Visiting the laundrette is, from my memory of student days, usually a pretty dull experience. Despite what the TV might tell you, models don’t walk in off the street and strip down to their undies in front of you. Groups of strangers don’t spontaneously burst into song. You don’t often meet the man or woman of your dreams over a quick wash cycle. You just wash the puke off your clothes and get the hell out as quickly as possible.
Over at the Elizabeth Street “Laundromt” in New York, however, things have gotten more cultured and quite a bit steamier with the launch of The Spring Cleaning. It’s a series of three photography shows taking place at the venue on the border of Chinatown and SoHo, with participants ranging from established artists to first-time exhibitors. Although the photographers are at different stages of their careers, common themes running throughout their work include youthful irreverence and misbehaviour, freedom, energy and sexuality; contributors include Larry Clark, Templetons Ed and Deanna, and Gosha Rubchinsky. The first show ends on 4 June, with the following two running for six days each starting on 26 June and 24 July respectively. Don’t forget to take your soiled drawers.
Larry Clark
Henry Roy
Todd Jordan
Justin Guthrie
Larry Clark
Clare Shilland
Justin Guthrie
Todd Jordan
Motoyuki Daifu
Photography courtesy, The Spring Cleaning
