New York Public Library Acquires East Village Eye Archive
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Loading... - Adrian Winkler
- 07 Mar 2023
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he New York Public Library has acquired the collection of the East Village Eye, the 1980s newspaper that documented the development of the East Village and played a pivotal role in establishing the “downtown scene” during a transformative decade.
“The New York Public Library is committed to preserving the rich and diverse history of New York City, from its earliest years through the 20th and 21st centuries. In unparalleled detail, the records of the East Village Eye capture a neighborhood, a city, and a culture during one of the most complex and controversial decades in New York’s history,” said Julie Golia, Associate Director, Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books and Charles J. Liebman Curator of Manuscripts.
“In real time, the Eye chronicled the evolution of the punk movement, the growth of hip-hop, the rise of HIV/AIDS, and the early careers of Basquiat, Mapplethorpe, Fab Five Freddy, and many others—along with the stores, bars, dance halls, and other locations that shaped everyday life in the East Village. We look forward to welcoming scholars, students, artists, and many other researchers to explore this remarkable collection.”
Founded in 1979 by Leonard Abrams, who served as its editor-in-chief throughout its eight-year run, the Eye was a small publication, but one with global cultural reach. At its height, it boasted a circulation of about 10,000 copies a month, which included newsstand sales in New York City and at various outposts across the United States, as well as subscribers from around the world. Contributors included resident advice columnist Cookie Mueller, Richard Hell, and David Wojnarowicz, and the newspaper featured images from dozens of acclaimed photographers early in their careers, from Patrick McMullan to Andres Serrano. Read More..
