The Store X Found: A Harold Feinstein Exhbition
In the New York Times obituary celebrating his life, Harold Feinstein was declared “one of the most accomplished recorders of the American experience” and yet much of his photography is principally unknown.
This a review on the latest Store X Exhibition.
Born in Coney Island in 1931, Feinstein left school to begin photographing at 15 and become one of the most prominent figures in the vanguard of the New York City street photography scene joining the famed Photo League when he was 17.
Coney Island is where many of the exhibition pieces were captured.
What struck me about this image was
a) how mature everyone looked though they’re probably my age (late teens/ early twenties)
b) how put together everyone looked - for themselves, there was no instagram!
c) how present and happy everyone looks
d) closeness and community of one another, literally laying on top of each other
One of my favourites because:
a) You can tell Feinstein had to emulate the subject’s position to get that shot
b) She has leg hair (very faint I know) which you would never see nowadays, unless it was for some superficial capitalistic campaign
Feinstein was included in shows at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1954 and the Museum of Modern Art in 1957; also exhibiting a solo show at the legendary Helen Gee’s Limelight Gallery in 1957.
Despite this early success, however, Feinstein’s extensive collection of classic street photography, nudes, portraits and still life have seldom been exhibited…until now…
I love how Feinstein captures such a variety of natural moods of sightseeing a metropolis such as New York City. I also love how no one is checking technology, rather looking out of the window or having a snooze.
A snapshot of segregation. The young black man tired (probably from a long days work) having to sit at the back of the bus, juxtaposed by a wealthy, literate women adorned in luxurious attire. The semi-face of the third, onlooking subject seems irked to be in the photo (consent wasn’t as big an issue as nowadays).
Another one of my favourites, probably because I’m a theology student. I love how the unkempt children are contrasted by Christ’s dazzling white, even though Christ himself is enveloped within a dirty building. I like how the children seen unaware as to where they are standing, yet the whole image has references to Christian paintings of Jesus surrounded by children and cherubs.
A nice gentlemen who worked at the gallery (I’m sorry I didn’t get your name) showed me his favourite. He liked Feinstein’s capture of chairoscuro, the interplay between light and dark, and the different social classes of society, each with their different facial expressions.
A picture I resonate with purely because this is the bliss I picture myself in everyday. I love how the roller coaster does not seem nearly as exhilarating as our modern ones, but the subject seems even more exhilarated by anyone I’ve ever seen getting off a ride. It also makes me think how he would’ve got this shot.
Overall Thoughts
I very much enjoyed this exhibition. Other photography exhibiton’s I’ve attended have been consumed by nudist photography (which should of course be celebrated) or natural phenomena (a passion of mine). It is rare not only to see such an accurate snapshot of time and place, but to be able to pinpoint this moment in time and place a priori knowing about the exhibition. This was a true privilege to experience.
This exhibition is over for public viewing, but viewing can still be made by appointment. The exhibition will be open until May 26th by appointment only. Email info@carrie-scott.com to set a viewing time.