Since its accidental discovery by Henry Hudson 400 years ago, Manhattan has been the island at the center of the world. Claimed by the Dutch, whose dominance lasted a mere half century, Niew Amsterdam, or New York, was founded in the spirit of Dutch society and culture, with tolerance and international trade its cornerstones.

A celebration of New York's Dutch heritage is currently underway at the Museum of the City of New York, Today DART offers a look at Dutch Seen: New York Rediscovered. Initiated by Foam_Fotographiemuseum Amsterdam, the show was curated by Kathy Ryan, director of photography at The New York Times, who invited the participation of twelve Dutch photographers with strong bonds with their subject city. Most created new work, with the exception of Reinke Dijkstra (often referred to the godmother of contemporary Dutch photography) and Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin (who have been working here for over a decade).

Left: Hendrik Kerstens, Napkin, 2009 copyright Hendrik Kerstens; Courtesy Witzenhausen Gallery Amsterdam/New York. Center: Wijnanda Deroo, Milon, 93 First Avenue, New York, New York, NY; copyright Wijnanda Deroo, courtesy Robert Mann Gallery, New York. Right: Hendrik Kerstens, Bag, 2008, copyright Hendrik Kerstens; Courtesy Witzenhausen Gallery Amsterdam/New York.

In her introduction to the handsome catalog, Kathy notes, "No artists coming from the place that gave the world Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Frans Hals can claim to have risen out of virgin territory....But of course all artistic traditions are only meaningful to contemporary artists in so far as they can be upended....these Dutch artists have succeeded tremendously at embracing their ghosts even as they confront them. They tease, challenge, and play with every bit of their artistic ancestry."

The entrance to the exhibition is framed with mural-size portraits by Hendrik Kerstens of his lifelong muse, his daughter Paula. Here he makes what he calls a "time leap," costuming his subject in 17^th century head gear fashioned from found objects, including a table napkin and a plastic shopping bag. The lighting, the gravity his daughter brings to the sittings, and some contemporary artifacts, including  a Yankees baseball hat, create a stunning effect that recalls portraits by his antecedent Rembrandt van Rijn. Kerstens' work, making it New York debut, can also be seen at Chelsea's Witzenhausen Gallery through July 11th.

Wijnanda Deroo known for unpeopled interiors that evoke poetic narratives, visited eateries scattered throughout the five boroughs. From a classic downscale Chinatown eatery on Doyers Street to Tavern on the Green, the connection New Yorkers make to their multiethnic neighbors is revealed. Her work was most recently seen here at Robert Mann Gallery in 2007.

Arno Nollen and Morad Bouchakour have each taken a different approach to street photography - a form that was arguably born in New York. Nollan's head shots were originally conceived as a group of portraits of people he found who had a "Dutch look." As he went around town he added people of various ethnic backgrounds. The project reflects on the fact that Niew Amsterdam originally consisted of only 500 people, but they spoke 18 languages. Bouchakour, on the other hand, shows his subjects in their native environment, and chooses people who usually pass without notice. "As an outsider," he wrote in the catalogue, "I revel in things most New Yorkers take for granted." Both photographers are making their New York debuts.

Also on view is a new series by Erwin Olaf, who recreated scenes from the1900 Hamptons Album by Frances B. Johnson depicting middle-class African Americans. His staged tableaux, shot and printed in black and white, are a departure from the color work he is known for. Images from his recent book, Grief (Aperture 2007) were exhibited at Hasted Hunt.

Consisting of roughly 100 thoughtfully chosen works, the show is expansive in its subject matter and the photographers' diverse points of view. The exhibition design by Peter Buchanan-Smith is an exercise in minimalist purity, with the carefully orchestrated use of black or white frames defining groupings and eventually, the exhibit space itself. The catalogue, produced by FOAM, is available in the museum gift store.

Dutch Seen: New York Rediscovered continues at Museum of the City of New York through September 13. Please visit the website for information and public programs.

Next Wednesday, July 8, 6:30 pm
FREE for DART subscribers: The Making of Mannahatta

Join Dr. Eric Sanderson, author, and Markley Boyer, illustrator, of Mannahatta: A Natural History of New York City (Abrams, 2009) to hear the inside story of the science and visualization of Manhattan Island 400 years ago. Presented in conjunction with Mannahatta/Manhattan: A Natural History of New York City.
Reservations required. Please call 212.534.1672, ext. 3395.
Just mention DART and your tickets will be held for you at the front desk.
Museum of the City of New York is located at 1220 Fifth Avenue at 104th Street.
By bus:
M1, M3, M4 or M106 to 104th Street, M2 to 101st Street.
By subway:
#6 Lexington Avenue train to 103rd Street, walk three blocks west, or #2 or #3 train to Central Park North (110th Street), walk one block east to Fifth Avenue, then south to 103rd Street. Ramp access is available at the 104th Street entrance.

070290 niew york