
It’s great to have lots of closets, and this show just demonstrates that Bruce Silverstein has made good use of the ones he has. This summer inventory show features nearly 50 prints, mostly from the mid to late 20th century, and is chock full of interesting, quirky pieces. Choosing highlights is purely subjective, and I will only mention five that caught my fancy; you will have others. Frank Paulin, “Halloween, Greenwich Village, New York City”, 1981 this might be one of the last great phone booth photographs ever taken. Robert Frank, “Mary”, 1957 a classic image shows his first wife’s face, half covered in the large shadow of the photographer’s head. Manuel Alvarez Bravo, a totally red print with just barely visible scratched graffiti - a heart and a skull. Joel Peter Witkin, a small collage “Kertesz in Edo (study)” that must have an interesting back story, and two 4x 7 inch prints of “Lydia” the classic image by Frederick Sommer. The two exposures show Lydia with nearly the same facial expression but with slightly different hand gestures. Which to choose? Sommer obviously could not decide, as the prints are both described as having been given to the sitter.
