20 Years after 9/11

A Witness to Terrorism and Recovery

BECKET, MASSACHUSETTS 7/28/2021 More than 50 images of the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City on 9/11/2001 and subsequent recovery will be on display in the Berkshires for the 20th anniversary of that terrible event in which 2,996 people were killed and hundreds more rescuers succumbed to illness. 

The exhibit by local photojournalist, Todd Maisel, will be held from September 10th to October 11 at the Becket Arts Center, 7 Brooker Hill Road, in the heart of Becket in the Berkshires. The discussion forum will occur on Monday evening, September 13, 7 p.m., in coordination with the Arts Center and Becket Historical Commission.

Maisel, now a 38-year journalism veteran, was one of several photojournalists who were on the scene from the New York Daily News as the hijacked planes were crashing into the World Trade Center. He witnessed the second plane pierce the north tower as he was arriving on the scene – establishing for certain that New York City was “under attack. 

The photographer documented the horrors of the day, witnessing at one point a firefighter being struck and killed by a desperate occupant of the towers jumping from nearly 100 stories. Maisel narrowly escaped the collapse of both towers and later, took part in search and rescue, helping to recover two surviving firefighters injured in the collapses. He was later honored by both the Uniformed Firefighters Association and the National Press Photographers Association for his efforts during the rescue operation and for documenting the unfolding horror.

Photos will also show subsequent events related to the World Trade Center attacks and the recovery efforts.

Maisel recently went into semi-retirement and resides full-time in Becket. He most recently served as the Breaking News Editor at AMNewYork Metro, a New York City daily newspaper and on-line news organization. He has also been active conducting lectures and fundraisers at schools, senior centers, and in 2010, was the co-chairman of the Pace University public symposium and exhibit on the 10th anniversary entitled “Witness to Tragedy and Recovery, How News Images of Disaster are Shaped and Shape Us.”

The Becket Arts Center is located in a historic area in the North Becket Village. The Becket Historical Commission has developed an educational slideshow highlighting the early history of Becket. The Becket Arts Center mission is to offer diverse arts and cultural experiences that inspire, entertain, educate and enrich our community.

For more information call Todd Maisel at 646-872-5374,  toddphoto@aol.com or the Becket Arts Center at 413-623-6635, office@becketartscenter.org.