'Mom-and-Pop Storefronts,' now on display at the Theater For The New City Gallery through Oct. 27

[Image via Instagram*]

"Capturing the Faces & Voices of Mom-and-Pop Storefronts" is currently on view at the Theater For The New City Gallery, 155 First Ave. near 10th Street.

The photography and oral history exhibition comes courtesy of East Village-based photographers James and Karla Murray and the East Village Community Coalition.

Here's more via the EVG inbox...

Experience activism and community through the lens of photographers, as they display their work from two free 2019 workshops with acclaimed photographers and award-winning authors Karla and James Murray.

In two sessions at the East Village Community Coalition, James and Karla taught participants how to use photography and oral history to raise public awareness, build community, and encourage advocacy. Participants learned to create their own powerful photographs of neighborhood storefronts and to connect with the proprietors through personal interviews.

The opening reception was on Monday night. The work will be on display through Oct. 27. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

You can find articles on the exhibit at Untapped Cities ... amNY and 6sqft.

Art by Jose De Freitas and Jenny Hallak of @bodegalatin.

Remembering some disappearing storefronts courtesy of Karla and James Murray

[Mars Bar photo courtesy of Karla and James Murray]

Karla and James Murray, the East Village-based photographers, currently have a storefront installation (through July 2019) in Seward Park titled "Mom-and-Pops of the L.E.S."

Meanwhile, starting tonight, their photography — spanning the past 20 years — will be on display in an exhibit titled "Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York" at The Storefront Project, 70 Orchard St. between Broome and Grand.

Per the exhibit description:

The Murrays have captured the out of the way bodegas, candy shops and record stores just as faithfully as the historically important institutions and well-known restaurants, bars and cafes. From Katz’s Delicatessen to Ideal Hosiery and the Mars Bar, James and Karla reveal how New York’s long-standing mom-and-pop businesses stand in sharp contrast to the city’s rapidly evolving corporate façade.

The opening is tonight from 6-9. The storefront photography will be on display here through Aug. 12.

The Murrays were also the focus of this feature in The New York Times yesterday.

Tonight: Opening reception for the 'Capturing the Lower East Side’s Storefronts' exhibit

Tonight is the opening reception for "Capturing the Lower East Side’s Storefronts" at the Theater For The New City Gallery.

East Village-based photographers James and Karla Murray, whose books include "Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York," are the curators. "The purpose of the exhibition is to act as an artistic intervention helping draw attention to and raise awareness of the importance of preserving the small shops whose existence is essential to the unique and colorful atmosphere of the city’s streets," they said in a statement about the show.

The opening reception is from 6-9 p.m. at the Theater For The New City Gallery, 155 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street. The exhibit will be up through Sept. 18.

Thanks to Lola Sáenz for the photo!

New photo exhibit celebrates the neighborhood's storefronts

[Click for a better view]

East Village-based photographers James and Karla Murray are curating a new exhibit at the Theater For The New City Gallery starting on Monday evening.

Per the Murrays, whose books include "Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York" — "The purpose of the exhibition is to act as an artistic intervention helping draw attention to and raise awareness of the importance of preserving the small shops whose existence is essential to the unique and colorful atmosphere of the city’s streets."

Here's a short summary of the workshops and exhibition:

Experience activism and community through the lens of 30 photographers, as they display their work from two free 2017 workshops with photographers and award-winning authors Karla and James Murray. In two sessions at the Neighborhood Preservation Center, the duo taught participants how to use photography and oral history to raise public awareness, build community, and encourage advocacy. Participants learned to create their own powerful photographs of neighborhood storefronts and to connect with the proprietors through personal interviews.

Also, we would like to note that two of the storefronts that participants photographed for the workshop, and were chosen by us to be printed for the exhibition are now closed — Cup & Saucer on Canal Street and the Golden Food Market on First Avenue at East 7th Street. So in the short time that we held the 2 two free workshops (between April and June of this year) and began printing the photographs participants took, we have lost 2 small businesses, both affordable eating establishments. We hope that after people see the photos and read the interview excerpts, that they will help support these small mom-and-pop businesses by actively dining and shopping at them.

The opening reception is from 6-9 p.m. on Monday at the Theater For The New City Gallery, 155 First Ave. between Ninth Street and 10th Street. The exhibit will be up through Sept. 18.

EV photographers James & Karla Murray hosting workshop on capturing disappearing storefronts

[Image via James and Karla Murray]

East Village-based photographers (and occasional EVG contributors) James and Karla Murray are hosting a workshop series this spring and summer.

Here are details via the EVG inbox...

"Capturing the Faces and Voices of the Lower East Side's Disappearing Mom-and-Pop Storefronts" is a photography and oral history workshop of the cultural significance of mom-and-pop stores and the impact they have on the pulse, life, and texture of their communities. There will be two free workshops (consisting of two sessions each) held at the Neighborhood Preservation Center in the East Village culminating in an exhibition of each participant’s work at the Theater for the New City Art Gallery from Aug. 14 to Sept. 18.

The workshops teach how photography and oral history can be tools for public awareness and advocacy. Participants will learn to create their own powerful photographs of neighborhood storefronts as well as record oral histories with shop owners, which communicate artistically and are insightful and moving.

There will be 70 participants at the free workshops, which will take place at the Neighborhood Preservation Center Village (232 E. 11th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue) on Monday, April 24, Monday May, 1, Monday May 22, and Monday June 5.

The workshops are free and open to all, but registration is required via Eventbrite.com.

Thursday's parting shot

Heading all the way back to today's spectacular sunrise...photo from the East Village via James and Karla Murray...

A 'Store Front II' discussion with James and Karla Murray

East Village residents James and Karla Murray (frequent EVG contributors) will be discussing their latest book, "Store Front II," Wednesday evening at the MOSCOT Gallery & Music Space... Here are details via the EVG inbox...

The evening will feature "Store Front II" photography, with a focus on the Lower East Side, and a Q&A session, followed by a book signing and reception.

Light bites and dim sum generously provided by Nom Wah Tea Parlor.

"Store Front II" chronicles their continued efforts to document a little-known but vitally important cross-section of New York's "Mom and Pop" economy. From MOSCOT to Sammy's Roumanian Steak House, and Economy Candy to Parisi Bakery, the Murrays reveal how New York's long-standing mom and pop businesses stand in sharp contrast to the city's rapidly evolving corporate facade.

The MOSCOT Gallery & Music Space
108 Orchard Street
Wednesday, September 14
7-9 pm

Iconic East Village storefronts up on the roof

James and Karla Murray are recreating life-sized versions of three iconic East Village storefronts tonight atop the Housing Works Rooftop, 743-749 E. Ninth St. at Avenue D.

It's for the East Village Community Coalition 10-year-anniversary celebration this evening. (You can buy tickets at the door. It starts at 6:30.)

Their storefront photos represented tonight are CBGB, Love Saves the Day (Both RIP, of course) and Stage.



Their books include "Store Front — The Disappearing Face of New York."

Valentino

You can find always Valentino selling shaved ice on East 14th Street and Avenue A … photo from this past week courtesy of James and Karla Murray…

The light, light show

Photo from last night by James and Karla Murray. Anyone happen to know what was happening here beyond the Williamsburg Bridge?

It was probably something top secret like this, but I could be wrong.

Josie and the Windowsills

James and Karla Murray shared this photo of Josie keeping an eye on things along East 14th Street…

[Updated] Zapped!

Via @greally — Lightning strikes concentrated around the East Village.

And here is one of the strikes captured by James and Karla Murray ...



Updated 10:11 p.m.

Two more strikes via James and Karla...





Updated 7:30 a.m.

And via EVG reader Andrew … using the iPhone's slo-mo cam...

Summer in the city

East Village rooftops (and at least one hammock) via James and Karla Murray.

James and Karla Murray pick their favorite pics from 2013

Photographers James and Karla Murray have selected a few of their favorite photos from 2013... and the East Village is well-represented ... including the two in this post ... Check out all the photos here.



The urban documenters have several books to their credit, including "New York Nights" and "Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York."

Ludlow Street 10 years later; plus, a report on what's taking the Max Fish space

In a blog post yesterday, photographers James and Karla Murray take a walk down Ludlow Street and compare the storefronts to just 10 years earlier...

Many casualties of course... Max Fish... Pink Pony ... Ludlow Guitars... with El Sombrero next... Of course, you can always count on the enduring images from Katz's.

Find the now-and-then shots here.

Updated 6:09 a.m.

Meanwhile, BoweryBoogie has the scoop on what hopes to take over the Max Fish space... the second outpost of Sweet Chick — "a casual southern-style restaurant that offers a menu dominated by fried chicken and sides like waffles, biscuits, and slaw."

They opened the first outpost on Bedford Avenue back in February.

Looking at some old favorites along Second Avenue

On Monday, we posted a 2001-2012 comparison photo of Gem Spa by James and Karla Murray ... turns out that was just a warm-up for a new post — A Walk Down Second Avenue, from 14th Street to Houston circa 2001.

The photographers, who published "Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York," don't capture every business ... but they do highlight the old-timers and current favorites, such as East Village Meat Market and Block Drug Store, and now-closed businesses such as Jade Mountain and 2nd Ave Deli.

You can find the photos and text with some history here.

New York's disappearing storefronts

A friend recently turned me on to the work of James and Karla Murray, photographers who split time between NYC and Miami. Last month, they released their latest book, "Store Front -- The Disappearing Face of New York." According to their site: "'Store Front' provides an irreplaceable window to the rich cultural experience of New York City as seen through its neighborhood shops. These stores have the city’s history etched in their facades. They tirelessly serve their community, sustaining a neighborhood’s diverse nature and ethnic background, in a city with an unmercifully fast pace and seemingly insatiable need for change.

Through March 29, you can see their work at the Brooklyn Historical Society's exhibition, "The Disappearing Face of Brooklyn’s Storefronts." (Via Gowanus Lounge)

Meanwhile, here's a video they did on Emily's Pork Store in Williamsburg.



Since seeing their "Store Front" work, I've started paying even more attention to the great old shops that remain in the neighborhood...and elsewhere in the city...