Mercredi 09 Mars 2016 11:10:33 par Annabelle Lafeuil dans Expositions

The Alice Austen House will present Staten Island Unlimited: The Borough’s First Triennial of Photography exhibition to open Saturday, March 12, 2016. Featuring the work of thirty-five photographers, this juried exhibition explores contemporary themes and narratives relating to the borough – work that is often under-represented citywide.

Thirteen featured artists anchor the show: Irma Bohorquez-Geisler, Melissa Cacciola, Edward Coppola, Divya Gadangi, Maciek Jasik, Teresa Kruszewski, Robin Michals, Imara Moore, Stephen Obisanya, Gareth Smit, Jenna Snyder, Rob Stephenson, and Gale Wisdom. Through photographs made within the past three years, these artists focus on the people and places that make Staten Island a unique part of the city. Black and white photographs by Irma Bohorquez-Geisler document the daily lives of recent Mexican immigrants on Staten Island, a rapidly diversifying borough. Robin Michal’s scenes from Kissam Avenue present post-Superstorm Sandy dismantled landscapes, showing only the remaining foundations where homes once were. Gareth Smit presents a portrait of loss and resilience of the Tompkinsville community in the aftermath of Eric Garner's death. This is the first presentation of this series on Staten Island.

© Irma Bohorquez-Geisler, Cipriana and her Daughter, 2011

A salon-style installation of Staten Island scenes will be on display, featuring the work of: Willie Chu, Luke Crisalli, Lisa Dahl, Anthony DePrimo, Will Ellis, Ericka Hamburg, Kristopher Johnson, Elvia Iannaccone Gezlev, Bruce Katz, Stephen Mallon, Jeff Mason, Kelley McCarthy, Michael McWeeney, Ruben Natal-San Miguel, John Patrick Naughton, Brandon Perdomo, Chad Rachman, Steven Soloway, Evan Spring, Sean Sweeney, Garry Velletri, and Vincent Verdi.

The exhibition includes work from photographers from three boroughs, capturing a variety of perspectives, such as portraits of local rock musicians, images of the suburban and industrial built environment, and scenes from Freshkills Park.

© Jenna Snyder, Jenna, 2015

Two hundred photographers submitted portfolios in response to an open call issued by the Alice Austen House in December 2015. The final selection of thirty five artists was determined by an expert panel of jurors:James Estrin (Senior Staff Photographer, Lens Blog Co-Editor, The New York Times), Meagan Ziegler Haynes (Senior Producer, VSCO), Elizabeth Renstrom (Photo Editor, Photographer, VICE), and Monica Valenzuela (Deputy Director, Staten Island Arts).

Executive Director, Janice Monger states: “Alice Austen House is proud to establish the photography triennial to showcase the state of contemporary photography on Staten Island. The jurors really responded to the breadth and depth of the work that was entered. The resulting exhibition demonstrates the range of high-quality, compelling photographs being created by Staten Islanders and others looking at the borough.”

© Divya Gadangi, Dear Mommy, 2014

The exhibition will be on view March 12 - August 31, 2016 during the museum's public hours: Tuesday - Sunday 11:00am - 5:00pm. An exhibition opening will be held on Saturday, March 12 from 3:00 - 5:00pm with a preview hour for museum members from 2:00 - 3:00pm. The Alice Austen House will present several programs in conjunction with the exhibition, including a series of Triennial Talks on April 10 and May 22 featuring discussions with the artists. For more information about the exhibition and programs, visit: aliceausten.org/statenislandunlimited.

About Alice Austen House

The Alice Austen House keeps the daring spirit of the early American photographer alive by presenting changing exhibitions of Alice Austen’s pioneering photographs alongside works by contemporary photographers, and providing art education and a range of cultural programs. Austen and her partner Gertrude Tate spent nearly thirty years together in the Austen family’s home, a one-room Dutch farmhouse from c. 1690 with later Victorian additions. The Alice Austen House stands in a waterfront park on the shore of Staten Island with sweeping views of Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. The Alice Austen House and grounds are owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, operated by the Friends of Alice Austen House Inc 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and a member of Historic House Trust. The Alice Austen House is designated a New York City and National Landmark, on the National Register of Historic Places, and a member of the distinguished Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.