Join Marc Asnin for a signing of his book Uncle Charlie.
Marc Asnin has been photographing his Uncle Charlie for 30 years. By the early 1980s when Asnin was studying photography, the reality of his uncle's life had trampled his boyhood fantasy. As a child Asnin was motivated by his admiration of Uncle Charlie as a big, streetwise strong guy with a gun. Charlie and his five children (Charles, Joe, Brian, Mary, and Jamie) lived together in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Frail, depressed, and emotionally vacant, unable to work, unable to even leave his apartment, Charles Henschke was a shell of a human being.
Uncle Charlie is an extraordinary visual and reading diary that details the life of his godfather, Charlie, and his struggles with mental illness, isolation, poverty, and familial relationships. Asnin chose to use photography as the means to reconnect with Charles Henschke, an extremely complex individual. The result is a journey that became almost an obsession to confront, examine, and understand some very disturbing truths about his uncle and family. The book is an exceptional object with a strong layout that includes a visual treatment of the long text and the documents concerning the life of Charlie, as told by himself during many hours of recorded conversations with Marc Asnin, edited by Beau Freelander. This book is a new, great effort to mix documentary photography and literature, each at their best.
Please note that due to professional obligations, photographer's book signing dates may change without notification. Limit of two signed copies per customer. Pre-orders and reserve orders are not guaranteed but every effort is made to fulfill orders. Books must be purchased from the ICP Store. If purchased before date of event, please bring your receipt. For more information, call 212.857.9725.
This event takes place during voluntary contribution hours at the museum.
Free Friday night programs in the Museum are supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn.
