FlatFile-WilliamHellermann

Lights at the End of the Tunnel, William Hellermann

In the 1980’s, experimental composer and performer William Hellermann did a lot of walking around New York City, especially Hell’s Kitchen, especially at night, shooting 35mm Kodachrome slides.   There was something about the small buildings, the sole-proprietor stores and Irish bars that fascinated him. He was drawn to the buildings that had been let go, hanging on with failed dignity; that is, hopeless enterprises.

He became fascinated by the differences between them, not because they were that different, but because they weren’t. They all looked a lot alike, lights at the end of the tunnel. Many seemed to share a great concern with appearance combined with a great indifference to maintenance. They were so much about people, the people who owned them and the people who patronize them.

And he liked to see them head on, looking them in the eyes, so to speak. It seems that in the age of the automobile, we see the world in three-quarters view, coming or going and only for a split second see something straight on. To look at them that way has a fresh impact we would never suspect, even though they were familiar – in other words –photographs wanting to be taken.

(see bio below)

Blarney Ro NYC by William Hellermann, 1980s, pigment prints, limited editions  17×22″ $500, 13×19″, $350

Blarney Stone NYC by William Hellermann, 1980s, pigment prints, limited editions  17×22″ $500, 13×19″, $350

Y Stone 8th Avenue Irish bar restaurant at night with patrons, neon signage NYC by William Hellermann, 1980s, pigment prints, limited editions  17×22″ $500, 13×19″, $350

Cafe bar at night with child in front, American flag and red lights, traffic, neon lights NYC by William Hellermann, 1980s, pigment prints, limited editions  17×22″ $500, 13×19″, $350

NYC 8th Avenue Irish bar at night with patrons, neon signage NYC by William Hellermann, 1980s, pigment prints, limited editions  17×22″ $500, 13×19″, $350

NYC 8th Avenue Irish bar at night with patrons, neon signage NYC by William Hellermann, 1980s, pigment prints, limited editions  17×22″ $500, 13×19″, $350

Smi Hs Bar NYC by William Hellermann, 1980s, pigment prints, limited editions  17×22″ $500, 13×19″, $350

Cecil Tavern Big Apple NYC by William Hellermann, 1980s, pigment prints, limited editions  17×22″ $500, 13×19″, $350

Coffee Shop Luncheonette NYC by William Hellermann, 1980s, pigment prints, limited editions  17×22″ $500, 13×19″, $350

Luncheonette NYC by William Hellermann, 1980s, pigment prints, limited editions  17×22″ $500, 13×19″, $350

Coffee Shop NYC by William Hellermann, 1980s, pigment prints, limited editions  17×22″ $500, 13×19″, $350

Bar restaurant at night; neon; patrons; flashy signage; street scene NYC by William Hellermann, 1980s, pigment prints, limited editions  17×22″ $500, 13×19″, $350

Chinese take out store, NYC, 1980, Sixth Avenue, signage, and street scene NYC by William Hellermann, pigment prints, limited editions  17×22″ $500, 13×19″, $350

Fruit Juice stand at night; patron; flashy signage  NYC by William Hellermann, 1980s, pigment prints, limited editions  17×22″ $500, 13×19″, $350

Times square area, 1980 showing topless bar at night with postitutes, patrons, and hand painted sexy signage, street scene  NYC by William Hellermann,  pigment prints, limited editions  17×22″ $500, 13×19″, $350

Adult book store and films at night in Times Square, NYC with patron and hand painted signage in summer of 1980  NYC by William Hellermann, pigment prints, limited editions  17×22″ $500, 13×19″, $350

Shop window with mannikins in NYC March 1981 at Grand St. & Bowery at night; street scene, NYC by William Hellermann,  pigment prints, limited editions  17×22″ $500, 13×19″, $350

Marlene Bridal NYC by William Hellermann, 1980s, pigment prints, limited editions  17×22″ $500, 13×19″, $350

Paul’s Bridal Accessories shop window with mannikin heads with veils in NYC August 1980 at 30th St. & Sixth Ave at night; street scene NYC by William Hellermann, pigment prints, limited editions  17×22″ $500, 13×19″, $350

Ladies Ear, NYC by William Hellermann 1980s, pigment prints, limited editions  17×22″ $500, 13×19″, $350

bio  William Hellermann (1939-2017)
In the 1980’s, as he walked the streets of New York City at night, the experimental composer and performer, William Hellermann, began a remarkable series of color slide of bars and ma & pa stores he encountered – especially in Hell’s Kitchen.

Hellermann was the recipient of numerous awards for his compositions and performances from the 1960s to the 1990’s including: the Pri de Rome Fellowship to the American Academy in Rome, National Endowment for the Arts Composers Fellowship, the NEA Opera Music Theatre New American Works Grant and six grants and awards from the New York State Council on the Arts. As a curator at PS 1, the Clock Tower, and the Alternative Museum, he launched some of the first exhibitions of sound sculpture and audio art, and in the process brought into usage the term “Soundart.”

Moving from Brooklyn to the Columbia County in the 1990’s Hellermann returned to his love of photography – both making new work of the urban landscape and revisiting his images from those nights in New York City. For the new work, as he walked around Hudson NY, he found his subject in the alleys of the city where the “garages have an accidental beauty.” In February 2017 his photographs were featured in a three person show at the Hudson Opera House, No Parking: The Alleys and Garages of Hudson NY. From his archive of slides from the 80’s, he produced the series of evocative pigment prints of New York City we are pleased to present at the Davis Orton Gallery.