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Author and photographer John Lazzaro discusses his book, “A Vanishing New York: Ruins Across the Empire State” at Montauk Library on November 19. COURTESY THE AUTHOR
Join author and photographer John Lazzaro at Montauk Library on Sunday, November 19, at 2:30 p.m. for a presentation of his recently published book, “A Vanishing New York: Ruins Across the Empire State.” The book is a photo essay commemorating New York’s abandoned historical structures that captures their macabre beauty and fascinating stories.
Providing a unique perspective on New York’s past, Lazzaro’s book explores over 40 abandoned sites in the Empire State. His presentation at the Montauk Library will include his approach to photography, the inspiration for his book and a thought-provoking history of the sites he photographed.
New York is filled with abandoned buildings that have been shuttered and abandoned in the name of modernization, although each one has a place in history that is well worth preserving. As John Lazzaro traveled throughout the state, he captured images of what remains of deteriorating sites that attest to the impact of social, cultural, and political changes from the Catskills’ once-vibrant vacation destinations to Long Island’s melancholic psychiatric centers.
John Lazzaro is an author, documentary photographer, and documentary filmmaker based on Long Island. By capturing images of abandoned buildings in New York State and other parts of the U.S., Lazzaro creates realistic, yet macabre records of America’s vanishing architectural legacy. He holds a bachelor’s degree in film and television studies from the University of Vermont and an master’s degree in interactive media from Quinnipiac University. Lazzaro is a member of The Firefly Gallery in Northport and has displayed his photography at the Salmagundi Art Club, fotofoto gallery, Alex Ferrone Gallery, Praxis Gallery, Long Island Photo Gallery, and the Old Town Arts & Crafts Guild as well as in Untapped New York, Long Island Herald and The New York Post.
In addition to “A Vanishing New York: Ruins Across the Empire State,” Lazzaro is also the author of “The Walls Still Talk: A Photographic Journey Through Kings Park Psychiatric Center.”
Register for the talk at montauklibrary.org/events or call 631-668-3377. Montauk Library is at 871 Montauk Highway, Montauk.
Staff Writer on Nov 10, 2023