projects: changing room
The Project
Anja Hitzenberger's ongoing photography photography project — "The Body and Space" — explores the relationship of the human body to outdoor architectural spaces. Thanks to a Swing Space grant from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Anja was able to expand on "The Body and Space" by condensing it in "Changing Room." In this version of "Changing Room," Hitzenberger explored the possibilities found in an abandoned storefront (a former photo lab) at 145 Nassau Street in Manhattan. Each week she photographed performers and dancers of different body shapes and movement backgrounds. Each week also brought a new installation by architect/designer Illya Azaroff, as well as live performances in the space."Changing Room" ran from Thursday, June 28 through Saturday, July 28, 2007. Gallery hours were Thursdays and Fridays, noon to 8pm. Live performances were on Fridays at 6pm and featured her collaborators moving through the changing installations. Performers included Deborah Lohse, Kathy Westwater, Todd Williams, Thom Fogarty, Jimena Paz and Pascale Wettstein, Jennifer Monson, Kristi Spessard, Edward Ratliff, Nicole Vlado + Mariangela Lopez and Pedro Osorio, Alexandra Beller, Judith Sánchez Ruíz, Beth Schenck and others.
Photo Galleries from “Changing Room”
Gallery I: Body and Space
I had several photo sessions in this small, intimate space, with performers of different body shapes and movement backgrounds. The changing installations gave both me and the performers a lot of creative energy, with everyone coming up with different ideas of how to relate to the space.
Gallery II: Weekly Installations
I was very fortunate to collaborate once again with designer and architect Illya Azaroff on this project. Each week he designed a new installation, and each week we painted and changed the space into a different being.
Gallery III: The Visitor Series
While I worked and photographed in the storefront, people from the neighborhood came by to see what I was doing. I started taking portraits of these new and supportive friends. Many of them dropped by every day I was there, sometimes bringing their friends so they could show their portrait hanging on the wall.
Gallery IV: Performances
Every week we had a live performance featuring the performers that are seen in the "Body and Space" gallery above. Several of the photos in this gallery were taken by our intern, Sherri McLeod (as noted).
Location
Storefront at 145 Nassau Street, between Spruce and BeekmanBy subway: 4,5,6 to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall; R,W to City Hall; A,C to Broadway-Nassau; 2,3 to Park Place; J,M,Z to Fulton Street
Production Credits
Concept and Photography:Anja Hitzenberger
Installation Design and Construction:
Illya Azaroff
Production Intern:
Sherri McLeod
Produced By:
strudelmedia
Special Thanks:
Special thanks go to the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and Jeanne Gerrity for all of their assistance!
Funding Credits
"Changing Room" was made possible by Swing Space, a program of Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, generously supported by the September 11th Fund. Project space is donated by Time Equities.
