Show notes
Ep. 88: Julia Gorton (Photographer - No Wave scene 1976-1980 and beyond)
JULIA GORTON STARTED HER CAREER AS THE PHOTOGRAPHER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR + PUBLISHER OF THE NO WAVE FANZINE BEAT IT!, WHICH OFFERED AN INSIDERS VIEW OF THE DOWNTOWN NEW YORK MUSIC SCENE, 1976-1980.
HER HIGH CONTRAST PHOTOS COMBINED WITH GRAPHIC PATTERNS, DIY LETTERING AND RANDOM COLLAGED ELEMENTS CAPTURED A FLEETING TIME WITH UNIQUE STYLE WHICH SHE CONTINUES TO EXPLORE THROUGH HER PHOTO COLLAGES, T-SHIRTS AND ZINES. GORTON'S PHOTOS OF MUSICIANS HAVE BEEN SEEN IN NY ROCKER, NO MAGAZINE, THE NEW YORK TIMES, VICE/GARAGE, DAZED, I-D AND ON RECORD JACKETS FOR INDEPENDENT LABELS INCLUDING ORK RECORDS, LUST/UNLUST AND ZE RECORDS.
HER PHOTOGRAPHY WAS PROMINENTLY FEATURED IN NO WAVE: POST-PUNK. UNDERGROUND. NEW YORK. 1976-1980 BY THURSTON MOORE AND BYRON COLEY, UNTYPICAL GIRLS BY SAM KNEE AND WHO SHOT ROCK AND ROLL: A PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY, 1955-PRESENT BY GAIL BUCKLAND. NOWHERE NEW YORK IS HER FIRST PHOTOBOOK.
HER WORK HAS BEEN SEEN AT KATA GALLERY IN TOKYO, DOOMED GALLERY IN LONDON, THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY, THE MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM, MOMA, MUSEUM OF ARTS AND DESIGN + THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART IN NEW YORK CITY.
b. 1958, Wilmington, Delaware
BFA 1980, Parsons School of Design
http://www.juliagorton.com/
NOWHERE NEW YORK (BOOK)
$65.00
NOWHERE NEW YORK DARK INSULTING + UNMELODIC (BOOK)
192 page, 10” x 10”, black + white, soft cover
With a synthesis of imagery, metaphor and feeling, in a space located between attraction and angst, Julia Gorton's photos of New York's No Wave scene, 1976-1980, capture a fleeting time with unique style. 192 pages and 170 photos.
Her beautiful vision of downtown Manhattan, in the moments before AIDS, crack, Disney and condos changed everything forever, focus on subjects including musicians and friends; Debbie Harry, Patti Smith, Tom Verlaine, David Byrne, Lydia Lunch, Iggy Pop, James Chance, Richard Hell, Anya Phillips and many others less well known, but certainly just as memorable. Gorton's photographs taken at her Lower East Side apartment, in all night diners and illegal after-hours clubs, on totally empty streets, and in the dingy pits and clubs in which music was played, makes one remember what joy we all took in wasting our youths. (Byron Coley)
With essays and contributions from: Lydia Lunch, Lucy Sante, Thurston Moore, Philip Dray, Kristian Hoffman, Bill Arning, Perry Brandston, Rick Brown, Nicholas Dembling, Simeon Gallu, Angela Jaeger, Hilary Jaeger, Arto Lindsay, Michael McMahon, Chris Nelson, Klara Palatoi, Jim Posner, Linda Ramone, Amy Rigby, Andy Schwarz, Robert Seitsema, Michael Shore, Chris Stamey, Margaret Winslow
PRINTED ON FSC-CERTIFIED MIXED PAPER (at least 70 percent of the wood comes from FSC-certified or recycled material; while 30 percent is made of controlled wood)
http://www.juliagorton.com/coming-new-products/nowhere-new-york
Credits
Produced, Research and Interview by Rich Wexler
Edited Otter Castro
Music
Richie by B.J Snowden
https://bjsnowdenmusic.com/
I Never Feel Alone Instrumental by Stephen Bluhm
https://www.stephenbluhm.fun/
Website
https://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/
Credits
Produced, Research and Interview by Rich Wexler
Edited Otter Castro
Music
Richie by B.J Snowden
https://bjsnowdenmusic.com/
I Never Feel Alone Instrumental by Stephen Bluhm
https://www.stephenbluhm.fun/
Website
https://www.vintageannalsarchive.com/