This past weekend, Juxtapoz Projects kicked off a stellar new group show at Mana Contemporary highlighting local New Jersey and New York emerging photographers. Curated by local artist and DJ, Guy Weltchek, the exhibition is an exploration into the DIY underground music scene in the New York Metropolitan area from 2008-2018. Organized as a loose retrospective of the past ten years, these photos capture a variety of performances and parties ranging from Jersey club warehouse nights - to hardcore punk gigs in Bushwick - to the intimate homes and studios of artists and musicians.
Photos of the Met encapsulates a shared spirit of innovation and intention to create a community outside of the normal economic and stylistic parameters of traditional New York City nightlife and art. The show's title, Photos of The Met, references The Metropolitan, a loft venue space and gallery in downtown Newark. The space is featured in some of the photos and stands as a representative example for any of the artist-run spaces that form the backdrop to many of the works in the show and the lives of those depicted.
Check out our photos from opening night below and be sure to see the show at Juxtapoz Projects before it closes on the 22nd!
All photos by Jessica Ross
