When Suse Lowenstein’s son, Alexander, was murdered in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, she leaned on her art, sculpting herself and 75 fellow mothers “stripped” naked and in the position they fell, upon hearing the news. The resultant sculpture garden “Dark Elegy,” which took 15 years to complete, resides in the garden of Lowenstein’s Montauk home and is open to visitors from 10 a.m. to noon daily.
On Sunday, June 25, at 3 p.m., director Jill Campbell’s documentary film “Seat 20D” will be screened at Montauk Library followed by a talk by Lowenstein and Campbell. “‘Seat 20D’ is a poetic exploration of how art cradles a mother’s soul, and touches all who view it,” said the introduction to the film from Campbell’s MFA thesis at Hunter College. “Every time someone is murdered in an act of terrorism, we all die a little. This film helps us confront our collective grief by witnessing the raw reality of those most intimately affected by it and poses the question: Does a monument of private grief have a public place?”
The screening and talk are free. Call 631-668-3377 or visit montauklibrary.org/calendar to register. Montauk Library is at 871 Montauk Highway in Montauk.
Staff Writer on Jun 10, 2023