New York by Night takes its title and inspiration from the work of Brassaï, whose seminal books Paris du Nuit ("Paris by Night") and "The Secret Paris of the 1930s" explored various segments of Parisian nightlife. Much like past masters such as Weegee and Diane Arbus, the six photographers included in the show depict various dimensions of New York nightlife in images of social documentary photography. The works on view show contemporary images of musicians, performers, people in nightclubs and bars, and portraits of local personalities.
Of the photographers presented here, Robert Elder's vivid color photography of performers at New York fetish clubs most closely approximates the spirit of Brassaï. Using a slow shutter speed, his camera's flash captures poetically a secret world that is often shrouded in mystery and misunderstood.
Stefano Giovannini, whose work appears regularly in magazines such as Nylon and Jane, is a chronicler of the bohemian life on the lower east side. Since coming to New York from Italy in the late 90's, Stefano has become an integral part the quarter's vibrant artistic community. He captures his friends and artists in intimate portraits that become a part of his ongoing photographic journals.
The selection of Misa Martin's work on view comes from her archive of images of club kids from the mid-90s. Working in medium format, and cross processing her film, her photographs document the wild nights of the cast of characters and gender-benders who hung out at places like Limelight, Webster Hall and the Greenwich Village boutique Patricia Fields.
Käla Mandrake focuses on women rock and roll musicians. Whether shooting icons like Joan Jett, Patti Smith, and Chrissy Hynde, or talented local musicians like Karyn Kühl, she captures the artists in black and white images with her distinctive soft focus style.
Miguel Villalobos's high contrast black and white portraits illustrate the intimate give and take inherent in the exchange between photographer and muse. Whether he is photographing stars like Nick Cave or unknown people who fascinate him, he approaches his subjects with the same intense passion.
My own photographs were taken at Kitsch Inn, weekly Friday night retro-glam-rock party at True on 23rd street. DJ Michael T played everyone from Bowie, Iggy Pop, Blondie, the Stones and the Ramones, to Motley Crue (in other words, everyone that Mick Rock photographed). What immediately fascinated me about the place was the mix of the crowd. Everyone from drag queens to straights, rock stars to porn stars, and from pro doms to adventurous tourists came to Kitsch Inn. What I present here are mostly pictures of the hard-core regulars, performers, and family of Kitsch Inn.
The exhibition will remain on view until May 25th.
-EBR