Dustin Pittman: New York after dark

Abstract

"Dustin Pittman has amassed a body of work of more than 100,000 images that chronicle the untamed corners of New York City's nightlife -- from shadowy underground haunts to prestigious galleries and famed nightclubs. This book showcases Pittman's images of the vibrant pop culture scene of New York City during the seventies and eighties, providing a unique view of this pivotal era of arts and culture. Pittman was not only an observer but also an active participant in the places and events that shaped pop culture as we know it: the goings on at Andy Warhol's Factory, the social liberation movements, the VIP room at Studio 54, and the nascent punk scene at CBGB and The Mudd Club. Through Pittman's lens, readers are provided an intimate glimpse into the intersecting worlds of fashion and celebrity, music, art, and politics -- from the glam rock underground and the golden age of disco to the ateliers of the world's most famous fashion designers such as Halston, Yves Saint Laurent, and Calvin Klein. Pittman was witness to such rising stars as Blondie, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, and New York Dolls, as well as seminal cultural figures like David Bowie,Liza Minnelli, Truman Capote, Diana Ross, Grace Jones, Tina Chow, Jerry Hall, and Divine. Pittman caught them all in spontaneous, unguarded New York moments. The vast majority of the images collected in this book are previously unpublished work of some of the most iconic and revered figures of the late twentieth century, accompanied by firsthand observations and remembrances by Pittman. The book features an introduction essay that offers an objective overview of Pittman's work and his importance as a chronicle of the music, art, and fashion scenes of that era.