Photographers Nan Goldin and David Armstrong maintain a lasting camaraderie.
In the 1970s, the scenic town of Provincetown, located at the tip of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, became a haven for artists and free spirits. Among these individuals were Nan Goldin and David Armstrong, two influential figures in the American photography scene.
Nan Goldin, born in 1953 in Washington, D.C., is a renowned American photographer known for her intimate and often provocative portraits of her friends and acquaintances. Goldin, who worked as a waitress in a lesbian bar and sold hot dogs from a booth during her time in Provincetown, frequently explores themes of identity, desire, and the impact of societal norms on personal lives.
David Armstrong, on the other hand, was an American photographer who studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. He was known for documenting the lives of his contemporaries, including artists and musicians in New York City. While there is no specific documentation linking Armstrong directly to Provincetown, his involvement in the artistic circles of Boston might have indirectly connected him to the broader New England artistic community, which includes Provincetown.
Goldin and Armstrong were close friends and collaborators, both contributing to the same artistic movement. They shared a similar approach to photography, often focusing on portraits of their friends and peers, providing a candid view of the lives of artists and outsiders in the 1970s. This connection highlights their roles as observers and documentarians of the cultural and social shifts of their time.
However, life in Provincetown was not easy for either Goldin or Armstrong. They hoped to live freely without the constraints they felt in their current lives, believing they would escape the disapproving looks of "reactionary America" that disliked them. Yet, they would face numerous challenges, including AIDS, addictions, depression, and the death of friends.
David Armstrong's life was marked by resilience, as he fell and rose a hundred times. He passed away on October 26, 2014, in Los Angeles due to liver cancer, leaving Goldin without her oldest friend.
Today, Provincetown remains a scenic destination worth visiting, offering a glimpse into the vibrant artistic community that once thrived there. From Boston, one can reach Provincetown by taking a ferry or driving along the peninsula, making it an accessible getaway for art enthusiasts and history buffs alike.
In the vibrant art scene of Provincetown, Nan Goldin and David Armstrong, two influential figures, not only documented the lives of artists and outsiders with their candid photography but also shared a connection that reflected their roles as observers and documentarians of the cultural and social shifts of the 1970s. Amidst their struggles with AIDS, addictions, depression, and the loss of friends, they continued to capture the lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, and relationships of their fellow free spirits, painting a vivid picture of home-and-garden scenes in this picturesque town that is still worth exploring today.
