John Ahearn cast of Craig Howard
This Project is part of Refashioning Moda and Avant Guide to NYC: Discovering Absence curated by Sandra Skurvida.
I spoke with John Ahearn about Refashioning Moda. He asked if he could do a cast at the location and as we visited it later, the first thing John said as he walked into the Security Guard Training School was “The floor looks just like I remember it back then at Fashion Moda.” Then, John proceeded to show Craig Howard his work, including a photo taken at Fashion Moda of him and Rigoberto Torres in the process of making a casting. Pointing to the storefront window, John said, “I was making this cast right here at that window. I would like to do a cast in that same window again.”
John asked Craig if he would like to be cast, he agreed and then proceeded to photograph him. He asked Craig, “What do you say when someone comes in for the first time to your school?” He answered, “How may I help you?” John snapped a photo of him, then another, and another, phrase after phrase, pose after pose. He showed us the photos on his digital camera screen until one was chosen.
We met on Sunday, September 13, at 1:00pm at the location. John was with his two assistants — Kevin Crocker, who works with him since 1980, and his godson Christopher Blache. They prepared the space for the casting, and displayed on the wall very close to the storefront window a bust of rapper Kay Gee of The Cold Crush Brothers as an example. There is a bus stop in front of the place and while people waited they could see John Ahearn casting Craig Howard. I had interesting conversations with passersby. The process lasted about 3 hours. If you visit On Time Security Guard Training School, you will see the finished bust there.
Catalog from apexart exhibition:
