Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Getting Ready! Analog typed labels for participants photos! Hanging participant photography TODAY for our workshop exhibit at The Little Underground Gallery at the Jefferson Market Library​ in Greenwich Village from August 1 – October 1, 2018.

Opening this Friday 5-7PM! Free! Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/capturing-the-faces-voices-of-manhattans-neighborhood-storefronts-tickets-48448673286

We will also be serving refreshments provided by our generous sponsors including FREE pastry and cookies from Veniero's Pasticceria, assorted Cheeses from Murray's Cheese, Cold Brew Coffee from Joe's, Chocolates from See's candies, Assorted old-time Candies from Economy Candy, and beer from Lagunitas.



We are pleased to announce that we will be having an opening reception this Friday evening August 3rd from 5-7 pm

We are pleased to announce that we will be having an opening reception this Friday evening August 3rd from 5-7 pm for the free public workshops we held in partnership with the Neighborhood Preservation Center and resulting exhibition we are curating at the Little Underground Gallery at the Jefferson Market Library @jefferson_market_library 📚 in Greenwich Village.

The workshop and resulting exhibition taught participants how to use photography and oral history to raise awareness,build community, and encourage advocacy. Using our own vast collection of #storefront photographs and interviews with store owners as an example, the Participants learned how to create their own powerful photographs of neighborhood storefronts and connected with proprietors through interviews.

One of the generous sponsors of our free public program is C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries in Greenwich Village @cobigelow

During our reception we will also be serving FREE refreshments provided by other #momandpop shop sponsors including pastry and cookies from Veniero's Pasticceria @venierospastry, assorted Cheeses 🧀 from Murray's Cheese @murrayscheese, Cold Brew Coffee from Joe Coffee ☕️ @joecoffeecompany, Chocolates 🍫 from See's Candies @seescandies, Assorted old-time Candies from Economy Candy 🍭 @economycandy and beer 🍺 from Lagunitas.

The opening reception is this Friday August 3rd from 5-7pm @jefferson_market_library located at 425 Avenue of the Americas. The opening reception is FREE and OPEN to the PUBLIC but advance registration is recommended via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/capturing-the-faces-voices-of-manhattans-neighborhood-storefronts-tickets-48448673286


Monday, July 30, 2018

We will be leading a special “Mom-and-Pop Storefronts of the L.E.S.” Walking tour for $20/person this Saturday, August 4th from 1-3 pm

We will be leading a special “Mom-and-Pop Storefronts of the L.E.S.” Walking tour for $20/person this Saturday, August 4th from 1-3 pm to help raise funds for the free public workshops we held in partnership with the Neighborhood Preservation Center and exhibition we are mounting at the Little Underground Gallery at the Jefferson Market Library @jefferson_market_library in Greenwich Village.

The workshop and resulting exhibition taught participants how to use photography and oral history to raise awareness,build community, and encourage advocacy.

Our Storefront walking tour on Saturday August 4th from 1-3 pm, includes a stop at KOSSAR’S which has been in business since 1936. The @kossars bakery is famous for their freshly baked #bialys, which are chewy, flat, round rolls with a slightly depressed center containing onions. Kossar’s is the oldest remaining Bialy bakery in the United States. In 2016, new owners improved the bakery’s operations, modernized the storefront and production, converting it into more of a bagel shop than a production warehouse. Our #analog photo which appears in our book, “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York” was taken in 2005.

On our tour we will visit many shops in the Lower East Side and conclude the tour at the exhibition of our STORE FRONT photography at The Storefront Project Gallery @thestorefrontproject where we will speak with everyone about our passion for documenting mom-and-pop businesses. Advance registration for the tour is required as space is limited to 30 participants. Contact us for more info by DM or email us at jandkphoto@att.net


Sunday, July 29, 2018

We will be leading a special “Mom-and-Pop Storefronts of the L.E.S.” Walking Tour!

We will be leading a special “Mom-and-Pop Storefronts of the L.E.S.” Walking tour for $20/person next Saturday, August 4th from 1-3 pm to help raise funds for the free public workshops we held in partnership with the Neighborhood Preservation Center and exhibition we are mounting at the Little Underground Gallery at the Jefferson Market Library @jefferson_market_library 📚 in Greenwich Village. The workshop and resulting exhibition taught participants how to use photography and oral history to raise awareness,build community, and encourage advocacy. • Our Storefront walking tour on Saturday August 4th from 1-3 pm, includes a stop at the site of ABC TV which has been closed for many years. 📺. ABC TV was located on the ground floor of the former Loew’s Canal Theater building, a 1926 movie palace constructed in a Spanish baroque-style. On our tour we will visit many shops in the Lower East Side and conclude the tour at the exhibition of our STORE FRONT photography at The Storefront Project Gallery @thestorefrontproject where we will speak with everyone about our passion for documenting mom-and-pop businesses. Advance registration for the tour is required as space is limited to 30 participants. Contact us for more info by DM or email us at jandkphoto@att.net

"Diner Girl" Riley Arthur over at “Mom-and-Pops of the L.E.S.” for our Free Public Art Installation inside Seward Park, Lower East Side, NYC.

The installation will be up for an entire year from July 2018 through July 2019.


Saturday, July 28, 2018

We are pleased to announce that we will be leading a special “Mom-and-Pop Storefronts of the L.E.S.” walking tour!

We are pleased to announce that we will be leading a special “Mom-and-Pop Storefronts of the L.E.S.” Walking tour for $20/person next Saturday, August 4th from 1-3 pm to help raise funds for the free public workshops we held in partnership with the Neighborhood Preservation Center and exhibition we are mounting at the Little Underground Gallery at the Jefferson Market Library @jefferson_market_library 📚 in Greenwich Village.

The workshop and resulting exhibition taught participants how to use photography and oral history to raise awareness,build community, and encourage advocacy. Using our own vast collection of #storefront photographs and interviews with store owners as an example, the Participants learned how to create their own powerful photographs of neighborhood storefronts and connected with proprietors through interviews.

Our Storefront walking tour on Saturday August 4th from 1-3 pm, which includes a stop at Scarr’s Pizza 🍕 @scarrspizza will be approximately 2 hours and there is some walking involved as we will visit many shops in the Lower East Side and conclude the tour at the exhibition of our STORE FRONT photography at The Storefront Project Gallery @thestorefrontproject where we will speak with everyone about our passion for documenting mom-and-pop businesses.

The $20 payment in cash 💵 can be given to us at the start of the tour (starting address will be given upon registration) but please register in advance with us as space is limited to 30 participants. Contact us by DM or email us at jandkphoto@att.net




Friday, July 27, 2018

‘Store Front’ Photographer Karla Murray Races Against Time to Document ‘Fun and Funky’ NYC - Bedford + Bowery JULY 27, 2018 BY TARA YARLAGADDA

Full interview: http://bedfordandbowery.com/2018/07/store-front-photographer-karla-murray-races-against-time-to-document-fun-and-funky-nyc/#

"Longtime East Village photographers James and Karla Murrayinstalled a structure in Seward Park recreating the Lower East Side’s Cup and Saucer, which closed after more than 70 years in business. Now, they’ve set up a gallery show featuring photographs from their “Store Front” books just a few blocks away at The Storefront Project (70 Orchard Street). The exhibit, “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York,” pays homage to the mom-and-pop shops of the Lower East Side and will remain open through August 12. Bedford + Bowery chatted with Karla Murray about her hopes and thoughts on the changing neighborhood."


Target and the Tale of Two (Storefront) Tributes by Eddie Panta for Bowery Boogie

Full article: https://www.boweryboogie.com/2018/07/target-and-the-tale-of-two-storefront-tributes/

"The new exhibit –  (at The Storefront Project Gallery)- works in conjunction with current Seward Park installation – features some of New York City’s most iconic (lost) storefronts, including CBGB. And for some, it ended up being a bit of a healing session for longtime residents still stunned by the tone-deaf display wrapped around the corner of the new Extell tower on 14th Street and Avenue A."



Thursday, July 26, 2018

Thank you to all who came out to The Storefront Project Gallery for last night's opening!

The show is up until Aug. 12th...

We are excited to announce that we will be having an exhibition of our photographs documenting the disappearing storefronts of NYC at the Storefront Project Art Gallery located at 70 Orchard Street near Canal Street from July 25th - August 12, 2018. 
The gallery is located around the corner from our “Mom-and-Pops of the L.E.S.” at Seward Park!

Moe Albanese's granddaughter Jen with our photo of Albanese Meats & Poultry at The Storefront Project for last night's opening!

Hudson. With our photography hero David Godlis atThe Storefront Project for last night's opening!



Hudson. Photo by Bruce Pross

Beautiful flowers from legend Jimmy across the street at the amazing I NEED MORE! Thank you JIMMY! 

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Photography from our visit to Vipp's live in showroom for 6sqft...

Full photo essay link: https://www.6sqft.com/our-1600sqft-inside-the-tribeca-live-work-showroom-of-vipp-a-danish-tool-building-company/

"Today, Vipp is a third generation family-owned company run by Nielsen’s daughter, Jette Egelund, and her two children Kasper and Sofie. In addition to its classic bin, Vipp now offers a wide range of lifestyle products, from entire kitchens and bathrooms to tableware and lighting. Based in Copenhagen, Vipp came to the United States four years ago and opened a showroom in Tribeca. Sofie Christensen Egelund, along with her husband and business partner Frank Christensen, turned the showroom into their actual apartment, outfitted with Vipp products. The designer-couple gave 6sqft a tour of their live-work space and Sofie talked to us about the company’s design DNA, the move from Denmark to Manhattan and what it’s like to work together as a married couple."



Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Getting ready for our upcoming photography show at The Storefront Project 70 Orchard Street (near Grand Street)

The opening reception will be TOMORROW Wednesday, July 25th from 6-9pm and the exhibition will be on display until August 12, 2018. We hope everyone can join us and Hudson this Wednesday as we speak with everyone about our passion for documenting the amazing mom-and-pop stores of the five boroughs and our hope that our photos act as an artistic intervention to help raise awareness of their importance to the community.


Shops Come and Go. But 2 New York Photographers Don’t Want to Forget. The New York Times 07.24.18 by Laura M. Holson

Full Story LINK: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/24/nyregion/lower-east-side-katzs.html

"The Murrays have lived in the East Village for 22 years. And they have highlighted some of the family-owned stores they frequented in “Mom-and-Pops of the L.E.S.,” a mixed media art installation recently opened in Seward Park on the Lower East Side. All of the storefronts represented, except for Katz’s Delicatessen, have shuttered."


Monday, July 23, 2018

Hudson. Gallery hanging fun over at The Storefront Project 70 Orchard Street (near Grand Street) for our upcoming photography show.

The opening reception will be this Wednesday, July 25th from 6-9pm and the exhibition will be on display until August 12, 2018.

We hope everyone can join us and Hudson this Wednesday as we speak with everyone about our passion for documenting the amazing mom-and-pop stores of the five boroughs and our hope that our photos act as an artistic intervention to help raise awareness of their importance to the community.


Our #analog photo of Albanese Poultry & Meats from 2003 will be exhibited in our upcoming photography show at The Storefront Project

Our #analog photo of Albanese Poultry & Meats from 2003 will be exhibited in our upcoming photography show at The Storefront Project @thestorefrontproject at 70 Orchard Street (near Grand Street). The opening reception will be this Wednesday, July 25th from 6-9pm and the exhibition will be on display until August 12, 2018. We hope everyone can join us this Wednesday as we speak with everyone about our passion for documenting the amazing mom-and-pop stores of the five boroughs and our hope that our photos act as an artistic intervention to help raise awareness of their importance to the community.

ALBANESE MEATS & POULTRY has been in business on Elizabeth Street since 1923 and is the last Italian butcher shop in the NoLita neighborhood that was once part of Little Italy. Moe Albanese took over the business from his mother, Mariannina, who worked at the shop until she passed away at age ninety-seven. The storefront and interior are all original and even the butcher block, hooks, and scales have been used for nearly 100 years.


Saturday, July 21, 2018

Our RED signage collage will be included in an exhibition of our storefront photography at The Storefront Project

The Storefront Project @thestorefrontproject is located at 70 Orchard Street (near Grand Street) NYC
The show runs from July 25-August 12, 2018.
The opening reception for our “STORE FRONT: The Disappearing Face of New York” exhibition will be next Wednesday, July 25th 6-9pm.

Shown in the photo below is the 20 x 80 inch Red Signage Collage but it is available in a few sizes:
- 9 x 33 inch width image printed on 12 x 36 Kodak Professional Endura Glossy Paper Edition of 50 @ $250/print
- 11.75 x 44 inch width image printed on 20 x 48 inch width Fuji Crystal Archive DPII Glossy Edition of 15 @ $500/print
- 18 inch height x 68 inch width image printed on 20 x 80 inch (6 feet 6 inch width) width Fuji Crystal Archive DPII Glossy, Edition of10@$800/print

Custom sizing also available.


Friday, July 20, 2018

Pearl Paint, Chinatown, NYC

Our photo of Pearl Paint, 🎨 the iconic departed #artstore on Canal Street, will be included in an exhibition of our #storefront photography at The Storefront Project @thestorefrontproject located at 70 Orchard Street (near Grand Street), NYC from July 25-August 12, 2018. The opening reception for our “STORE FRONT: The Disappearing Face of New York” exhibition will be next Wednesday, July 25th 6-9pm.

We hope you can join us as we speak with everyone about our passion for photographing the many unique mom-and-pop stores that make each neighborhood of New York City as diverse as its residents.


Thursday, July 19, 2018

Thank you Kristen Shaughnessy Bush for NY1!

"Mom and Pop stores are disappearing - so photographers JamesandKarla Murray created this art installation on the Lower East Side to illustrate the importance of shopping local. It’s in the Southwest corner of Seward Park - my shooting adventures continue, this time in 95 degree heat" 

https://www.facebook.com/kristen.s.bush/videos/10216743259114091/?fref=mentions



Vanishing Mom and Pop Store Signs. Design Observer 07.19.18 by Steven Heller

LINK: https://designobserver.com/feature/vanishing-mom-and-pop-store-signs/39878

"For various civic, voyeuristic, and nostalgic reasons James and Karla Murray are New York’s sign and storefront docu-saviors. ...  Each image is a deceiving trop l’oeil of the real thing that they call a “big-ature.” It is a mix-up of aesthetics of unique vernacular lettering, typefaces, elements of mid-century modern, art deco, and classic New York styles — “a true representation of the varied immigrants who founded these shops.”




Busy getting everything framed! 7.25 save the date!!

We are excited to announce that we will be having an exhibition of Karla and James’s photographs documenting the disappearing storefronts of NYC at The Storefront Project Art Gallery located at 70 Orchard Street near Grand Street from July 25th - August 12, 2018.. • Follow the @thestorefrontproject

The opening celebration for "STORE FRONT: The Disappearing Face of New York" will be NEXT WEEK on Wednesday, July 25th from 6-9 pm.  http://www.storefrontproject.com/upcoming

The @thestorefrontproject gallery is located around the corner from Karla and James’s “Mom-and-Pops of the L.E.S.” sculptural public art installation at Seward Park, the oldest public park in Manhattan. You must go to park and check it out!!!!!! The purpose of the installation is to help raise awareness of the importance of mom-and-pop shops to the local community.




Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Live video: Mom & pop shops reappear in Seward Park thanks to @jamesandkarla, #uniqloartexpressions, #artintheparks!

Watch the video: https://www.pscp.tv/NYCParks/1vOxwVBlVngJB




Photography from our visit to a beautiful Prospect Park South co-op for 6sqft...

LINK: https://www.6sqft.com/my-1500sqft-creative-couple-amy-and-brian-show-off-their-newly-renovated-prospect-park-south-co-op/

"...this creative couple was able to mix their styles to create a comfortable home that uses clean lines and crisp architectural elements as a backdrop for their more eclectic finds and textures. Amy and Brian recently gave 6sqft a tour of their recently completed two-bedroom apartment and shared how the reno process went, how they mixed their aesthetics, and what it’s like living with two 80+ pound pups."

STORE FRONT I & II Minis spotted from the window over on Broadway in the Flatiron District at Rizzoli New York, just now...


We are excited to announce that we will be having an exhibition of our #storefront photography at The Storefront Project @thestorefrontproject located at 70 Orchard Street NYC from July 25-August 12, 2018.

The opening reception for our “STORE FRONT: The Disappearing Face of New York” exhibition will be Wednesday, July 25th 6-9pm.

One of our photos that we will be exhibiting is Mars Bar. This #analog photo was taken in 2005 and appears in our book "Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York". Roy, who passed away in 2010, was a fixture outside of this iconic #divebar and could also be found inside in the morning prepping it for the day. In 2011, this neighborhood bar closed after being in business since 1984 and the whole building was demolished to make way for a luxury apartment building. Today, a shiny glass TD Bank branch stands in its place.

We hope you can join us for our opening celebration 🎉 Wednesday, July 25th from 6-9pm @thestorefrontproject 70 Orchard Street in the Lower East Side (located directly across the street from one of our favorite clothing shops @ixneedxmore)!


Sunday, July 15, 2018

Coffee Shop, Union Square,NYC

Coffee Shop in Union Square was founded in 1990. It became known not for its #diner food with a Brazilian twist but for its atmosphere and clientele. Sadly due to rising rents and costs associated with having a very large staff, it will be closing in October. We love ❤️its #vintage #neonsign which was installed circa 1960 when the space operated as a Greek Diner. We are not sure what will become of the #neon but hope that it is saved!


Saturday, July 14, 2018

Mom-and-Pops of the L.E.S. opening celebration at Seward Park, Lower East Side, NYC

Karla with Jean-Emmanuel Shein, Director of Global Corporate Social Responsibility at UNIQLO USA and Jake Dell, third-generation owner of Katz's Delicatessen at "Mom-and-Pops of the L.E.S." official opening celebration inside Seward Park. We can’t thank @uniqlousa enough for partnering with @nycparks to offer the grant making program #UNIQLOParkExpression, which made our public art installation possible. Also huge thanks to @jakedell and @katzsdeli for the inspiration and support as we envisioned and realized this project!


"Looks what's in store" NY Post (print) 07.14.18 by Suzy Weiss

Online link: https://nypost.com/2018/07/13/theres-more-to-this-bodega-than-meets-the-eye/

We hope you can stop by Seward Park today for our official opening party from 1- 3 pm with free pickles from Pickle Guys, free candy from Economy Candy and Hudson. Thank you Veniero's for all your help.


Friday, July 13, 2018

Hudson. Over at B&H Dairy Kosher Restaurant, East Village, NYC, just now...

Challah bread (buttered) treat fun over at B&H Dairy Kosher Restaurant from owner "Ola" Aleksandra Abdelwahed, photographer hero David Godlis and K, on 2nd Ave near St Marks, East Village, NYC, just now... (Delicious pancakes eaten over at Abe Lebewohl Park)



Thursday, July 12, 2018

Free PICKLES! Free CANDY! HUDSON!

Please join us for our opening celebration 🎉 for our art installation “Mom-and-Pops of the L.E.S.” on Saturday, July 14th from 1-3 pm inside Seward Park (Essex Street at East Broadway).

We will be talking with everyone about our installation and the inspiration behind it and there will be free pickles at the opening courtesy of @pickleguys and free candy 🍭 🍬🍫 courtesy of @economycandy.

• Economy Candy has been in business since 1937 and specializes in hard-to-find chocolates 🍫, candies, nuts and dried fruits. When we interviewed the 2nd-generation owner, Jerry Cohen, for our book "Store Front II-A History Preserved" he told us that "we sell mostly old nostalgia-type candy....the inventory is basically everything that I like to eat." This #candyshop is now being run by the third-generation owner Mitch Cohen who has generously donated an assortment of candy for our opening.




Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Photos from our visit to social media expert and doodle mom Paige Chernick’s studio on the Upper East Side for 6sqft...

LINK: https://www.6sqft.com/my-600sqft-inside-the-upper-east-side-studio-of-two-doodles-and-their-social-media-savvy-momager/

"Paige Chernick’s Upper East Side apartment is immaculate, with everything in its place, no clutter in sight and not even one strand of dog hair. Besides the poufy poodles greeting you at the door, there are no immediate signs that dogs really live here. And then, upon closer examination, you’ll see the basket of plush dog toys in the corner, the framed photos of sister doodles Charlie and Sawyer wearing bathrobes in a tub and the spacious closet reserved just for their stuff.
While you may not be familiar with Paige, who is a Long Island native and social media manager, you probably know her dogs."

Monday, July 9, 2018

Hudson. New "Mom-and-Pops of the LES" signage fun over at Seward Park, Lower East Side, NYC, just now...

Please join us for our opening celebration 🎉 for our art installation “Mom-and-Pops of the L.E.S.” on Saturday, July 14th from 1-3 pm inside Seward Park (Essex Street at East Broadway). We will be talking with everyone about our installation and the inspiration behind it and there will be free pickles at the opening courtesy of Pickle Guys.


Hudson. Sunday fun over on The Lower East Side, NYC


Saturday, July 7, 2018

Thank you to all who joined us yesterday for our "Mom-and-Pops of the LES" walking tour for Untapped Cities!

We were lucky to be joined by Michelle Miles, owner of Daredevil Tattoo, one of the shops we visited! We can’t thank Michelle and all of our supporters enough.

Dare Devil Tattoo in the Lower East Side was founded by Michelle Myles and Brad Fink in 1997, which is the very same year, the art form of #tatooing was legalized in New York City. @daredeviltattoo was forced after a 50% rent increase to leave their original location on Ludlow Street, (which we photographed in 2004 for our book “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York”). Their new #tattoo shop location on Division Street as seen in this photo, is steps away from Seward Park and also functions as a museum of Tattooing and Tattoo culture.


Sunset over the East Village, NYC, last night...


Friday, July 6, 2018

TODAY we are leading a special guided walkthrough of our art installation "Mom-and-Pops of the L.E.S." for Untapped Cities Insiders @untappedcities.

Guests will get an insider’s peek into the installation process, learn about the inspiration behind creating it, and visit some wonderful local mom-and-pop businesses surrounding the Seward Park. The “Mom-and-Pops of the L.E.S.” installation features near life-sized photographs of neighborhood stores, some that no longer exist, and was created to raise awareness of the importance of mom-and-pop shops to the fabric of the community.

One of the places we will be visiting on the walking tour of the neighborhood surrounding Seward Park is REGINA’S, an Italian deli which opened in 2017 that is named for the owner’, Roman Grandinetti’s mother. Roman told us that he wanted everyone to feel like they were in Regina’s kitchen when you enter the store and that you feel like your home. He modeled the interior after the pork shops he went to as a kid growing up in Bensonhurst. The Italian 🇮🇹sandwiches they sell are inspired by family members, including Uncle Jimmy, Grandma Lucy, Big Anthony, and Cousin Vinny. Regina’s incorporated the ghost lettering from the previous tenant changing the “SHIRTS” to “REGINA’S”. We absolutely love this #momandpopsles shop and look forward to visiting it tomorrow with our guests.

Please follow our dedicated art installation page @momandpopsles to learn more about our public art installation and its purpose.