Godlis photos at group exhibition
Photographer Godlis has his photos in the group exhibition in New York City.
Downtown Lens is a photography exhibit that "takes us back to NYC during the mid-seventies
and early eighties... it highlights iconic images from 20 photographers that capture the essence
of the culture and nightlife of that era." The show is currently held at two locations, in the gallery
spaces of SoHo Grand Hotel and Roxy Hotel.
On the outside wall of SoHo Grand, where the opening event was held in February,
you'll find the poster for the exhibit with the iconic photo from 1978 in front of the legendary
Punk/New Wave live venue CBGB, taken by non other than Godlis san!
In the photo, we have young Jim Jarmusch, now world famous independent film director;
at the time of photograph, he was still a film student in NYU.
Behind him sitting is Chris Parker, who was the main actor for Jim's first feature film
Permanent Vacation.
And all the way back we see Klaus Nomi; he was getting to be noticed right about
the time of photo, for his opera-influenced vocal on Punk/New Wave/Pop tunes,
combined with elaborate stage costumes, heavy make-up and signature hairdo.
The very fact that these three people are captured together in a single photograph at
this location is nothing short of a miracle; it is truly the historic moment of
downtown New York in the late 1970s.
There are more photos by Godlis san in the show; at Roxy, they have photos of Joey Ramone
standing in front of wall with band flyers pasted all over. And Patti Smith in night, taken
under the limited street light of Bowery where CBGB was. You could almost smell
the street on New York from these photos!
It is such a rare occasion to see all these photos of New York downtown, taken in the
same period with 20 different perspective.
The exhibit is open until May 3, so if you are planning to visit the city sometime soon,
please stop by.