Culture Desk

Cover Story: Adrian Tomine’s “Memorial Plaza”

“When I heard that the 9/11 memorial and museum were going to be the top tourist attractions in New York this summer,” Adrian Tomine says about this week’s cover, “I first sketched only tourists going about their usual happy activities, with the memorial in the background. But when I got to the site, I instantly realized that there was a lot more to be captured—specifically, a much, much wider range of emotions and reactions, all unfolding in shockingly close proximity. I guess that’s the nature of any public space, but when you add in an element of such extreme grief and horror, the parameters shift.”

Attendance at the museum and memorial have exceeded expectations. You can read a piece by Adam Gopnik in this week’s issue about the museum, and see below for a slide show of New York scenes depicted by Tomine’s covers.

“Missed Connection,” by Adrian Tomine, November 8, 2004.
“Bored of Tourism,” cover of the June 11 & 18, 2007 issue. Published as “Big City Thrills.” “This image was inspired by an actual scene I noticed one day up by Rockefeller Center, but the appearance of the girl with the book was based on my wife’s sister, who, at the time, was exactly the kind of preternaturally mature, cultured teenager I was trying to depict.”
“Shelf Life,” cover of the February 25, 2008 issue. “When I submitted this idea, I knew that it was a long-shot, especially since it was intended for a book-themed issue. I remember thinking, ‘They’d never put a goofy comic strip with a cynical punch line like that on the cover of The New Yorker!’”
“Book Lovers,” by Adrian Tomine, June 9 & 16, 2008.

2009_02_02_Tomine_Ice_Cream_Truck.jpg“Winter Break,” by Adrian Tomine, February 2, 2009.

“Double Feature,” cover of the August 24, 2009 issue. “At the time that I drew this, everyone I knew was going to these outdoor movie screenings near the Brooklyn Bridge, so my perception of how well this image would be understood was probably a little skewed. I remember trying to explain it to a West Coast relative, and their response was, ‘Okay, but what’s so funny about that?’ The people who organized the film series were very appreciative, and they projected my artwork on the screen the following week. They invited me to attend and maybe say a few words, but here’s the thing I couldn’t tell them: I actually hate sitting in the grass in extreme humidity, trying to watch a movie while everyone around me is eating and talking!”
“Exiled,” cover of July 26, 2010. “I submitted a very rough sketch of this idea, drawing without any kind of reference, and Françoise accepted it with the caveat that New Yorker readers were sticklers for detail and we’d have to make sure the background was accurate. A fair amount of research and discussion ensued, taking into consideration everything from the directional flow of traffic to the visibility of the city skyline. I finally based the background on a view of the Kosciuszko Bridge from somewhere near Maspeth, Queens. Shortly after this cover was published, The New Yorker received a letter that read: “Your July 26, 2010 cover showing a young girl going on vacation looking out the back window not safely strapped in is the height of irresponsibility. Should there be an accident the mother will not be smiling.”
“Undeterred,” by Adrian Tomine, November 12, 2012.
“Crossroads,” by Adrian Tomine, September 16, 2013.
“Last Straw,” by Adrian Tomine, November 18, 2013.