In photographer David Godlis' handsome new book, Godlis Streets, with an introduction by kindred spirit Jim Jarmusch, he captures a piece of NYC's soul. Eric Davidson caught up with Godlis for PKM.
Though this is the third published interview I’ve done wth ace NYC photographer, David Godlis, he never fails to bring another crazed story or three, not to mention great memories and viewpoints on New York. Known mainly for his incredible shots of the early CBGB days, his latest book, Godlis Streets, collects his equally amazing street photography from the late ‘70s/early ‘80s. Check out my interview with Godlis above, and these pix from the book that aren’t in the piece...
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A few photos from 'Godlis: Miami,' launching TONIGHT, THURS, NOV 4 at 6:30 PM in Coral Gables @booksandbooks !! @historymiami & @reelartpress join in this in-person celebration featuring David @godlis in conversation with @jzamanillo Please register via linkinbio. Or, to pre-order a signed copy of the book, go to Books & Books' website and enter code SIGNED at checkout Please be aware that at this time, masks are still required inside for all Books & Books events by all patrons. Event attendance is capped at 30 for everyone's safety. Thank you for your cooperation. #godlis #godlismiami #davidgodlis #70smiami https://www.instagram.com/p/CV28UO6lEdU/?utm_medium=tumblr
THURS, NOV 4 at 6:30 PM @booksandbooks Coral Gables, @historymiami & @reelartpress present an in-person evening with David @godlis in conversation with @jzamanillo discussing 'Godlis: Miami.' Please register via linkinbio. Or, to pre-order a signed copy of the book, go to Books & Books' website and enter code SIGNED at checkout Please be aware that at this time, masks are still required inside for all Books & Books events by all patrons. Event attendance is capped at 30 for everyone's safety. Thank you for your cooperation. #godlis #godlismiami #davidgodlis #70smiami https://www.instagram.com/p/CV0aoGUJylo/?utm_medium=tumblr
Photos from 'Godlis Streets,' launching 5PM EST TONIGHT, Thurs, 11/19, with a @rizzolibookstore Zoom event featuring @godlis in conversation with @luxante @christein and moderator Dave Brolan of @reelartpress⠀ ⠀ When he is on the street armed with his camera, photographer David Godlis (born 1951) describes himself as “a gunslinger and a guitar picker all in one.” Ever since he bought his first 35mm camera in 1970, Godlis has made it his mission to capture the world on film just as it appears to him in reality.⠀ ⠀ Godlis is most famous for his images of the city’s punk scene and serving as the unofficial official photographer for the Film Society of Lincoln Center. For 40 years, his practice has also consisted of walking around the streets of New York City and shooting whatever catches his eye: midnight diner patrons, stoop loiterers, commuters en route to the nearest subway station. With an acute sense of both humor and pathos, Godlis frames everyday events in a truly arresting manner.⠀ ⠀ This publication presents Godlis’ best street photography from the 1970s and ’80s in a succinct celebration of New York’s past. The book is introduced by an essay written by cultural critic Luc Sante and closes with an afterword written by Blondie cofounder and guitarist Chris Stein.⠀ ⠀ Signed copies available via @rizzolibookstore⠀ ⠀ Event link in bio.⠀ ⠀ #godlisstreets #davidgodlis #godlis #lucsante #chrisstein #70snyc #80snyc #streetphotography https://www.instagram.com/p/CHyMPxVJ6wB/?igshid=114cyrysj2l78
Photos from 'Godlis Streets,' launching 5PM EST TONIGHT, Thurs, 11/19, with a @rizzolibookstore Zoom event featuring @godlis in conversation with @luxante @christein and moderator Dave Brolan of @reelartpress⠀ ⠀ Stein writes: "… This stuff borders on the magical. The juxtapositions are amazing. How long did he wait for these people, shapes and hidden messages to interact so fantastically? Is it eye, luck, synchronicity, practice, skill or all of it? ⠀ ⠀ A woman with two kids sits in a museum looking at a painting of a woman sitting with two kids. Two rather conservative women pass by a lurid X-rated movie poster. It’s like these moments are posed but in a way they’re too good and succinct to be staged. ⠀ ⠀ It’s just the heightened reality that’s all around us all the time but that usually remains unobserved. Maybe David’s mission is like capturing the sound of the tree falling in the forest that nobody hears. ⠀ ⠀ And the time travel. Characters and people whose style and substance are so familiar yet so antiquated. We know and miss the old cities. ⠀ ⠀ David don’t be daunted by my effusiveness, somebody’s got to say it."⠀ ⠀ Signed copies available via @rizzolibookstore⠀ ⠀ Event link in bio.⠀ ⠀ #godlisstreets #davidgodlis #godlis #lucsante #chrisstein #70snyc #80snyc #streetphotography https://www.instagram.com/p/CHx81DCpqir/?igshid=g9mqqf5o9s2m
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Photos from 'Godlis Streets,' Reel Art Press's riveting new collection of 70s and 80s Boston & NYC street photography by David @godlis Launching 5PM EST TONIGHT, Thurs, 11/19, with a @rizzolibookstore Zoom event featuring @luxante & @christein who both contribute texts to the book, this is seedy, stylish and celebratory old-school time travel at its best. ⠀ ⠀ "Godlis’s pictures show people uneasily enacting half-forgotten rituals, wearing vestigial dress-up clothes and timidly asserting spatial autonomy, in a city that seems to have been erected and abandoned by another, larger species," Sante writes. "Time moves haltingly, hesitantly, and seems to loop back on itself even as it draws inexorably toward death.… The subjects who notice his camera are wary at best, wondering whether he is a spy, or perhaps harvesting their souls, or maybe they wish he’d been there to take their pictures when they still looked good and the world made sense."⠀ ⠀ Signed copies available via @rizzolibookstore⠀ ⠀ Event link in bio.⠀ ⠀ #godlisstreets #davidgodlis #godlis #lucsante #chrisstein #70snyc #80snyc #streetphotography https://www.instagram.com/p/CHxlFsmJA8s/?igshid=2avvkia8woqo
Kick back with Please Kill Me’s Top 10 stories of 2019…starring Jack Casady and his magic bass, the truly trippy tales of the Trident (where you could get anything you want), enjoy Bebe Buell’s “theft” of Stiv Bators, gasp at the murder of Alfalfa and death of Sgt. Carter (“sha-ZAMMM!”), mourn the passing of Karen Carpenter and the Ramones but rejoice at their rebirth and revival, flashback with the street photography of Godlis, dig the roots of erotic cinema, and feast your ears on the first generation of female rock bands.
Wherein, my interview piece with the amazing street photographer, David Godlis, is surrounded by 9 more wild tales! It’s been a true pleasure to write for Please Kill Me -- the ongoing online extension of the classic punk rock tome. Keep an eye out for more from me there in 2020!
SOME STUFF CUT FROM MY GODLIS PIECE
The endless 0s and 1s of the internet allow for far more pontificating than print media. Which is of course mostly a bad thing. Most writers need editors, and I have a good one at Please Kill Me. In his thoughtful wisdom, he needed to chop some stuff from my long piece with Godlis. It’s cool, I am definitely no diva when it comes to chopping up my work.
But there was some talk Godlis and I had about his ongoing battle with MS (Multiple Sclerosis). My dad also had MS, so in memory of him -- and my chance to have such an involved chat with one of my favorite photographers -- I thought I’d add in here (below the photos) the full MS section for your perusal. This shift in Godlis’ life came up right about the time he was starting to move on from the CBGB’s scene that his photos have helped define for the ages.
Thanks again David Godlis, and dad!
Ramones @CBGB, 1977 - Photo by Godlis
Dead Boys @ CBGB, 1977 - Photo by Godlis
Times Square, 1980 - Photo by Godlis
L-R: Eric Davidson, David Godlis - 72 Gallery, Manhattan, 4/19
