Beyond the four walls where we discovered identity during childhood, what is it that makes a home? Is it the city in a faraway country where we first learned to speak the native tongue? Is it the feeling of belonging when surrounded by people who remind us of a unique, shared experience? Or is it where we choose to settle with loved ones at any given moment?
Home Away From Home is a snapshot of a small town in New York City, and the process of rediscovering home. It presents a candid look into the lives of Staten Island residents and documents the diverse life experiences often overlooked within the borough.
This series of images represents a period from my formative years in Staten Island, when I began to discover a sense of belonging years after feeling disconnected from my childhood in Lagos, Nigeria. Curiosity led me to people whose culture and lived experiences I deeply identified with.
Artist Bios
-
Stephen Obisanya
Stephen Obisanya is a documentary photographer based in Staten Island. His work is heavily rooted in exploring the foundations of human connection and condition through the lens of family and community. Born (1989) in Lagos, Nigeria and now residing in New York City, much of Obisanya’s work is informed by his dual identity: a cultural background as an African, and a lived experience as a first-generation immigrant in America.
Organizations
-
The Alice Austen House
A vibrant cultural center, the Alice Austen House keeps the bold spirit of the early American photographer alive by presenting changing exhibitions of Austen’s pioneering historic photographs as well as contemporary photography, while also providing education programs for students, and offering a range of cultural programs for the public. A Victorian Gothic Cottage that was Austen’s home serves as the museum — located in a nationally-landmarked park on the shore of Staten Island, near the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge with sweeping views of Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan. The Alice Austen House and grounds are owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, operated by the Friends of Alice Austen House Inc. 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and a member of the Historic House Trust. The Alice Austen House is a New York City and national landmark, on the Register of Historic Places, and a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s distinctive group of Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios. In 2017, we updated our designation to become a national site of LGBTQ history.
Home Away From Home
Featuring: Stephen Obisanya
656 Father Capodanno Blvd
Staten Island, NY 10305
- Monday 6:00 am - 1:00 am
- Tuesday 6:00 am - 1:00 am
- Wednesday 6:00 am - 1:00 am
- Thursday 6:00 am - 1:00 am
- Friday 6:00 am - 1:00 am
- Saturday 6:00 am - 1:00 am
- Sunday 6:00 am - 1:00 am
