Spanish Harlem in the ’80s Book Launch at Museum of the City of New York

Union Settlement is partnering with Museum of the City of New York for this very special book launch event of Spanish Harlem: El Barrio in the ’80s by photographer Joseph Rodriguez (published by powerHouse Books).

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When Brooklyn-raised photographer Joseph Rodriguez first debuted his body of work shot in Spanish Harlem in the 1980s, it changed the face of documentary photography. Grit, elegy, celebration, pride, lurking cataclysm—all embedded in the portrait of a place and the people. Now, three decades later, a new book is revisiting that groundbreaking series: unearthing huge new caches of images, and re-editing and showcasing the body of work in a beautiful, deluxe monograph, reframing the project as one that pushed beyond documentary into the realm of fine art. Over 30 years since the project began, Spanish Harlem: El Barrio in the 80s finally brings this unparalleled endeavor to fruition.

Shot in the mid-to-late 80s, Joseph Rodriguez’s superb photographs bring us into the core of the neighborhood, capturing a spirit of a people that survives despite the ravages of poverty, and more recently, the threat of gentrification and displacement. In a now-distant landscape littered with abandoned buildings, ominous alleyways, and the plague of addiction, the residents of Spanish Harlem persevered with flamboyant style and gritty self-reliance.

To celebrate the launch of this book, photographer Joseph Rodriguez will discuss his experience photographing the neighborhood and the inspiration behind these images.

The discussion will be moderated by Sean Corcoran, Curator of Photography at the Museum of the City of New York.

Reception and book signing to follow

Proceeds from books sales at the event will go to support Union Settlement and our programs in East Harlem.