justine kurland
community
looking back at that picture is very bittersweet. in one way, it's a happy memory, a carefree group of teenage girls relaxing on a sunny day. i enjoy seeing myself in a tableau like that, but the picture was taken at a very difficult time in everyone's life, especially the lives of new yorkers. it was only a few weeks after september 11th, and the picture was created for a september 11th themed issue of the new york times magazine. the issue was about new beginnings, but no one really felt ready to face the idea of perking up or rebuilding. after the initial frenzy of donating blood and making sandwiches for fire fighters, it was sort of a time to wallow.
i feel lucky that i have that photo to remember those girls by, even though it's not like we'll stop being close. it'll just be different.
- lena dunham, july 2003