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ALBANY, NY – Berenice Abbott’s Changing New York: A Triumph of Public Art opens in the New York State Museum’s Crossroads Gallery June 13 showcasing what is considered to be one of the monumental achievements of 20th century photography.

The exhibition, open through October 4, features 40 original photographs taken by Abbott when she was employed from 1935 to 1939 by the Federal Art Project (FAP) of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to capture the rapidly changing urban scene in New York City. In addition to photographs in the State Museum’s collection from this Depression-era project, which Abbott called “Changing New York,” the exhibition will also include additional images from the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY).

Born in 1898 in Springfield, Ohio, Abbott left Ohio State University after one year and moved to Greenwich Village at age 19 to become an artist in New York City. In 1921 she joined the bohemian exodus to Paris where she worked as a darkroom assistant to successful photographer Man Ray. After three years, she had become a skilled photographer and opened her own studio. Soon her reputation rivaled that of her mentor.

Through Ray she met Euge?ne Atget, an elderly photographer who had spent years documenting Paris. When Atget died in 1927, Abbott salvaged the contents of his studio and made his work her cause.

In 1929, after eight years in Europe, Abbott returned to New York City for what she expected would be a short visit. But during her absence, hundreds of 19th-century buildings had been razed to make way for dozens of skyscrapers, and the unprecedented building boom inspired her to give up a thriving Parisian portrait practice to photograph the new face of New York. She was inspired by Atget’s documentation of Paris.

Soon after her return, the Stock Market crashed, the Great Depression began, and Abbott struggled for five years to pursue her project. In 1935, she was offered the financial and staff support she needed to continue her project by the FAP, a work-relief program for artists under the auspices of the WPA. But, although Abbott was an FAP star whose works were featured in exhibitions and a book, “Changing New York,” Abbott lost her FAP support in 1939 due to budget cuts.

She was able to complete her project by 1940, creating two sets of 305 exhibition prints for her sponsor, the Museum of the City of New York, and a partial set for the State Museum. She then worked for two decades inventing ways to visualize scientific phenomena. In 1958, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology hired her to illustrate an innovative physics textbook and a series of popular books. In 1961 she retired in Maine, where she lived to age 93.

The Museum will sponsor several programs to complement the exhibition. “Creative Art Day” participants will meet at the Crossroads Gallery to visit the Berenice Abbott exhibition on Saturday, August 29 from 1 to 3 p.m. During this free program families participate in artful activities.

During the Wednesday, August 12 session of “Creative Quest: Museum Art Camp” students will focus on urban photography and the Berenice Abbott exhibition. During this program, students are taught about history through creative art projects focused on a specific theme. There also are sessions relating to other exhibition galleries planned for Monday, August 10 and Friday, August 14. There is a fee. For more information or to register for any of these programs call 518-473-7154 or e-mail psteinba@mail.nysed.gov.

Also, this fall, Bonnie Yochelson, the consulting historian for the Berenice Abbott exhibition, will present a public program in conjunction with the exhibition, sponsored by the New York State Archives Partnership Trust.

Several books focusing on Berenice Abbott’s works will be for sale in the Museum Shop. They are Yochelson’s 1997 “Berenice Abbott: Changing New York,” an expanded version of the 1937 book; Douglas Levere's “New York Changing; Berenice Abbott, Photographer: An Independent Vision” 2006, a book by George Sullivan for children; “New York in the Thirties,” a soft cover Dover reissue of the original “Changing New York” and “Berenice Abbott,” a two-volume set by Commerce Graphics.

The Berenice Abbott exhibition was made possible by the support of the New York State Museum, the New York State Archives Partnership Trust, the Museum of the City of New York, Bonnie Yochelson, Commerce Graphics Ltd, Inc., Douglas Levere and Joan and Clark Worswick.

The State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department, the University of the State of New York and the Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the museum website at www.nysm.nysed.gov.

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