New York, NY. The inauguration of the exhibit will take place nex Friday, April 24 from 6-8pm in the Art Gallery in the Faculty of Architecture through April 28. “It is only for four days since the students will be in the room while the exhibit is open to the public and its finals time,” the journalist who also collaborates with Radio Euskadi said to EuskalKultura.com. “The fact that hundreds of students will be able to see my work is an honor for me. I also feel that it is important the theme (the gay world) to be different.” Victor Jones, assistant professor at USC, is the curator of the exhibit and the person to whom Koitz is grateful: "I would really like to thank Victor Jones, the curator of my exhibit, and the University of Southern California, for showing my work to students, many who probably have never seen anything like it and, to that effect, for promoting greater awareness of the lives of LGTB people."
From the heart of life at Fire Island - where Koitz collaborated over four summers with the Fire Island News - the Navarran exposes the unique characteristics of this enclave of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered) world where those groups expresses freely.
“In addition the photos are from an insider, and not photos of geeks,” he says. “They are photos done honestly, and I like that the people are dignified.” A work ethic that has opened doors little by little because, as he says, “I have been contacted more than once to tell me that they like my work.”
Several projects, one cause
On Fire Island there are two LGBT communities, Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines that Koitz has been photographing for over a decade. “I would like to publish a book of photos,” he said.
Over the years he has started various projects, besides Out in the Sun. In all of them, the models are men, homosexual, and are dressed or not, posing in various landscapes on the island or in New York City. “The media and photography help put a face on this community, it humanizes it and normalizes their reality,” he says. Nevertheless, he thinks that “what help most in the fight for gay and lesbian rights are their own families. Older people break all the myths when their grandson, nephew or daughter is gay or lesbian.”
Living in New York since 1994, Koitz is a photography lover “since i was little.” Nevertheless, he’s not sure if he wants to dedicate himself solely to this profession because, “the situation is very complicated.” “Photographers are less and less appreciated. Media are getting rid of photographers to contract freelancers and it makes everything difficult. On the one hand I would say yes, but the situation is pretty bad.” Anyway, Koitz thinks "that (this exhibit) gives my photography legitimacy, and it will open doors for me in New York as well as the Basque Country,” he concludes.
Exhibit information
VERLE ANNIS GALLERY
University of Southern California
April 24-28
Gallery hours: 10:00-18:00
Inauguration: April 24l, 18:00-20:00
Exhibit's Facebook page
Koitz's website
Página web de Koitz
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