REMEMBER: BASQUIAT BY JAMES VAN DER ZEE

As notable Harlem historian Jonathan Gill pointed out in our previous history post, the late James Van Der Zee saw a revival of his work in the more modern decade and took photos of celebrities of the era in the latter part of his life.  After a retrospective at the Met in 1969, the photographer known for documenting the exuberant arrival of the African-American middle class to Harlem in the early part of the century would then become a celebrity photographer until his passing in 1983.  The above photo was taken of Jean-Michel Basquiat in the style that Van Der Zee made famous and looks even quite fashionably apropos today.

Miraculously enough, the original Van Der Zee studio still has the facade intact today on Lenox by 124th Street as mentioned in our past post: LINK

☞ SEE: The James Van Der Zee Exhibit

James Van Der Zee: Harlem Photographer, February 10th-24th at the Museum of the City of New York. Beginning in 1916, James Van Der Zee (1886-1983) photographed the people of Harlem for more than six decades, depicting the life of one of the most celebrated black communities in the world. Althrough he gained fame for his portrayal of African-American celebrities who passed through Harlem, Van Der Zee made his daily living by taking thousands of photographs of Harlem's residents, including family groups, weddings, athletic teams, and social clubs. Today, this portrait studio work, made by a remarkable photographer, provides an exceptional document of an emerging black middle class in New York City.

This exhibit is only running for two weeks and will close February 24th so come out and see one of the greatest photographers of the early 19th century and a great historian of Harlem. The Museum of the City of New York is at 1220 Fifth Avenue, between 103rd and 104th Street. Nearest subway is the 6 train at 103rd Street or 2,3 at 110th Street. There's also a special Valentine's Day card making workshop this Sunday from 1:00-3:00 PM. For more information, go to the MCNY website: LINK. Read our past post on one of Harlem's most amazing artistic icons: LINK

☞ REMEMBER: The James Van Der Zee Studio

James Van Der Zee's photography studio building still stands today at Lenox Avenue and 124th Street. The top photo was taken this afternoon and shows only two G's remain of the original G.G.G. Studio signage painted on the exterior wall. Instead of Van Der Zee photos plastered on the windows, today, a rental agency has the latest apartments "to let" on display. Take the 2,3 train to 125th Street and walk one block south on Lenox/Malcolm X.

☞ REMEMBER: Basquiat by Van Der Zee

As notable Harlem historian Jonathan Gill pointed out in our last history post, the late James Van Der Zee saw a revival of his work in the more modern decade and took photos of celebrities of the era in the latter part of his life.  After a retrospective at the Met in 1969, the photographer known for documenting the exuberant arrival of the African-American middle class to Harlem in the early part of the century would then become a celebrity photographer until his passing in 1983.  The above photo was taken of Jean-Michel Basquiat in the style that Van Der Zee made famous and looks even quite fashionably apropos today.

REMEMBER: THE GGG STUDIO ON LENOX

Harlem Bespoke: One of the remaining historic sites that is still a constant is the GGG Photo Studio sign in the Mount Morris Park neighborhood.  We walked by the brownstone commercial space on Lenox just below 124th Street in the past week and noticed that chipped paint was still intact after over 80 years of history.  This was the Harlem studio of iconic Renaissance photographer James Van Der Zee who took romantic, sepia portraits of the new African-American society in the city and provided a rare record of life uptown in the early part of the 20th Century.  Today a real estate office has taken up the storefront but at least the facade is still intact.  More on James Van Der Zee can be found in our past post: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2017

☞ REMEMBER: The Wedding Party circa 1926

The James Van Der Zee photo of a wedding party taken in 1926 is probably the most glamorous of his work and shows elegance of a new demographic moving into Harlem during the Renaissance years. African Americans were a third of Central Harlem's population by the 1920s but would be a majority at 70 percent ten years later.  Luckily, Mr. Van Der Zee arrived uptown at the right time and was able to capture some of the allure of the new society in Harlem.

☞ REMEMBER: Golden Wedding Party c. 1902

A photo from 1902 by photographer Joseph Byron shows an anniversary wedding party of Mr. and Mrs. Guttenberg at a Mount Morris Park neighborhood address.  Information on the image has the estate at 118 West 120th Street which is today part of the historic district's proposed extension. In contrast to James Van Der Zee's wedding party photo taken in 1926, this turn of the century image would represent an the previously population of Harlem which was slightly over 90 percent white at the time.  Check out the Van Der Zee portrait from the roaring 20s in our past post: LINK

Archival photo courtesy of the Museum of The City of New York

☞ REVIVE: Harlem Wallpaper

Mrs. Suzie Porter in her Harlem home. Bespoke wallpaper is an art that has disappeared from most of the regal brownstones in New York City.  To the right is a Van Der Zee photo of a Harlem interior with its fantastic wallpaper.  In the turn of the century most of the paper would have been made to order and still hand printed by artisans.  More commonly preserved in British homes, New York taste seem to shift towards fad too quickly to keep any good example of this art around. Since many are eschewing severe glass condos for brownstones, maybe it is time to look at more historic methods to refinish walls.

In the early 21st century, many still can not distinguish proper period wall paper from the floral 1980's manufactured design offenses.  The second image displays a William Morris wallpaper reproduced by Bradbury & Bradbury from an original 1860's pattern.  As one can see, the handsome print is graphic, bold and almost geometric but with an organic, botanical  repeat.  The company, based in California, is considered one of the major suppliers of wallpapers hand printed in the the traditional methods.  Another popular early 20th century paper was lincrusta, which was solid, heavily embossed paper that looks like plaster work but more durable.  This is actually seen more in old buildings in the New York City area.  Bradbury & Bradbury link for website and blog at side bar for more information.

☞ REMEMBER: A Visit to Grant's Tomb c. 1903

Photographer Joseph Byron took images of a mostly white society uptown but his photo of Grant's Tomb at 122nd Street and Riverside Drive shows a group of African American gentlemen visiting the monument in 1903. The final resting place of the 18th President would be finished in 1897 and these gentlemen might have been visiting from the minority neighborhood around midtown on 7th Avenue called the Tenderloin which was also dubbed the African Broadway.  By 1914, middle-class blacks would start moving to the Harlem from midtown and thus take root in yet another phase of the historic village's revival. Another photographer known as James Van Der Zee would then takeover and become the record keeper of the new society unfolding in Harlem.

Archival photo by Byron courtesy the Museum of the City of New York

☞ REMEMBER: Alpha Phi Alpha at Strivers Row

The above photo taken by James Van Der Zee of the Alpha Phi Alpha basketball team in 1926 had us wondering if the fraternity house was in Harlem or not.  Looking at the doorway and the cast iron rails as clues, one can conclude that this was at Strivers Row in the upper 130s. Compared to the current lower photo, it becomes evident that this was the case but we can't quite make out the house number.  Does anyone have additional information on this photo?

☞ REMEMBER: Jewish Harlem circa 1929

A James Van Der Zee photo from 1929 show the diversity of the Jewish community established uptown. Before the roaring 20s, most of the synagogues uptown would have been built by the predominantly white community that set up roots in the new Harlem. As Central Harlem became the destination for the African American community, small storefront temples of worship would have been established like the one depicted on a tenement block at 127th Street. The building still stands today but there is little left to indicate its prior use and thus this photo is an important record of how Harlem has transitioned many times over the decades.

☞ REMEMBER: The GGG Studio c. 1932

A photo probably taken after 1932 shows the James Van Der Zee GGG Studio with an updated Art Deco look. Most of the images of the legendary photographer's Harlem studio shows the hand painted signage on the brownstone walls but the above image reveals that the facade was altered in latter years. This is probably a good thing since the new display probably protected the painted letters underneath and evidence of the former studio of the artist that captured Harlem society during the Renaissance years can still be seen today just right below 124th Street on Lenox. Photo via Rompedas