Yesterday, we took a taxi to The Strand Bookstore to meet Monika at 3:30, a little early before our 4:00 booksigning date! Several other authors and photographers began to arrive. We met Ina and Phil Trager. Phil just published a book with photos he took of Ina over many years. They were absolutely fabulous. We also met to Romney Mueller Westernhagen who just published a wonderful book called “Portraits.” She is stunningly beautiful to look at and her friends who came were equally beautiful. We had a great afternoon meeting the other people there for their Steidl X Strand booksigning. It was the last day of the event. Monika Condrea, Steidl’s Marking Director for N. America and English speaking countries, put on a top notch show for four days. There were posters for each of the books on display too.
So now we head home to California. After we check out we’re planning to walk over to the Empire State Building to admire the NYC skyline and environs. We will be flying on Cloud Nine after this amazing experience here. We’re thinking of Bill Heick, Ira Latour, Cam Macauley, who wanted to share their experience from that important time in photographic history, and who asked us to help them finish their book. Our dad, Don Whyte, has had a great influence in the whole project as well! So grateful for it, and for the interest of Gerhard Steidl in publishing The Golden Decade that made this all possible. So glad we got to see him on the first night of the event. And to Monika Condrea who invited us to come and be a part of it.
Below are some photos from the event. Enjoy!
Ken and June Leaf who looked through the entire book and asked many questions. Monika Condrea is on the right.Left: Strand Book signing guests and authors. Right: Romney Mueller Westernhagen, Monika Condrea, Philip Trager and Ina Trager.Peter from the Strand, and Ken. Ina Trager looking through The Golden Decade
Thanks to our daughter Angela and her able chauffeuring we got to SFO at 5:30 Wednesday morning in plenty of time to get through Security and to our flight by 7am.The flight was not very long, and before we knew it we were landing at JFK. We got a taxi to our hotel to drop off our stuff, quickly changed, and caught a taxi over to The Strand Bookstore, very excited to see our friends from Göttingen. The Strand is a huge, famous bookstore on Broadway and 12th Street in NYC. Here are a few photos from the event. We went to the book signing for Robert Polidori, our friend from Steidlville, who was speaking about his two new books, “Hotel Petra” and “60 Feet Road.” Gerhard Steidl introduced Robert and also Joel Sternfeld and his new book “Landscape as Longing: Queens New York.” Our book signing isn’t until Saturday.
Gerhard Steidl talking with guests. Ken in the audience. Ken, photographer Karine, and Monika, Steidl’s Director of Marketing for N. America and English-speaking countries.
Today we switched hotels and rested. Tomorrow we’ll go to The Met, and a few other places. More soon! Much Love from NYC!
Ken & Victoria
Victoria with “The Golden Decade” on display with the other new books from Steidl. Robert Polidori talking about his new books.
Gerhard Steidl talking about the new books and introducing the artists at The Strand.Victoria, Karine and Monika, Steidl’s Director of Marketing for N. America and English-speaking countries.Gerhard Steidl. A Strand event chair!In the taxi to our new hotel.
The Golden Decade book and cover. Designed by Victor Balko, Steidl’s design team.
The Golden Decade is making its way onto the world stage. Again THANKS to Stephen Goldstine and John Upton for suggesting we send the manuscript to Gerhard Steidl in Göttingen, Germany. We have found the kindred spirit art photo lover in him and his whole amazing publishing house from top on down. It’s something the other artists we’ve met there have also expressed. To whit they’re working on other books just to be able to go back and experience it all over again!! MANY THANKS also to Victor Balko, one of the very fine designers at Steidl, who redesigned The Golden Decade. It models very well in its new look!
Gerhard Steidl speaking at The Strand Bookstore, NYC
Now, the next development in the GD (Golden Decade) story, is that Gerhard Steidl is coming in person to NYC. During the week of October 26 Steidl will take over the Strand Book Store to present new books, stage talks and book signings. Monika invited us to come for a book signing, as incredibly, the GD is among them! https://steidl.de/
At first we thought it was completely out of the question for us to go. Then we reconsidered. I’m not really sure what made that shift. Perhaps it had something to do with my father, Don Whyte….I just kept thinking about the fact that he was born in New York City all those years ago (1911) and that there was a strong pull on me to go. That’s all I can figure out to say on how to account for it. If it was from him I’m not sure. Maybe it has something to do with coming full circle, or full sphere, as one of my dear sisters Margaret says. And also, how many times will we be invited to The Strand Bookstore in NYC to sign a book? Whatever the reason, we’re all set to go! Below is the information on The Steidl Strand Program that starts Wednesday with William Eggleston signing books 4-6pm. Please come to see us if you’re in the vicinity on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 4:00-6:00!
Of course, this whole book project was sparked by us going through the contents of Don’s darkroom after his death. Ken, an avid life-long photographer himself, had a strong connection with my father because of this. He became extremely curious when he recognized photos of Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, Minor White, Dorothea Lange, Imogen Cunningham and others among my father’s photos. He asked me about them and I said yes, of course, we had lived down the street from Ansel Adams in San Francisco. And then the research began to try to find any of the students who might still be living so we could learn more about the photos. The last 15 years have been dedicated to these students, their photographs and their stories—and to rekindling a relationship with my father and his love for art and photography.
First shipment of The Golden Decade to our home.
So read this blog so you can come along with us to NYC. We’ll do out best to relay the Book Fair so you can enjoy it vicariously! We will be enjoying it thoroughly! Thanks!
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS for upcoming Golden Decade Events:
GOLDEN DECADE EXHIBITION, February 4, 2017, Opening. Minnesota Street Projects, San Francisco, CA http://casemorekirkeby.com/
1275 Minnesota St, San Francisco, CA 94107
LAGUNA BEACH ART MUSEUM, February 2017,http://lagunaartmuseum.org/ 307 Cliff Dr, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 —information to follow soon!
OK, we’ll be in touch soon from NYC! All Best Wishes!
