Mixed media artwork depicting a large, crossed-out broken heart. Green stick figures and a yin-yang symbol with a green background appear below the heart. Above it is a blue sky with clouds.
Artwork 5
Mixed media artwork depicting a puzzle piece decorated with the American flag, "AC," a tree, the North Tower, an apple, and abstract shapes. The background is a salmon color.
Artwork 6
Mixed media artwork depicting a rainbow with hearts and clouds around it.
Artwork 7
Crayon drawing depicting white stars against a black, blue, and green background.
Artwork 8
Mixed media artwork depicting a sunrise or over a body of water with clouds in the sky.
America’s Camp welcomed children who had family members die as a result of the 9/11 attacks. Each summer, campers and counselors produced a collaborative art project. Artistic Director Traci Molloy recalled that when bereaved children first arrived at America’s Camp, they “painted almost exclusively in shades of black and red.” As years passed, that tone changed. These panels are part of a 44-panel illuminated lantern created in 2007. It was inspired by the myth of Pandora, who releases evils into the world, but still retains hope. Molloy drew a comparison to the children’s earlier work, noting that “the color palette brightened . . . as themes of hope and love took center stage.”
