BOOK: Paradise & Purgatory

Paradise & Purgatory: Sassy ’70s Suburbia & The City juxtaposes intimate images of home life on Long Island with New York City streets and nightlife. The photos and stories illustrate Meryl Meisler's coming of age: the South Bronx, suburbia, the Mystery Club, dance lessons, Girl Scouts, the Rockettes, the circus, school, bar mitzvahs, proms, weddings, gay Fire Island, the Hamptons, feminists, happy hookers, CBGB, punks, disco, after hours and go-go bars, Jewish and LGBT Pride, street life, home theatrics, holidays, friendship, family, and love. She had to photograph it to make sense of it all, to hold on to the time, to release and now finally share it.

Check out these events:

Saturday, October 24
NYC Art Teachers Assoc. Conference
Higher Education Mentor Awardee
245 E. 56th St., New York City

Wednesday, November 11, 7-9 p.m.
Christopher Stout Gallery
299 Meserole St., East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Sassy Drinks & Book Chat

Monday, November 16, 4-6 p.m.
B&H Event Space
420 Ninth Ave. @ 34th St., New York City

Tuesday, November 17, 7-9 p.m.
The Breslin's Liberty Hall @ Ace Hotel New York
16 W. 29th St., New York City
Cocktail Reception, Performances, and More

Meryl wants to thank The Golden Notebook, Woodstock, N.Y.; The Strand; Amazon (Strand is the Amazon dealer). 

All images ©Meryl Meisler.

Ms Fire Island With USA Flag Hat, Cherry Grove, Fire Island, N.Y., September 1977

All images ©Meryl Meisler.

Self-Portrait My Childhood Bedroom Mirror, North Massapequa, N.Y., February 1976

All images ©Meryl Meisler.

Spreading Wings at the COYOTE Hookers Masquerade Ball, New York City, February 1977

All images ©Meryl Meisler.

Cousin Jennifer Cash Wiener on the Throne, North Massapequa, N.Y., Rosh Hashanah 1975

All images ©Meryl Meisler.

Village People, Leatherman, Xenon, New York City

All images ©Meryl Meisler.

The Meisler, Forkash & Cash Clan Welcoming a Sweet New Year, North Massapequa, N.Y., Rosh Hashanah 1974

All images ©Meryl Meisler.

Patti Smith Sings Gloria at CBGB, New York City, April 1977

All images ©Meryl Meisler.

Mother and Daughter Framed, Massapequa, N.Y., 1974

All images ©Meryl Meisler.

Riding the Coney Island Cyclone During Son of Sam Summer, Brooklyn, N.Y., August 1977 

All images ©Meryl Meisler.

Hanging Out On Police Car Hood During the Blackout, New York City, July 13, 1977

All images ©Meryl Meisler.

Self-Portrait the Girl Scout Oath, North Massapequa, N.Y., January 1975

All images ©Meryl Meisler.