Sunday, December 28, 2008

Queens in black-and-white

Although Mr. Sternfeld works in color and Mr. Gohlke in black and white, they share an abiding fascination with the visible traces of everyday life on the landscape, and Queens presented them with an exciting challenge. For nearly two years, they traveled the borough, a microcosm of America’s ethnic diversity in which postwar neighborhoods have been transformed by new arrivals from every corner of the globe.

Little Boxes, Transformed by the Years

Mr. Gohlke circumnavigated the borough to examine the points at which it met the East River, Long Island and Brooklyn; he also explored its many parks. But much of the time, he said, “I drove around and let my eyes lead me.”

Walking around neighborhoods, he was often drawn to the borough’s omnipresent and seemingly nondescript single-family houses. By focusing on lovingly added modifications, such as ceremonial ironwork and geometrically cut shrubbery, Mr. Gohlke brings to the fore Queens’s more mundane architecture and the distinctive presence of its current residents.

6 comments:

georgetheatheist said...

From the Times article: "Mr. Gohlke and Mr. Sternfeld, two acknowledged masters of American landscape photography..."

"Acknowledged" by whom? These are the lamest photographs I have seen in a long time.

A monkey with an instamatic would produce more interesting photos.

Anonymous said...

By focusing on lovingly added modifications, such as ceremonial ironwork and geometrically cut shrubbery, Mr. Gohlke brings to the fore Queens’s more mundane architecture and the distinctive presence of its current residents.
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But you don't get the point. Beautiful blocks of homes designed in the 1930s are being mutilated by the knuckle draggers that add stories, inappropiate stone work, and other examples of curious tastes.

This makes their work art! Now its a style! Now its part of a recognized movement of a new 'City Barfiful.'

Anonymous said...

Why dont they do a study of a community mutilated (Waldheim, Old Astoria) or destroyed (Hunters Point)

Then dedicate it to HDC and MAS public education program.

Anonymous said...

These photos suck ass.

Anonymous said...

David Patterson could put these photographers to shame.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Lovely ornate bars over the first floor windows and front door. Looks like Bar-oke style. Do they plan to match the second floor windows soon or wait till things deteriorate further?
By god, if you must hold up in your home at least you can do it in style.
I agree with George, I have done better photography with less.

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