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ITALIAN AMERICAN MUSEUM PRESENTS ECHOES OF ELLIS ISLAND BY PHOTOGRAPHER JANINE COYNE

July 12th through September 21st, 2007

            New York, July 11, 2007,—The Italian American Museum presents Echoes of Ellis Island by photographer Janine Coyne which will be on display at  The Italian American Museum from July 12 through September 21.  Opening reception will be held on Thursday, July 12th from 6 to 8 p.m.  Coyne photographed this extensive body of work in 1989-1990. They were first shown as a one-person exhibition at The Statue of Liberty for the six months prior to the reopening of Ellis Island to the public. 

            Echoes of Ellis Island embody both the restoration and the decayed, abandoned areas of Ellis Island.  Coyne uses light and perspective to transform rooms and corridors into illuminating beauty.  Her compositions are strong and are complemented by the wide tonality of black and white and the richness of color, as she prints all of her work.

            Janine Coyne first visited Ellis Island in the early 1970’s enticed by stories told by her maternal and paternal grandparents who emigrated from Italy and came to New York through Ellis Island.  Coyne is widely known for her moving exhibit, Sicilian Journey, which was exhibited at the Italian American Museum in 2006 and has been shown in galleries and museums internationally.

            According to Dr. Joseph Scelsa, President of the Italian American Museum, “Coyne’s photographs are hauntingly beautiful. They take us back to a time when our ancestors struggled to start a new life in America. Through these photographs we can continue to feel their presence.”
 
            The Italian American Museum is the first museum dedicated to presenting the cultural and social contributions of Italian Americans to the American way of life. The exhibit, Echoes of Ellis Island is free and open to the public from Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment (212.642.2020) at 28 West 44th Street, 17th floor between 5th and 6th Avenues. Major funding for this exhibit has been provided by the Columbus Citizens Foundation.  Please visit our website www.italianamericanmuseum.org

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