PHILIPPE  PETIT  TRIBUTE

PHOTOS BY JUDY BURGESS  

TEXT BY HOVEY BURGESS

Francis Brunn, Hovey Burgess, Judy Burgess and Jerry Greenberg were in the audience when, exactly one year ago this month, Philippe Petit made his first rope walk in New York City . The performance took place in front of the main branch of the New York Public Library on a fiber rope stretched between a lamp post and the base of a flagpole.

In spite of the cold ­ there was snow on the ground - Philippe was barefooted. Moments after this photo was taken he began to juggle three flaming torches on the rope, but not before getting a laugh from the audience by using the flames to warm his feet.