Robert Gerhardt, “NYPD Traffic Officer at Prayers, Park 51,” Manhattan, New York, 2012.
The Museum of the City of New York joins a growing list of institutions making a statement about the immigration ban via cultural programming. Opening February 18, the exhibition Muslim in New York explores how essential the Muslim community is to New York’s culture.
With an estimated 270,000 Muslims calling New York home, the photographers in the exhibition show all facets of Islamic life in the city. “This special installation comes at a time when the place of immigrants from Muslim-majority countries is being scrutinized, and even challenged, on a national level,” museum director Whitney Donhauser explains.
The 34 images by photographers Ed Grazda, Mel Rosenthal, Robert Gerhardt, and Alexander Alland date from 1940 to present day. One iconic image, Robert Gerhardt’s photograph of a Muslim police officer in prayer at Park51—a Manhattan Islamic community center often called “Gound Zero mosque”—is a standout. “I was the first photographer allowed to photograph that mosque,” the photographer recalls, “mostly because I was the only one who had ever asked.”
Within the photographs, diverse Muslims’ communities are shown beyond stereotypes. They are children playing games, proud mothers, police officers, and graduates. Collectively, they serve as a reminder of how much the Muslim community has enriched New York.
Muslim in New York will be on view at the Museum of the City of New York from February 18, 2017.
Robert Gerhardt, “Young Basketball Player in the Park before Friday Prayers,” Brooklyn, New York, 2011.
Mel Rosenthal, “Iraqi Muslim Girl in English as a Second Language Class,” 1999.
Ed Grazda, “Prayer before Muslim Day Parade, Manhattan, NY” ca 1995
Robert Gerhardt, “Pakistani American Children Playing Cricket in the Park, Brooklyn, NY,” 2011.
Mel Rosenthal, “B & B Electronics Store Owner with children, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn,” 1999.
Alexander Alland, “Turkish American children at table with workbooks,” ca. 1940.
Mel Rosenthal, “The Graduate,” 1999
Mel Rosenthal, “Palestinian woman with American flag,” ca 2001
Ed Grazda, “Afghan Muslims Eid al-Adha Celebration, Flushing Queens, NY,” 1998
Mel Rosenthal, “Debbie Almontaser with photograph of son Yousif,” 2001
Mel Rosenthal, “Filmmakers,” 1999.
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h/t: [Huffington Post]