New York City: a place of constant change, where people and places are always moving. Bushwick, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, is no exception. Photographer Meryl Meisler captured this ever-shifting landscape in her photos from the 1980s. Her work, showcased in the “Bushwick Chronicle” exhibition, provides a glimpse into a unique time and place in New York City’s history.
Meisler arrived in Bushwick in 1981, taking a job as an art teacher at Intermediate School 291. The neighborhood wasn’t exactly welcoming at first glance. Surrounded by abandoned buildings and a sense of despair, it was a far cry from the vibrant disco scene Meisler had been photographing in Manhattan just a few years earlier. Still, she decided to stay, and her camera became a way to document her surroundings.
At first, Meisler hesitated to bring her camera to school. A previous experience with theft made her cautious. But the streets of Bushwick, with their vibrant characters and crumbling buildings, were too fascinating to ignore. She started carrying a simple point-and-shoot camera, capturing the everyday life of the neighborhood.
Meisler’s photos show Bushwick as a place of contrasts. Children played amidst the rubble of abandoned buildings. Schools served as both places of learning and sanctuaries from the surrounding chaos. Dedicated teachers like Meisler provided stability and hope in a community struggling with poverty and neglect.
Walking to and from the subway each day was an adventure for Meisler. Each street had its own unique atmosphere and stories to tell. From the people she encountered to the buildings that seemed to whisper secrets of the past, Bushwick was never dull. Meisler’s photos are like quick snapshots, capturing the essence of a moment in time. They offer glimpses into the lives of the people who called Bushwick home and the buildings that stood as silent witnesses to the neighborhood’s history.
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I think the party pics are of places in Manhattan, I’d love to be corrected though and know there was a scene back then in this area. Boy oh boy teach was up to some seediness after class was dismissed.
Some of those aren’t from the 80s and are more recent but cool window into a different time
The style in some of these photos is unparalleledd
Bridgehamton type post