The uncertainty of the closed door drives me, knowing that there is a potential story to tell or a scene that can aid in telling my story; more often than not, accessing something that isn't immediately apparent takes work. It can be a stakeout, cultivating a relationship, researching, or simply getting lucky.
West 20th Street has become one giant door, with my neighbors being the key, and this project, Neighbors, being the catalyst to explore that uncertainty.
Going on four years of living on West 20th Street in Chelsea, I have described this street through digital images in multiple genres: architecture, still life, and portraiture. I've also included historical photographs and information gathered through my research, including Jack Kerouac's time writing On The Road at 454, Clement Clark Moore's influence on 20th Street and Chelsea, and Louise Bourgeois's passionate concentration on art and life. The west side of 20th street from 7th avenue to the river is home to an abandoned prison, multiple galleries, places of worship, The General Theological Seminary, the Atlantic Theater, Chelsea International Hostel, The 10th Precinct, and PS-11 School. Time plays a vital role in Neighbors. I depict the four seasons and photograph the same locations over time. As I began photographing details of the oldest building, 404 W 20th, in Chelsea on 20th Street between 9th and 10th Avenue, I realized how my memory of my neighborhood in South Philadelphia factors into my process. I lived on a very connected street and in a community for 18 years. I have subconsciously desired this connection in New York. With Neighbors, I aim to tell the story of West 20th Street and tell my story of West 20th Street.
