(click for larger)
My cousin, Lisa, who is Just Over the River, was down to her desktop wallpaper while doing some computer-housekeeping (she starts a new job next week) when, lucky for me, she blogged about it. And now I, too, am in sort of obsession with the above photograph entitled, easily enough, Girls in the Windows. She linked to the photograph’s story, and I’ll just copy and paste it for you here:
In 1960, while a construction crew dismantled a row of brownstones right across from my own brownstone studio on East 58th Street, I was inspired to, somehow immortalize those buildings. I had the vision of 43 women in formal dress adorning the windows of the skeletal facade.
We had to work quickly to secure City permissions, arrange for models which included celebrities, the demolition supervisior’s wife (third floor, third from left), my own wife (second floor, far right), and also secure the Rolls Royce to be parked on the sidewalk. Careful planning was a necessity as the photography had to be accomplished during the workers’ lunch time!
The day before the buildings were razed, the 43 women appeared in their finest attire, went into the buildings, climbed the old stairs, and took their places in the windows. I was set up on my fire escape across the streeet, directing the scene, with bullhorn in hand. Of course I was concerned for the Models’ safety, as some were daring enough to pose out on the crumbling sills.
The photography came off as planned. What had seemed to some as too dangerous or difficult to accomplish, became my fantasy fulfilled, and my most memorable self – assigned photograph. It has been an international award winner ever since.
Most professional photographers dream of having one signature picture they are known for. “GIRLS IN THE WINDOWS ” is mine.
As you may have noticed by knowing me at all, I am in complete love with most all things 1960s, and this photograph (taken by Ormond Gigli) embodies the start of the decade so well. The different styles and colors of dresses in each window, plus the old car and fancy ladies on the street; I feel like this picture needs to be made into a musical (or maybe I’m just thinking about Christina Aguilera’s “Come On Over” video? – don’t worry, it gets to what I’m talking about eventually).
I’d love to know who the “celebrities” were. I can’t really make out specific faces, even blown up. Reader, look into that and report back.