Watch CBS News

Staten Island Artist Pays Tribute To Sandy Hook Students

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - A man who used his art to help Staten Island heal after superstorm Sandy is trying to do the same for Newtown, Connecticut following the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

On a lawn are 20 glowing angels representing the 20 children gunned down, some dancing, others climbing a tree, reaching for the sky.

"Some of them are just sitting around," artist Scott LoBaido told WCBS 880 reporter Alex Silverman. "Very happy. Playing. These two right here are holding hands dancing."

Staten Island Artist Pays Tribute To Sandy Hook Students

Lo Baido turned ruined homes into works of patriotic art on the island after Sandy and said this is something he had to do.

He read each one of the 20 students' biographies and looked at the pictures of them.

"That's what patriotism means to me. That's what that flag means to me is that when a community reaches out to another community as far away as Connecticut, we both have this pain and we're both here for each other. So, this is a gift," he said. "I wanted to show that we're, from one broken-hearted community to another."

You can see it tonight and tomorrow night at the Roman Catholic Church of Saint Teresa of The Infant Jesus and St. Nicholas Chapel at Victory Boulevard and Slosson Avenue on Staten Island.

Then LoBaido wants to move it some place closer to Newtown, if someone would like to display it.

"I'm gonna add the six heroic teachers as guardians," he said.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.