Sciame Construction

The original pen and ink drawings that resulted in the book Healing Hearts, authored in 2002 by Toronto artist John Coburn, will be shown publicly for the first time in Manhattan from Sept. 1-15.

Coburn, who has published four books related to New York City, “…joined the pilgrimage to lower Manhattan in the fall of 2001. Some brought candles. Some brought love notes, poems, flowers and photos. John brought his sketch pad.” – Foreword from Healing Hearts, by Bryan Chadwick.

The result was a sensitive, calming and remarkably human story that reflects the compassion of New Yorkers and people from around the world. Coburn’s drawings will leave a dramatic and positive impression on the viewer a decade after September 11th.

To honor and pay tribute to the families, first responders and recovery workers, Coburn has accepted an invitation from Joseph Mizzi, President of Sciame Construction to display the original drawings during a free public exhibition from Sept. 1-15.

A copy of Healing Hearts (only 3,000 were produced nine years ago as a gift to families) will also be on display at Coburn’s exhibition.

The original drawings, most of which were damaged by a major fire at Coburn’s studio in 2006, provide a personal snapshot of life in New York City in the fall of 2001. Of the several hundred drawings and paintings lost in Coburn’s studio fire, the only items recovered were the original pen and ink drawings from Healing Hearts.

The Healing Hearts Arts Exhibition is curated by Toronto-based Beckett Fine Art, and has been generously supported by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited from Toronto and Sciame Construction in New York.

The mission of the Healing Hearts Project is to provide a touchstone for enduring remembrance and healing through the drawings of John Coburn. The next planned phase of the Project is a documentary film with an education initiative to follow.