ART BASEL 2008

My maternity portraits are the latest projects I have passionately pursued with my camera. (www.bellafamigliaphotography.com) I was inspired to be a photographer by the images my father shot in his years as Director of Photography at The Miami Daily News. One of his young protégés, Michael O’Brien, was drawn with a mission to photograph the underprivileged living in Miami’s poorest neighborhoods, resulting in numerous awards and interest. This lead to my project called “THE CORRIDOR.” I documented the neighborhoods between I-95 and the railroad tracks to the east from Deerfield Beach to Overtown. I return every nine years to re-photograph five of the subjects and show how their lives have changed. (www.charlestrainorjr.com) And it has always been for the better. (Images above: Ralph at age 6, with his new home at 15 and at FAMU at 24)

After 18 years into the project I felt it was complete enough to try and hang in a gallery during Art Basel 2008. Ignacio Gurruchaga, owner of the INDEPENDENT GALLERY in Wynwood worked with me tirelessly but he also helped to hang my father’s photography. My father covered Miami as a photographer when the city was beginning to come into its own. In the 50s and 60s the city hosted iconic individuals; Elvis Presley, The Beatles, candidate and soon to President John F. Kennedy, Cassius Clay and Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, he had an infamous impact on the city. This was mid-century Miami, a time when the world was seeing this city take its place on the international set. We called the show “INTERSECTION”, a city where these iconic figures almost bumped shoulders within a few short years. The show was an incredible experience, two rooms filled with photographs from two generations from the same city, the same family, my family.

Opening night was busy with a curator from New York buying three Corridor prints without hesitation. Then my friend Kerry Sanders of NBC News delivered as promised, he walked in with Kimberly Marrero, Curator and Art Advisor at the Guggenheim in New York City. She loved both shows encouraging me to contact the International Center of Photography and show them The Corridor. The show hit its final peak one night when Ignacio called me and said Lenny Kravitz is in the gallery and wants to meet you. After four hours of talking photography, Lenny is also a photographer, we traded prints and planned to meet later and pursue a project together. He is on tour in Europe now and has just recorded a new album. This was truly a treat, and he is truly an artist in every aspect, the image he offered me could hang in any gallery respectfully. I currently have several projects or shows in the works for Art Basel 2009. And yes, my mother was at the show.