MAX W. ORENSTEIN
Photographs from the Houston Astrodome After Katrina
Curated by Matthew Israel
November 10th through January 5th, 2006

Opening: Thursday, November 10th, 7 P.M.

The Edgar M. Bronfman Center at New York University is pleased to announce its next exhibition, Max Orenstein: Photographs from the Houston Astrodome After Katrina, which will be on view from November 10th through January 5th, 2005.

The exhibition is comprised of over thirty new 16 x 24 inch color prints.

Orenstein, currently a sophomore at NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study pursuing photojournalism, was part of a delegation of students who flew to Houston to volunteer in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, distributing food, organizing supplies, re-uniting family members and often simply providing an ear for those who needed to talk.

As most of us read and saw, the astrodome was a chaotic and “ominous” juxtaposition; of complete and utter tragedy, heartbreak and anger on one hand with a “beautiful spirit of camaraderie” and hope on the other.

According to Josh Grossberg, a graduate student volunteer, “Some evacuees were very open about their constant belief that their faith in G-d would sustain them in such a trying time. Others were devastated, not knowing where their children or relatives were.”

While some of Orenstein's photographs seek to reflect the general mood in the Astrodome, the majority focus sharply on portraits of individuals, particularly those faces, stories and emotions on the periphery.

For more information or photographs, please contact Jackie Miller at 212.998.4112.