Before we got in touch with our teenage side, last night we headed downtown to Stricola Contemporary in Manhattan to celebrate the launch of a new book, Frezno, from one of our favorite NY-based photographers, Tony Stamolis.
Stamolis spent six years documenting his hometown of Fresno, Calif. (which came in dead last in a government survey of towns with a high quality of life), and in his resultant tome, paints an honest portrait of urban decay that is at once provocative, humorous and disquieting.
Last night’s party — replete with a mariachi band, canned Bud, signature beer kozies and temporary tattoos, as well as a taco truck — was a fitting tribute to Freszno and Fresno alike. As much as we loved the free beer and marinated pork, the best things about the night were the oversize, color-saturated photographs printed on vinyl banners with grommets — and getting the chance to chat up the man of the night.
Check our interview with him after the jump.
