When the residency ended, real life began. Stress and doubts. I applied for an artist visa. I had to find an employer to regulate my stay in the US. I started looking for contacts because this is the most important thing when you want to develop your career. And you have to be damn tough.
I was born in Krakow and have never lived outside of Krakow. And suddenly, New York…
I came here after graduating from the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow. Fashion photography is my passion. I deal with awkwardness, which is not quite perfect, usually hidden. I like concept photos.
I applied for a two-month residency in New York and was accepted. The beginning was fantastic. New York: smiling and relaxed people always seemed to be helpful. I fell in love with the city and decided to stay longer.
In Greenpoint, I’ve lived in several places.
First, I found a room on Franklin Street. I met a girl, a student from Parson School, and I moved in with her. I lived on savings. My parents helped me: they have a restaurant in Krakow.
I still had a language barrier when I came to the US, even though I knew English. In the first weeks, Greenpoint gave me a sense of security because Polish is still the language spoken here on the street. But honestly, I was looking for professional and social contacts outside of Greenpoint. The most important thing for me was getting to know the photographers’ community, fashion sessions, and Manhattan.
When the residency ended, real life began. Stress and doubts. I applied for an artist visa. I had to find an employer to regulate my stay in the US. I started looking for contacts because this is the most important thing when you want to develop your career. And you have to be damn tough.
I met Robert Nickelsberg, a photojournalist with great experience, on Manhattan Avenue. He was interested in the district, which was exotic for him; he wanted to photograph it. Today, I am Robert’s assistant, and thanks to him, I got to know this place. I must admit that when I lived in Greenpoint, I didn’t understand what this place was about.
What impressed me? That this neighborhood is changing before my eyes. Americans move here, and children of Polish migrants feel proud that they come from Greenpoint, and this was not always the case. This district is becoming the most expensive and attractive place in New York!
The second thing is the loneliness of some elderly residents. They came from Poland and slowly lost contact with the old country and their families. They lived in very harsh conditions, often in one room with a shared bathroom in the corridor. And so on for the next 20 or 30 years. I haven’t seen anything like it anywhere in Europe. I had the impression that some people were ashamed of these conditions and their profession.
Especially those who had higher education in Poland and in the USA performed simple jobs: on construction sites or cleaning other people’s apartments. The possibility of quick earnings attracted them. And then they couldn’t imagine returning to their country. They became a little bitter, a little distrustful.
It is easier for people my age to make contact with Americans or immigrants from outside Polish Greenpoint.
Now I live in Manhattan. I found roommates from London and Barcelona. We get along well. Friends introduced me to a nice guy. I will stay here longer.
New York teaches you not to be discouraged. You can’t be bothered by the refusal. Doors that are now closed could soon be open. You experience a roller coaster of emotions here. In one moment, you’re euphoric, and then you’re completely down, and you want to go back to your parents. I survived it, and now I feel strong.
