The book ON THE BLOCK. HARLEM PRIVATE VIEW was published by Allemandi & C./Montrasio Arte in April 2010 and is now on sale in different bookshops in Italy and in NY. On line at ALLEMANDI home page: http://www.allemandi.com/dett_libri.php?id=716
Susanna Pozzoli On the Block. Harlem Private View was curated by Raffaele Bedarida and Ruggero Montrasio, with texts by Raffaele Bedarida, Mario Calabresi, Alessandra Coppa and with an artist’s interview by Daniele Astrologo Abadal.
The book presents the photographic project On the Block realized by Susanna Pozzoli in Harlem, New York from July 2007 to July 2009. It features a selection of sixty-six photographs made by Susanna Pozzoli during her stay at Harlem Studio Fellowship by Montrasio Arte (HSF by MA), international artist-in-residence program for emerging artists, where she was invited in July 2007.
Pozzoli dedicated almost three years of her work to portrait a microcosm, which is hard to get into: the interiors of the buildings (private houses, school, church, bar, doctor’s office) located in one single block of the neighborhood, all strictly uninhabited. The human presence is totally denied, and it is revealed only by tracks, objects and architectural spaces.
The block considered by Pozzoli is the one where HSF by MA is located - 121st Street between Lenox Ave and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd - and it reflects a controversial phase of transition: the gentrification is on as well as a strong neighborliness still exists in central Harlem.
After Pozzoli became part of the Harlem community and she convinced her neighbours to let her enter in their houses, she started photographing their private spaces with her 6x6 Rolleiflex. She wasn’t allowed to set up anything, and decided not to stage any lights.
In Summer 2010 the project was shown at the UCR California Museum of Photography in Los Angeles within the On Site show, curated by Lisa Henry. In June, she presented the book at the UCR Museum in a conversation with Colin Westerback, the Director of the Museum. On that occasion, Pozzoli gave a workshop to LA students.
In 2011 a solo travelling exhibition presents the whole work to the public, starting on January 2oth at The Private Sapce in Barcelona, Spain.
I arrived in Harlem in July 2007 thanks to HSF by MA. I decided to create a photographic portrait of the block where I was living using only interiors: 121st street between Lenox Avenue and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard. The project, supposed to be a 3 months one was then extended.
Harlem is deeply and quickly changing, the gentrification is on: old houses are being restored, fancy condos built; new people are moving in this neighborhood cohabitating with the Afro-American community that has been here for many years, some historical residents have to leave because the rent prices are increasing. The block where I live reflects this controversial phase of transition as well as the strong neighborliness that still exists in central Harlem and presents an amazing richness in terms of social class, gender, race and religion. Being an agent myself of this process I thought I could only work where I am part of it so I concentrated on my block.
Little by little I became part of the life in the neighborhood. The original interest in the architecture, and my desire to photograph the apartments and private spaces hidden behind the façades of those beautiful brownstones houses, relates with a personal and very rich life experience. I had great moments and hard times with people that like or dislike me, or more often my project. Even thought this direct experience can hardly be transferred and it is not visible in the final photographic project it remains central.
I didn’t include any portrait in On the block, as I wanted to let the viewer’s eye imagine the faces of those who are living inside those spaces. The human presence is in fact strong and the trace of it is the main focus of the work.
There is no journalistic approach but a tension to show feelings and atmospheres. The use of a Rolleiflex underlines this choice.