1 September to 28 December 2024
Haledon, New Jersey – The American Labor Museum/Botto House National Landmark proudly opens the exhibit Faces From An American Dream by Martin Desht on Sunday, September 1st, 2024. The Annual Labor Day Parade steps-off at the Museum on September 1st, 2024 at 10:30am.
Faces From An American Dream features black-and-white photographs by Mr. Desht, who notes that “for much of the 20th century, Pennsylvania was the most heavily and diversely industrialized state in America. Pittsburgh was famous for thirty miles of steel mills, Philadelphia billed itself the "workshop of the world," the Pennsylvania Railroad traversed half the country and the state's anthracite fueled the nation.” By the 1980’s,” Desht continues “both cities were examples of Rust Belt de-industrialization as America's economy shifted from industrial manufacturing to service and information. Faces From An American Dream depicts how this transition re-defined the American industrial city and what it meant for skilled and unskilled workers in search of the American dream.
In 1989, Martin Desht started photographing post-industrial Pennsylvania, a project that would occupy him for the next twenty-six years. Harvard University, Dartmouth College, New York University's Stern School of Business, United States Department of Labor, have exhibited his photography. Mr. Desht works in black-and-white film and still operates a traditional photography darkroom.
Faces From An American Dream exhibit is on view at the Museum from September 1st through December 28th, 2024.
This program is made possible in part by a grant administered by the Passaic County Cultural and Heritage Council from funds granted by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
The Botto House National Landmark, headquarters of the American Labor Museum, is located at 83 Norwood Street in Haledon, NJ. The Museum's hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9AM-5PM. Visitors are welcome Wednesday through Saturday from 1PM-4PM and at other times by appointment. For further information about the Museum, call 973-595-7953 and visit www.american-labor-museum.org.