When I returned back to NYC late November 2020, I found myself in awe;
tears as I stood in front of my supply store for No Service-my jewelry/fashion brand. We all cope with loss in different ways... here is my way of coping with loss.
It was the COVID-19 pandemic and I was tired of making masks day in and day out. This was something I had started because I had the supplies and skill to make masks quickly during a time of limited resources. However, in the midst of all this I began getting more jewelry orders again.
I found myself feeling empty- the stores I’d followed for 16 years were gone, my USA vendors were gone. I couldn’t fulfill my orders since everything was custom and handmade by me, my supplies purchased in these stores were now unobtainable. The buildings that always looked so shiny and colorful with new crystals in their windows were replaced with boards and “For Rent” signs plastered ugly in its place.
I walked to my neighborhood deli in Williamsburg and they were permanently shut down. I wanted to eat my feelings away at my favorite restaurant but even they had a “For Rent” sign draped in the window.
I came home and searched online for the places I had just seen closed down- they were no longer listed. This began a new journey for me.
I’ve always found comfort in music, as I’m sure most of you do as well. I’ve named my project after my favorite artist of all time, a daily inspiration.
Forget me not or I'll forget myself...
Every pretty flower,
Every lovely flower,
Every deadly flower
“Flowers” by- Rozz Williams
My project consists of polaroids of permanently shut down places with my Fuji camera, I’ve given the name “Flowers”. I like the idea that they are being photographed and printed at the location. It means more to me to have an actual photograph that was once there with them.
I’ve been to 1,000 of their wakes- I’ve stood outside with the construction workers, former owners, employees, customers, the regulars. These stores, restaurants, bars- once so vibrant with life, now sit dark, empty, and alone. It’s only getting worse, more and more places are closing down. There are #saveourstages events which are helping small venues and bands to have a place to come back to. I’m hoping I can post these and it will help in some way too; bring some light back during this time of darkness.
There are three lists that I’m following online as resources to track restaurant and bar closures. At first, 500 articles came out and I wasn’t sure I could photograph them all, it’s only me & Flowers on this project. I stopped posting online because I didn't want to commit to something that I couldn’t finish. Today I’m at about 1,000 and have about 300 more to do.
These locations have been removed from Google Maps, their websites greet you with an ERROR notification, social media pages now nonexistent. Some of these places are hard to find that they actually even existed. I’m not a historian by any means. I’m just an artist who likes to create things. I’ve done my research on every single one of these places! I look at Yelp review dates and google maps from 2020 to see if they were open at this time. Some may have closed down right before Covid, but we will find out when I post them and you can help by commenting any info you may have. I’ve captured the small Mom-and-Pop stores, the local cleaners, the spas, supply stores, etc. The small “hole in the wall” places that I actually always were more fond of. I have their goodbye letters as well- which I will share.