donna ferrato
10013
This exclusive set of photos embodies the past, present, and future of TriBeCa.
10013 became Ferrato’s personal zip code in 1997 when the land was still wide open for development. Like a pioneer in Stratton’s urban wilderness, she bought a dilapidated space in a warehouse on 25 Leonard St. to become her home and artist’s loft. Ferrato began here, documenting and detailing this experience with a camera. Her photos reveal the deep history embedded in the walls by generations of innovative artists and workers who’ve passed through and made their lasting mark.
Since then, her photographs of TriBeCa show a way of life and neighborhood touched profoundly by transition. Home to the September 11th terrorist attacks on the world trade towers; TriBeCa has persevered and triumphed despite horrific loss. Ferrato is focused on immortalizing the memories and beauty of the neighborhood. Including landmarks such as Provenzano’s Garage, the Liquor Store, the Square Diner, and the AT&T building, Ferrato’s purposeful compositions catch the serendipity of a moment and show how an environment is directly affected by its inhabitants. Each moment caught conceals the phantoms behind the facade.
This is our phoenix moment. TriBeCa is rising up from the ashes and experiencing a modern-age industrial revolution. The incessant beat of construction - the convergence of concrete and metal is a constant reminder that we are in a neighborhood in the throws of evolution. From a wasteland to one of America’s most expensive zip codes, these images are valuable documents that show how a vital and powerful community is changing.
