Ellis Island: Self-Portrait as an Immigrant, 1988
Ellis Island: Self-Portrait as an Immigrant, 1988
In 1987 I was invited to be part of a group of photographers working on Ellis Island during its reconstruction. I was able to go there quite often, taking the Coast Guard ferry to and fro, for two years. I made pictures on the two islands that were not being reconstructed and were/are off-limits to the public. At that same time, I was working part time at the Museum of the City Of New York, as the Photo Archivist. I was looking at original photographs from the turn of the last century, some by Lewis Hine and Jacob Riis. In retrospect, I think these photographs are an homage to them.
In 1987 I was invited to be part of a group of photographers working on Ellis Island during its reconstruction. I was able to go there quite often, taking the Coast Guard ferry to and fro, for two years. I made pictures on the two islands that were not being reconstructed and were/are off-limits to the public. At that same time, I was working part time at the Museum of the City Of New York, as the Photo Archivist. I was looking at original photographs from the turn of the last century, some by Lewis Hine and Jacob Riis. In retrospect, I think these photographs are an homage to them.
