Join the International Center of Photography and faculty member Abigail Montes for a hands-on imagemaking activity exploring the block! As we celebrate the Lower East Side and Orchard Street, what are the people, places, and things that make this particular block come to life? While learning basic photographic techniques, participants will use whatever imagemaking device they have (smartphone, iPad, camera, etc.) to document what stands out most to them. They will then share their images as a group in honoring the day and can post to #ICPinLES to add to a greater community archive!
Attend Tenement Museum’s Block Party for more tours, giveaways, and activities from 12 PM–4 PM to celebrate the museum and the Lower East Side.
Teacher Bios
Abigail Montes is a documentary photographer and educator from the South Bronx. Since 2013, she has worked with various initiatives empowering youth through photography. In 2016, while pursuing her BFA at Saint John’s University, Montes became a teaching assistant with the International Center of Photography's (ICP) community partnership, ICP at THE POINT. Montes went on to graduate from the Documentary Practice and Visual Journalism program at ICP in 2018 and was awarded the Documentary Arts Fellowship. In 2019 she became the Co-Coordinator and Lab Manager of ICP at THE POINT, where she is now also a lead instructor.
Diana Cuautle (b. 1994, Bronx NY, USA) is a first generation Mexican-American photographer who lives and works in The Bronx, New York. The art of working with strictly analog imbues her work to be felt with a poetic grace. The thread that marries most of her work is having that inquisitive intuition that lives on discovery, visual metaphors and mysteries. In 2019 Diana received the Community Fellowship from the International Center of Photography (ICP), where she is also an alum of their community partnership, ICP at THE POINT. Cuautle is a current member of the NYC-SPC collective.
Buy One, Get One Museum Admission
Buy One, Get One Free: use coupon code BOGOFREE. Valid on adult-priced tickets only. Good though August 15. Visit icp.org/tickets. Select 2 Adult Tickets and complete the Visitor Agreement Form. On the “Complete your order” page located under the credit card information, click the + under Coupon Code and enter BOGOFREE and once you click Apply, the discount will be applied to your order.
Courses and Workshops
Explore our online catalog and register today for courses and workshops on personal vision, digital workflow, and more. Want to take a walking class photographing downtown New York? Join ICP's Walking Classes starting in July. For more classes, check our course listing for courses in August and September.
Photographing New York: The Lower East Side
July 14–August 18, 2021 from 10 AM–1 PM ET
The streets and tenements of the Lower East Side, as depicted in the iconic photographs of Jacob Riis, Berenice Abbott, and Helen Levitt, have long been home to immigrants from around the world. Today, newcomers push into established ethnic enclaves, and new construction threatens the historic streetscape. In this online blended-learning class, students work in the field together and independently to document different geographical or thematic aspects of the neighborhood. This course is limited to 10 students.
July 25, 2021 from 10 AM–5 PM ET
The East Village and Lower East Side are among the most historically and visually dynamic neighborhoods in New York City. We spend the day discussing the history of these areas and the many photographers who have worked in these communities, including Jacob Riis, Weegee, and Helen Levitt. We photograph elements unique to the area, such as the 19th- and early 20th-century architecture, modern-day graffiti, community gardens, storefronts, and parks. Students have lunch on their own, and we end the day near Tompkins Square Park. This course is limited to 8 students.
Summer Mentorship
Ready to take your photography further? Learn about our new Mentorship Program, featuring ten hours of individualized attention, goal-setting, and personalized guidance with an ICP mentor.
Teen Academy
We are proud to create spaces for high school students to develop their skills as visual storytellers and changemakers. Develop your visual storytelling skills from anywhere with ICP's Teen Academy online offerings starting in July and August. And learn about our yearlong Imagemakers Program for photographers ages 14 to 19.
