Bringing a bit of Coney Island to London

This is the first of (hopefully) a series of independent experiments of people that share a passion for performing arts and photography. Our ambition is to create experiences tout-court into performing art, photography and every other medium that is functional to make the audience travel with us, either to real places or to imaginary worlds.
In December we brought a bit of Coney Island to London with photographs by Francesca Tosarelli, mixed and enhanced by various other performances; from of a lost princess on the train, to a fire-breather, an amazing singer and storyteller and an artist performing the 'isolation' (in that order: Mika Hockman, Lewis Davidson, Simone Douani, Francesca Martello).
Francesco Caradonna and I curated and art directed the show/exhibition. We had loads of fun!
A beautiful edit of the night can be viewed here: Vimeo Video: First Stop Coney Island

Maria Teresa Salvati and Francesco Caradonna, by Francesca Tosarelli

The Re-Birth of Coney Island

The journey to Coney Island begins with a twinkle into Francesca Tosarelli's inquisitive mind. While in New York, Francesca heard that the famous Coney Island was re-opening to the public with the new fun fair (Luna Park), so driven by curiosity and the desire to meet these mythical stories in person, she jumped on the train. 
Coney Island is a legendary place by the seaside, just an hour from Manhattan. At the beginning of the last century this place was called "Sodom by the sea" for its fame as the base for back-packers, eccentrics and oddballs. Known for the old "Luna Park" (partially constructed by Italians), Coney Island is an attraction for the weird and wonderful shows it puts on.

Photo by Francesca Tosarelli

This is the place for strong emotions, for humiliations and sublimations, for crashed dreams and touched heavens, for nothing, for everything, for legends and tales, for brothels, carousels and merry-go-round.

Here is home for hybrid cultures: American and Hispanic identities fuse and disguise offering the most stereotyped peaks for each of the two. Sizes, lights, bemusement, noise and rides are the container in which families, kids, old and young people, "contemporary freaks" and working class meet regularly and perform dreams and shows. 
Tolerance, confusion, smiles, comfort, friendliness, music, fire-eaters and foolery are the natural soul. This is the norm. You feel immersed in their world, and joy and amusement pervade your soul too, feeling yourself part of those families.

Photo by Francesca Tosarelli

Coney Island has become once again a cheap meeting place especially for Afro-Americans and Hispanics, but the Island still exudes a peculiar and extraordinary charm, a zone apart, inhabited by those souls which, besides the vibrant energy, can still feel lonely. We are in America, after all.

Photo by Francesca Tosarelli

All prints are 40 x 60 cm + foam board 1cm and are available for sale at £180 inc. VAT, each.

It is possible to view the entire exhibition at Primi Restaurant.