The 1958 Esquire Magazine photo that started it all:
And with the rise of Hip Hop, XXL Magazine (in 1998) did this riff with Gordon Parks as the photographer:
Unfortunately, an ill-timed shadow marred the photo.
However, fewer people know that Gordon Parks’ also paid homage to the Art Kane 1958 original in 1995.
Parks wanted to reflect on the passing of a jazz generation and managed to get 10 of the 12 remaining musicians from the Art Kane photo to return to East Harlem. Once there, Parks photographed them standing where they had stood in 1958. The boarded-up facade of the now dilapidated brownstone in the image emphasized the absent musicians who had died.
Aria Madness
Music and Mentoring House is presenting a series of Saturday performances:
Music and Mentoring House, Inc is a fiscally sponsored project of Black Women Playwrights’ Group. All donation amounts are greatly appreciated and a very important contribution to continuing our efforts to serve artists of all disciplines. Black Women Playwrights’ Group is an IRS recognized 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law.
A shout-out to Harlem Bespoke who mentioned this Pathe 8 minute film of stock images of New York City in 1963:
If you want to focus on the short section on Harlem, scrub over to 5:15 on the YouTube video.
Janes Walk – A Great Day In Harlem
Join members of Landmark East Harlem (LEH) for a walk around a roughly 12-block area that LEH has proposed for listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. A residential section with clear borders, it retains much of its original Victorian character, with long rows of Italianate and neo-Grec brownstones punctuated by the spires of neo-Gothic churches. The earliest buildings date to the time when Harlem was a rural village not yet annexed to the City of New York. The area also includes clusters of new-law tenements dating from the turn of the 20th century, ultramodern townhouses, tasteful contemporary conversions, 32 New York City landmarks, and the brownstone stoop that served as the site of Art Kane’s iconic 1958 photo, “A Great Day in Harlem.” A virtual tour will be available at www.landmarkeastharlem.org
05/06/2023 01:00 PM – 02:15 PM
ACCESSIBILITY
Walking around neighborhood, will be slow walking pace and wheelchair access, but uneven surfaces. All of tour takes place on sidewalk.
LOCATION INFORMATION
RSVP is required and capacity is limited. Meeting location, ending location, and directions will be provided via email before walk date.
If you’ve ever wondered why Art Kane chose East 126th Street for his iconic photo, here is his explanation:
And, while 17 East 126th Street was the ultimate location, few know that in the middle of the project, everyone moved a block eastward, to 52 East 126th Street, but after a few test photos (and dissatisfaction with 52) the whole group returned to 17 East 126th Street where the final photos were taken, and A Great Day In Harlem was born.
Below is 52 East 126th Street – the building is demolished – that awaits redevelopment as an Odyssey House facility.
Come join the fun on October 8, 2021, to plant 35 apple, plum, and pear trees as well as blueberries and blackberries.
The planting will mitigate poor air quality in East Harlem, a neighborhood that is polluted by multiple truck and commuter routes and faces devastating impacts of climate change including heatwaves.
Since 2017, vitafusion Gummy Vitamins and the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation have partnered to create the vitafusion Fruit Tree Project. So far, the project has planted over 200,000 fruit trees around the globe, with tree planting and/or distribution events in the U.S. and internationally.
These fruit trees have helped increase access to 28 million pieces of fresh fruit in underserved communities, combat global pollution by reducing CO2, and generate 33 million pounds of oxygen each year.
These fruit trees have helped increase access to 28 million pieces of fresh fruit in underserved communities, combat global pollution by reducing CO2, and generate 33 million pounds of oxygen each year.
Since 2008, Concrete Safaris has prepared youth in East Harlem and beyond to lead healthy lives and shape their environment through outdoor education, play, exploration, and community engagement.
Approximately 400 daily, direct-service participants are enrolled in after-school or internships, and 5,000+ community members get active outdoors at the garden and street-based events led by youth in East Harlem.
Approximately 400 daily, direct-service participants are enrolled in after-school or internships, and 5,000+ community members get active outdoors at the garden and street-based events led by youth in East Harlem.
To attend the planting event, local event hosts are requiring proof of COVID vaccination or a negative COVID test taken within the prior 72 hours and masks. The event remains rain or shine, and experience is not necessary.
Interested? Great, here’s the details on Friday, October 8th: Meet at 10:30 am EST outside Jefferson Houses Management Office at 300 East 115th Street New York, NY, the Planting will begin at 11:00 am.
Harlem would get two new connectors that would allow families, joggers, and cyclists to ride around Manhattan, traffic free.
This is a huge project that involves years of engineering and environmental impact analysis, but it really could be a game-changer for enaging with the waterfront in a car-free environment.
On August 13th, youth interns (ages 14-24) enrolled in the Outdoor Play Cohort at Concrete Safaris’ Outdoor Leadership Academy will host JungleGym 2021 Summer Series, a NYC Open Streets event, celebrating its 14th birthday party and 9th annual obstacle race and active living fair on East 106th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues. A 20-obstacle race and active living fair for children (ages 5+) and their families will run from 1:00 to 5:00pm.
The Youth Host Photo Expo & Streetscape Garden Tour will take place on Friday, August 13th from 10:00am to 1:00pm on Second Avenue between 112th and 115th Streets.
In addition, Youth Host Virtual Photo Expo will take place on the same day from 2:00 to 5:00pm.
This event will bring youth interns (ages 14-24) enrolled in the Gardening & Health Media Cohorts at Concrete Safaris’ Outdoor Leadership Academy to host an Outdoor Photo Expo and Streetscape Garden Tour at Jefferson Gardens at Jefferson Houses, 300 East 115th Street in East Harlem. In addition, an online Photo Expo at concrete safaris.org will take place from 2:00 to 5:00pm.
28th Precinct’s Build the Block – Friday
A Great Day in Harlem on Thursday!
The Celebration of this historic street co-naming event will take place on Thursday, August 12th from 2:00 to 4:00pm. The entrance for guests will be at East 126th Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues. Click here to Register. This is a free event.
“Uptown is proud to honor the deep-rooted history of jazz here in Harlem, along with the visionary man who conceived and took this iconic photo more than 60 years ago,” shared Diane Collier, Chair of Uptown Grand Central. “Along with the Harlem/East Harlem residents, we are pleased to memorialize this wonderful event with a street sign on the block where it all happened.”
Harlem Week is On
Find out more about fantastic Harlem Week events here:
I am writing to invite you to the co-naming the block of 126th Street between Madison & Fifth as “Art Kane: Harlem 1958 Place.”
This is in celebration of the historic jazz photograph that is sometimes called “A Great Day In Harlem” — but is actually called “Harlem 1958” — which was taken in front of the brownstone at 17 East 126th Street.
The naming ceremony will take place on the afternoon of next Thursday, August 12, with a concert by Jazzmobile and short remarks by Jonathan Kane, the son of the original photographer:
Harlem 1958 street co-naming Corner of 126th & Madison Thursday, August 12 2 p.m. — Reception 2:45 p.m. — Remarks by Jonathan Kane, moderated by our very own G. Keith Alexander 3 p.m. — Jazzmobile concert 3:30 p.m. — Street sign unveiling
We’d love it if you are able to join us. The two musicians from the photo who are still living (Benny Golson & Sonny Rollins) are unable to attend due to their age, but will be sending written remarks.
If you are able to attend, please respond here on the Eventbrite. (And, if you know of neighbors we missed, please let me know!)
