Blank Generation: Downtown New York 1970s–80s

Blank Generation presents a panoramic visual survey of the tectonically shifting arts culture of the 1970s–80s in downtown New York City, and the raw and dynamic new ideas in music, film, art, literature, graffiti, fashion, queer culture, and performance that it spawned. The bleak and bankrupt NYC of Travis Bickle and Ratso Rizzo felt like a city teetering on the verge of collapse, but in the dive bars, abandoned buildings, and squats of the grimiest neighborhoods, a cultural renaissance was taking place. 

The iconoclastic writers, musicians, scenesters, performers, outsiders, and other creators whose life and work energized this underground world had a profound and continuing impact on mainstream global culture. The exhibition features photography, film, and photo-based work by influential artists living and creating in that petri dish of inspiration, as well as documentary photography and ephemeral material including posters, fliers, and publications.

The diverse New York underground community was populated by people who needed to create—for whom ideas, authenticity, and innovation were far more important than aesthetics or commercial success. Hence the works in Blank Generation are layered, delving into significant and often uncomfortable social issues, new ways of communication, and cultural touchpoints. In many cases, the image is not the end game, but rather a means to visually communicate an often-complex underlying story or idea.

In conjunction with Blank Generation, Alternate Projects presents a pop-up shop featuring a curated selection of rare artist publications, ephemera, artwork, and photographs.

Artists: Charlie Ahearn, Roberta Bayley, Jimmy DeSana, Darrel Ellis, Barbara Ess, Allen Frame, Godlis, Nan Goldin, Bob Gruen, Richard Hambleton, Keith Haring, Peter Hujar, Richard Kern, Marcus Leatherdale, Judy Linn, Robert Mapplethorpe, Ari Marcopoulos, Gordon Matta-Clark, Peter Moore, Mark Morrisroe, Jamie Nares, Franc Palaia, Steven Parrino, Jack Pierson, Ricky Powell, Mick Rock, Tabboo!, Gail Thacker, Alan Vega, John Waters, David Wojnarowicz, Russell Young

Curator: George Kurz, Independent Curator; and Michael Lowe, Founder of Michael Lowe Gallery