What: New York Photo Festival
Where: Powerhouse Arena, 37 Main Street, Dumbo
When: May 13-17th 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Why: Less than five years ago, two men with a passion for photography moved to Dumbo and began stimulating Brooklyn‘s premier arts district. In 2008, Frank Evers and Daniel Powers successfully launched the New York Photo Festival (NYPH). “Evers and Powers wanted to create a dialogue with photographers all over the world,” said Viviana Morizet, media coordinator for the festival, “and they saw Dumbo as the new photo district of New York.”
This year, the second annual international photo showcase returns with its mission to celebrate photography, inspire conversation, and spawn the future of the visual medium. Hundreds of images will be displayed throughout ten pavilions and galleries. Keep an eye out for collections like William Ewing’s All over the Place!, a wide ranging compilation of female-themed portraits that incite viewers to discover something new; Jody Quon’s I don’t really know what kind of girl I am, which examines women through portraiture; and Jon Levy’s Home for Good that puts a spotlight on home as the impetus for photographers.
“While the twin pillars of the festival are ideas and discovery, we’re bringing a little bit more neo-romanticism, reality, sexuality, and technology into the equation,” said Evers, in conversation with the New York Photo Festival. To that end, the special exhibition We All Are Photographers will project in the public arena a photo stream of submitted non-festival images by both amateurs and skilled professionals.
Outside the main pavilions, satellite shows will be held in The Tobacco Warehouse by more than a dozen cultural institutions and independent curators. Of note is the Latin America Pavillion, curated by returning artist Adriana Teresa of FotoVisura. Her Tu/Mi Placer addresses the local and international issues of gender violence, while Katya Cazar’s Anti-Plano introduces Ecuadorian artists, whose subjects document immigrants in pursuit of their dreams. “Being a curator is not about my voice, I want to create a public dialogue where the viewer walks into a conversation,” said Teresa.
Over four days, up to 30,000 attendees are expected to visit Dumbo to converse about the variegated images captured by traditional camera lens and new media portable devices. For a full guide to the festival, including all pavilions, workshops, scheduled book signings, the photo awards ceremony, and special screenings, visit NewYorkPhotoFestival.com.
How to get there: Take the A or C to High St. or the F train to York St. (37 Main St at Water St. Dumbo, Brooklyn, 718.666.3049, powerhousearena.com)
Photo: “Qaanaaw III” by Tiina Itkonen 2005 from All over the place! Courtesy of New York Photo Festival
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