new bayside: reflections – VISUAL CONVERSATIONS

When I was in graduate school, I admired the work of Herb Goro, a photojournalist . He produced a book called ‘The Block.’ I was inspired by his work and he agreed to be my mentor as I returned to the community where I grew up in Bayside, Queens, New York.

My parents, both first generation Americans, moved there in 1950. Ultimately I decided to base my MFA thesis project on this evolving community. I photographed the residents and interviewed them over a period of several months in the Fall of 1973. The residents were largely children of immigrants or veterans from World War II, who had moved to the “close-in suburbs” to provide more space and less concrete for them and their children.

“I think Sam Levinson once wrote or told about the fact that every mother felt responsible for the children in the neighborhood where he grew up. And you don’t really get that if you live in Manhattan, at least I don’t think so. Here it was really true. I knew very well that when I put Neil out there that anybody coming by, any adult would feel responsible for him just as as I felt for my friends children. I’m delighted for that.” …Bayside resident

“Most people in the area have perhaps lived on the lower East Side…They’re children of immigrants or immigrants themselves. They came, in most cases, because of economic problems, perhaps religious. Just to simplify it, you could say they’ve made it here in America and moved out to a lovely area such as Bayside.” Bill Lubetsky, resident.

Although the homes were small, the residents took pride in maintaining the area in front of their homes. It was common to sit outside during warm weather, which served to extend the space where people lived.

“We all moved out here with the idea…that we would make a life here. Since you were almost forced like moving into Maine in the wilderness. You knew that this would be your life. Here would set down roots and here you would make friends. And everybody here moved with the idea of making friends…we chose a low-rental housing project, a veterans’ development.” …Bayside resident

“The common denominator here was the children. I can remember when there was nothing more important, generally speaking, then the children and the good of the children…. “

VISUAL CONVERSATIONs