This old man was standing outside taking a photo of the gallery with his cell phone... he was taking photos up and down the street. I asked him why he was taking all of these photos and he said because he had lived here for 25 years and it was his first time back in 50 years.
I took this photo of Israel at 5 Rivington, where Thierry Goldberg is now. ArtLoversNewYork's Simon Cerigo and Nancy Smith had their studio and home here, from 1987 through 1996. Richard Prince's Spiritual America was at this address, 1983.
RELATED: Check out the Lost Art of New York map being created at 16 Miles of String.
"This old man". Nice.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious. What phrase, description, or nickname do you think "Israel" had for you? How about "young twerp"? Or "pissant fartknocker"? Or "stupid fucking idiot"?
he is over seventy-five years old, he is an old man. what should i say... this purple pineapple?
ReplyDeletehe was alone, and excited to tell someone that he used to live there. he was very happy when i asked if he wanted me to take a photo of him with his cell phone, and proud to pose for a second one with my own camera.
you are a moron. i'm sure you would have walked right by him.
This is a touching photo and a touching story.
ReplyDeleteI wonder where he was in the intervening 50 years.