Sly Stone and Kathy Silva ©If you're anywhere near DUMBO in Brooklyn tonight through till Sunday then we urge you to go check out Photoville. Now in its fourth year, this pop-up photography village is made up of 65 plus shipping containers repurposed into galleries on Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 5 Uplands. Since it was founded it's become NYC's largest photo event.
Some of this year's highlights include five large outdoor exhibitions presented by National Geographic: Robert Clark’s Taxidermy; Lynn Johnson’s Weed, chronicling the billion-dollar cannabis industry; Peter Muller’s Ebola, a collection of images from the remote forest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the apex of the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone; Stephanie Sinclair’s Living Goddesses, a rare look into the world of kumaris, prepubescent Newari girls who are worshipped as deities in the Kathmandu Valley; and selections from the magazine’s Instagram. Make the most of the good weather while you can, basically.
There will also be panel discussions, artist lectures, and hands-on workshops, not to mention beer and food courtesy of vendors by Smorgasburg. For the full raft of programing, go here, but below is a sampler from Photoville of what's really intriguing us about this whole shebang. Uber-awesome photographer Janette Beckman—whose storied career includes iconic shots starring everyone from Grandmaster Flash to Run D.M.C. to M.I.A.—has curated one containers-worth of music photography that'll blow your mind. The London-born, NY-based photographer has handpicked her favorite from a selection of world-renowned shooters, which includes some of her own classics. Below is a selection with commentary from Beckman herself. Go, go, go!
LL Cool J © Janette Beckman
I was living on Avenue B in the East Village that summer and Public Enemy was playing loud on every car radio. Public Enemy brought a new consciousness to hip-hop. Chuck looks strong, deep in thought. Both the LL Cool J and Chuck D photos are at Photoville, 12 foot high and painted by legendary artists Cey Adams and Queen Andrea as part of our Mash Up project.
I chose this image shot by Jill backstage. Amy so beautiful, happy, and full of life. Amy was a brilliant star, her life was a true rock 'n' roll tragedy. This photo says it all.
Joey Ramone © Roberta Bayley
Roberta's photos captured Blondie and the Ramones like no other. Joey, tall skinny carrying a surf board on the beach at Coney Island. I think it was shot for Punk magazine. Its just a great shot.
Roc-A-Fella Family, 2004. © Clay Patrick McBride,
Elton John 1971 © Barrie Wentzel.
Elton John! it is one of those rare great live photo moments, a shot that could never be staged—just pure Elton wild and crazy.
My idea of the perfect moment, ODB just hanging having a crazy great time, Danny caught it—I wish I'd shot this.