Marcia Bricker Halperin finds gold in her archives
Street Photography Magazine
Shownotes Transcript
The title of this article is really a misnomer because Marcia Bricker Halperin knew all along that the archive she built over 40-years contains gold. But she waited until she retired from teaching to create a book from her life’s work.
On a winder day in 1975 Marcia ducked into Dubrow’s Cafeteria on Kings Highway in her native Brooklyn to escape the cold. Over the next three years she returned regularly, camera in hand, to record the life and culture among the regulars in this local landmark unique to New York. It was a happy accident that proves you never know where a photo project will lead. Nothing will happen until you take the first step and do the work.
During the podcast conversation Marcia tells the story of how she created her book, Kibbitz and Nosh: When We All Met at Dubrow’s Cafeteria ), by mining her archive, making difficult selections, scanning negatives, and finding a publisher that believes in her vision and finally making it a reality.
Early in her career Marcia was employed by the CETA Artist’s Project under the auspices of the Cultural Council Foundation. Her assignments included photographing the Soviet refugees and their introduction to American culture in Brighton Beach and photographing housing issues in Hell’s Kitchen.
In the late 1970s, she was active in the Photographers Forum, an organization that was a continuation of the 1940s Photo League. She assisted with organizing their meetings and panels held at the New School, which featured photographers such as W. Eugene Smith and Roy DeCarava.
Marcia’s personal story of how she leverages her archives to publish her book is an inspiration to any photographer who dreams of exposing their own work to the world.
Marcia’s portrait by Phil O’Brien
Exhibitions and book events
Exhibition: Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center Through June 25, 202382 N Broadway, Nyack, NY 10960Link: https://www.edwardhopperhouse.org/kibbitz.html)Artist Talk: Sunday, June 11, 2-3:00 at the Nyack Library, 82 N Broadway, Nyack, NY 10960Followed by a tour of the exhibition at Edward Hopper House)
Artist Talk: Sunday, June 11, 2-3:00 at the Nyack Library, 82 N Broadway, Nyack, NY 10960Followed by a tour of the exhibition at Edward Hopper House
Exhibition: Garment District Arts AllianceKaufman Arcade132 West 36th Street, NYCMay 15 – August 25, 2023
** Garment District Tour and exhibit viewing **Monday, June 5th – 10:30 amMeet at the Giant Needle and Yellow ButtonWest 39th Street and 7th AvenueEmail Marcia at [email protected]) to reserve a spot
A selection of Marcia’s photos
Taxi from Kibbitz and Nosh
Man with Bowtie from Kibbitz and Nosh
Pencil Moustache from Kibbitz and Nosh
47th Street Boys from Marcia’s CETA Artist’s Project Hell’s Kitchen series
Links from the show