I recently heard the sad news that installation artist & experimental musician Mike Kelley died earlier this week from an apparent suicide. He was a true creative spirit, whom I had the pleasure of working with for The Wire magazine a good few years ago, and i have to say it produced one of my favorite environmental portraits to date (above left). Mike was a fascinating guy to spend the afternoon with, his home choc-a-bloc with a massive vinyl collection amongst other things. Something you just don’t see anymore. I know he is missed by his family and i send my deepest condolences.

“Unbelievable! After thirty- one years in service and five disasters in the New York area, i just hope it cannot get any worse than this.”
- Terry McComiskey, ATF agent, Staten Island, NY.

“I’ve been pulling out bodies since tuesday. I haven’t slept.”
-Robert Marrero, Brooklyn

“You’ve just gotta keep hope alive. We want to be able to at least bring closure to some families, so we keep searching.”
- Kevin Taylor, emergency services, Passaic Co., NJ.

- John Messenger, emergency services, Passaic Co., NJ.

- Jacob, laborer, Brooklyn.

“When it goes quiet, it becomes real. It’s actually surreal. Compared to Oklahoma City, this is like a nuclear blast.”
- Pete Messena, Oklahoma Co. Emergency Management, Ok.

“We’re all working as one. New York is really sticking together.”
- Ray Miranda, electrician, Howard Beach, NY.

“This is our country’s darkest hour, and yet our finest moment”
- Mike Feltham, police officer, New York

“It just hasn’t set in yet.”
- John Dubeau, firefighter, Boston, Ma.