IC-03: The Racioppo Photograph Collection

Larry Racioppo has been a photographer his entire life, starting when he was a child. He began by taking images of everyday scenes in all parts of New York City, and eventually concentrated on individualized shrines created by ordinary people. He earned a B.A. in Communication from Fordham College, and a Master’s Degree in Television and Radio Production from Brooklyn College. He works for the New York City department of Housing Preservation and Development and has many of his works exhibited in museums around the city and the country. He is a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellow, and has earned many grants and awards for his work. He continues to produce images which display the unique lifestyles and behaviors of New York residents. The photographs in this collection are part of a larger show displayed at the Urban Center, part of The Municipal Art Society. The purpose of the exhibition was to show the diverse nature of the Fresh Kills Landfill site before it closed permanently. Other photographers working on this project were Stanley Greenberg, Andrew Moore, Victoria Sambunaris, and Susan Wides. The photographs collected also seem to be related to the ongoing development of the Fresh Kills location in its transformation from a landfill to a large park. The photographs by Racioppo seem to emphasize the work culture on the site as well as landscapes, facilities, and equipment. This highlights the diverse nature of Fresh Kills Landfill.