For fifty years I lived in a unique building, the bank at 190 Bowery. In addition to an enormous amount of rooms and a decidedly decadent amount of space, it had 360° panoramic views of Manhattan.
I never had to worry about having a camera with me, I had all my cameras with me. “I live here.”
I never took it for granted when I came home from exotic locations; it was always there waiting for me. I had snow, rain, incredible light, New York rooftops, and the street at my disposal.
I have tended to “stay in” since I traveled so much. This collection is the product of daily shooting for almost 50 years.
It’s about looking out at New York City, and about looking inwards to the place I had put together, which though voluminous and eccentric was “home” to me…
I’ve always been a dumpster diver and an incurable collector of tools, books, ephemera of all kinds. That too became grist for my mill.
But that’s another collection called Bank Interiors, which will come later.
Jay Maisel
If you want to see more images on this subject and many others, go to www.jaymaisel.com
