-------
Friday, October 4th, 2024
CLOSING RECEPTION (6 - 9 pm) & ARTIST TALK (7 pm)
-------
128 Rivington Street New York, NY 10002
(Essex & Norfolk St.)
Brooklyn-based photographers Bethany Eden Jacobson and Stefanie Dworkin join together in this exhibit. Their unique perspectives contrast two iconic Brooklyn landmarks: Green-Wood Cemetery and Coney Island. From the Victorian-era cemetery to the seaside amusement park, both reflect Brooklyn's unique character.
Stefanie Dworkin takes on Coney Island, one of the most iconic locations in Brooklyn, vibrant with authenticity and story—a photographer's paradise. Coney Island has held a very special place in the hearts of millions since the mid-1800s when ferries and trains paved the way to its sandy beaches and eventual amusement parks. Dworkin's approach captures the weathered physicality of this special place in the early 2000s, when it had fallen into disrepair and was about to undergo extensive commercialization and gentrification. Dworkin's photographs in the early morning fog capture the loneliness and decay. Using the Diana plastic medium format camera, a relic from a past era in photographic history reflects her nostalgic approach. As such, it parallels Coney Island, which has likewise withstood the many changes threatening its existence.
Stefanie Dworkin is a fine art photographer, documentary filmmaker/editor, and educator. Her photographs are in private collections and have been included in numerous juried shows and publications, including an honorable mention in FotoNostrum's Julia Margaret Cameron exhibition in Barcelona and on the front and back covers of PDN's Photobook NYC in New York City. TV/Film credits include WNET/PBS's "Treasures of New York: The Flatiron Building," commissioned project "From East New York to Skadden Arps: The Barry H. Garfinkel Story," Robin Hamilton's "This Little Light of Mine: The Legacy of Fannie Lou Hamer," Laura Poitras's award-winning "My Country, My Country," and Rodney Evan's Sundance Special Jury Prize winner, "Brother to Brother".
Bethany Eden Jacobson moved across the street from the Green-Wood Cemetery over a decade ago and has been photographing it ever since. Founded in 1838, it led the Rural Cemetery movement in America. Its 478 acres encompass magnificent grounds, grand architecture, and world-class statuary. Jacobson's photographs take you on a meditative walk through four seasons with her photographs of century-old trees, grand vistas, and unique works on handmade paper inspired by the female Victorian statuary. Her cinematic approach is a visual meditation on the transience of life and the importance of nature to the human spirit. Jacobson's accompanying book, "Ode To A Cemetery", published by Hirmer Verlag this fall, will be available for sale at the exhibit.
Bethany Jacobson began her career as a photographer and video artist in the 1980s. Her video work has been exhibited at P.S.1, ICA (London), Infermental (Japan), and Pratt Institute. Her photographs have been published in Harpers/Queen, Tatler, Cover, and House & Garden, and her subjects have included such seminal figures as Jean Michel Basquiat, Iggy Pop, Wim Wenders, David Wojnarowicz, and Chantal Akerman. Amongst her film credits, she wrote, directed, and produced the award-winning short film "Hotel Bleu," which is streaming on Amazon. Her photographs have been included in numerous juried exhibits and were selected for the Julia Cameron Competition in Barcelona in 2021 and 2022. Her portrait of Jean Michel Basquiat was included in the "Luxe, Calme, Volupte" exhibit at Candace Madey in 2023. Her first solo show of works on handmade paper was exhibited in 2023 at EV Gallery, NYC. "Ode to A Cemetery, her first photography book with text by poet Cole Swenson, is being published in fall 2024 by Hirmer Verlag.