Barbara Nitke: American Ecstasy
November 10 – December 2, 2012
Opening: Saturday, Nov 10, 6-9pm
PhotoNOLA Reception: Sunday, Dec 2, 6-9pm
Barrister’s Gallery
2331 St. Claude Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70117
504-710-4506
Hours: Tues-Sat 11am-5pm
Barbara Nitke worked as a set photographer on pornography shoots in New York City from 1982 – 1991. American Ecstasy is a collection of fine art photography she produced during that time, shot during and in between takes, during breaks, the long durations actors and crew spent waiting for another scene to finish. Nitke’s photographs do not romanticize pornography, but the empathetic eye with which she portrays her subjects complicates our preconceptions about the people involved, finding humor, humanity, camaraderie, and even beauty among what many consider a base industry.
This exhibition coincides with the release of a monograph of the photos, which will be available for purchase.
Additional events:
This is a joint exhibition in conjunction with Press Street, which will also display Nitke’s American Ecstasy images at its headquarters (3817 St. Claude Ave.) from Nov. 29 – Dec. 2. Nitke will present her work during a launch event for the American Ecstasy monograph at the Press Street Headquarters on Friday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.
Nitke is a New York-based artistic and commercial photographer who has exhibited widely and been featured in publications such as The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Harper’s. She is past president of the Camera Club of New York (2002 – 2006) and a current member of the faculty of the School of Visual Arts, since 1992.
