was the first stop on photographer James Houston’s global touring exhibition for his fourth book, Move, which he's using to raise money for HIV/AIDS charities. As in a typical art exhibition, Houston’s dramatic black-and-white photographs of professional dancers were the focus of the event, sponsored, like the book, by Hugo Boss. But he took the presentation a step beyond the gallery walls, bringing his high-energy images to life with a gravity-defying performance by dancers from Complexions Contemporary Ballet Company, many of whom donated their time to be photographed for Move.
As the dancers twisted, turned, and flew through the air, a crowd of more than 500, including host Hugh Jackman, sipped champagne and noshed on hors d’oeuvres like mini sliders and risotto balls from NoLIta restaurant Public. Afterward, Houston introduced a two-minute excerpt from a documentary on the making of his book by New York-based filmmaker Richard LeMay, projected onto a gallery wall.
Throughout the large, open gallery, Houston took a minimalist approach to decor, displaying framed photographs and a striking back-lit poster of images from the book that he created with design studio Color One. The prints were suspended from the ceiling and, in some cases, fashioned into hanging cubes, lit from within by a red light bulb to cast a dramatic glow.
“James is very visionary. From the design of the book to the event’s decor, he wanted everything to be done in black and white with a bit of red to add color and act as a symbol of AIDS awareness,” said Philip Parrotta of marketing and event management company ImageBar, who helped manage the event and spent the previous day hanging photographs with Houston.
After a five-day showing in New York, the exhibition will head to London and Sydney.
—Lisa Cericola
