Adam Bernstein, Into the Abyss, 2016
Inkjet print on Kodak Endura Luster Paper
16 x 24 inches
Edition of 20
 
Purchase a photo from our exhibition Peripheral! Being at a concert with a crowd of people right on top of each other feels like something from the past. Most of us are longing to be at a show, in the presence of energy, spontaneously responding to live music, friends and other humans around us. The exhibition, Peripheral, features a selection of photographs by Adam Bernstein taken at a concert in the historic Tompkins Square Park, the heart of the East Village, in New York City. The concert took place on July 23, 2016, a year very unlike where we are now; the beginning, shall we say, of the distrust, disgust and fatigue we now know too well.
 
The event shown in the photos was a free outdoor benefit show put on by several bands to help the guitarist Dr. Know from legendary punk rock band Bad Brains. Fans were not only supporting the cause but supporting each other in feeling the power of collective human energy and freedom. In the chaos of the mosh pit, fans pick each other up, something we feel is important to highlight, when one goes down there are others to lift us up.
 
Photographer Adam Bernstein explains the feeling of unity that day: “The atmosphere was positive and upbeat and the fans were having an amazing time. Unity was in the air. The crowd was one giant family supporting each other and feeding off of each other’s collective energy. It was the summer of 2016 and as always in our country there was an anti-government sentiment which was mentioned on stage a few times. Despite the anti-government sentiment, the crowd was mindful of each other and took caution to keep the event's positive atmosphere peaceful and safe.”