Well-known New York photographer Harvey Stein documents the humanity and spirit of the people of Harlem in 164 beautiful black and white photographs taken over 22 years, from 1990 to 2012. The images are mostly close-up portraits that reveal the friendliness and warmth of this city's inhabitants, the vibrant and bustling vitality of the area, and the changing nature of the neighbourhood. What may at first appear to be a casual encounter becomes a personal, intimate record, a meaningful collaboration between photographer and subject. With a population of nearly half a million people, Harlem is America's most celebrated African-American neighbourhood. Its rich past and historical importance have made a unique contribution to our national popular culture. Stein's photographs capture and celebrate the Harlem spirit. AUTHOR: Harvey Stein is a professional photographer, teacher, lecturer, and author based in New York City. He teaches at the International Center of Photography and is a frequent lecturer on photography both in the United States and abroad. He has curated over two dozen exhibits since 2007 and is the Director of Photography at Umbrella Arts Gallery in New York City's East Village. He has also been a member of the faculty of the Rochester Institute of Technology, Drew University, New School University, The School of Visual Arts, and the University of Bridgeport. A recipient of a Creative Arts Public Service (CAPS) fellowship and numerous artist in residency grants, Stein's other photography books include Coney Island 40 Years (2011), Movimento: Glimpses of Italian Street Life (2006), Coney Island (1998), Artists Observed (1986) and Parallels: A Look at Twins (1978). Stein's photographs and portfolios have been published in such periodicals as The New Yorker, Time, Life, Esquire, American Heritage, Forbes, Smithsonian, and all the major photography magazines. Stein's photographs have been widely exhibited in the United States and Europe?75 one-person and over 150 group shows to date. His photographs are in more than 50 permanent collections, including The George Eastman House, the Bibliotheque Nationale, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Carnegie Museum of Art (Pittsburgh), the Denver Museum of Art, and the International Center of Photography. Harvey Stein, who has portrayed the life and concerns of people all over the world over a long career, started photographing Harlem, a five-minute subway ride from his home, in the hopes of learning about what makes it so unique. Some of Stein's work can be seen on his web site, www.harveysteinphoto.com. ILLUSTRATIONS: 164 b/w photographs
