Growing Up In The New York Underground: From Glam To Punk
Even if you’re a fan of the present, most of us have a specific era of the past we wish we’d lived in. Often our notions of this era are shaped by an artist who was immersed in the spirit of the times, mingled with its eminent personalities, and somehow managed to bottle its zeitgeist through their paintings, prose, or performances. If you’ve ever thought your golden era was the 70s and 80s in New York City underground, photographer Paul Zone lived the life you wish you had.
As an adolescent, Zone was “that kid,” mobbing through the concrete jungle as boywonder sidekick to the drag queens, rockers, and junkies who defined the moment. Fortunately for us, he always brought his camera. The candid, intimate images he shot as a teenager of some of the most epic personalities of those wild decades are now being released in his new photographic memoir. The fierce folks at the Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art, in association with veteran NYC arts impresarios Tony Zanetta and Kymara Lonergan, are launching the book with an exhibition at their Prince St. location (Prince Street Project Space,127-B Prince Street).
The memoir is called Playground, and the solo exhibition, called Growing Up In The New York Underground: From Glam to Punk features over 70 of Zone’s images of music icons including Debbie Harry, The Ramones, The New York Dolls, T. Rex and KISS, as well as the era’s most memorable artists and scenesters like Patti Smith, Arturo Vega, and James Chance.
The Opening Reception and Book Launch featuring DJ Miss Guy and Host Howie Pyro is May 29, from 6:00-9:00PM, and the exhibition stays on display through May 30th and 31st from 12:00-6:00PM. If you’re planning on picking up a copy, consider stopping by for an Author Talk and book signing on May 30th from 4:00-6:00PM.
