Joseph Rodriguez – Mi Gente Spanish Harlem in the 80’s

Date: Sep 24, 2015 - Nov 11, 2015

Mi Gente Spanish Harlem in the 80’s

Hi-ARTS is proud to present the work of the highly acclaimed documentary photographer Joseph Rodriguez. Photographed entirely in NYC’s famed El Barrio, Spanish Harlem from 1985-1990 this marks the first time he has exhibited these works in his beloved community. With this deeply moving series of photographs he forces us to remember a time before today’s newfound gentrification, a time before cafes and artistic bohemia, a time where poverty, high crime, drugs and a fledgling AIDS crisis held a community hostage. Rodriguez who beautifully captures the humanity, joy and love of his subjects by embedding himself intimately within many families’ lives and the community affords us an honest testimony of what it was like for those who lived through such perilous times. Curated by Carlos Mare.

About Joseph Rodríguez

Joseph Rodríguez was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. His work has appeared in such publications as The New York Times Magazine, National Geographic, GQ, Newsweek, Esquire, and Der Spiegel. Rodriguez has published numerous books including Still Here: Stories After Katrina, East Side Stories: Gang Life in East L.A., and Flesh Life: Sex in Mexico City to name a few. He has received awards and grants from the Open Society Institute, National Endowment for the Arts, Rockefeller Foundation, and New York State Foundation for the Arts. He was awarded Picture of the Year by the National Press Photographers Association in 1990, 1992, 1996 and 2002. His work has been widely exhibited domestically and internationally. Rodríguez teaches at New York University and the International Center of Photography. Learn more about Joseph Rodríguez at his website or follow him on Instagram @rollie6x6