Nature Seen with Lifestyles For The Disabled

Featuring: Meredith Arout, Aaron Bailer, Anthony DiCostanzo, Andrew Moszenberg, Joseph Padalino, Gergory Perosi

Lifestyles for the Disabled began operating in 1994 on Staten Island through the collaboration of parents, community organizations, local businesspeople and a group of developmentally disabled adults (program participants). This exhibition highlights a program which focuses on photographic learning and seeing, including photos by the crew of the Media Center of Lifestyles for the Disabled, between 2017 to present of South Beach, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Clove Lakes Park, Greenbelt, Lifestyles Greenhouse, Brookfield Park, and Conference House Park.

About the Artists

Meredith Arout has been photographing Staten Island subjects since 2015, including events and activities with Lifestyles for the Disabled, as well as events such as New York Fashion Week, The New York Emmy Awards, and many others. Her favorite subjects are flowers and nature.

Aaron Bailer has been photographing Staten Island subjects since 2017, including events and activities with Lifestyles for the Disabled. In particular, Aaron says he enjoys taking photos of nature, animals, and events.

Anthony DiCostanzo has been photographing Staten Island subjects since 2015, including events and activities with Lifestyles for the Disabled. In particular, Anthony likes to photograph signs so he can read them later.

Andrew Mozenberg has been photographing Staten Island subjects since 2015, including events and activities with Lifestyles for the Disabled. Andrew enjoys taking photos of nature on Staten Island.

Joseph Padalino has been photographing Staten Island subjects since 2015, including events and activities with Lifestyles for the Disabled. Joseph especially likes to photograph Staten Island parks and beaches, including Veterans Park, the Alice Austen House, South Beach, and the Conference House.

Gregory Perosi has been photographing Staten Island subjects since 2015, including events and activities with Lifestyles for the Disabled. In particular, Gregory says he enjoys taking photos on the boardwalk at South Beach.

Organizations

The Alice Austen House

The Alice Austen House occupies a singular position, both geographically and culturally—on the water’s edge of Staten Island’s North Shore. Once the home, studio, and muse of pioneering photographer Alice Austen, the house dates back to 1690 and is one of New York City’s historic homes. Yet it functions today not as a static historic site, but as a dynamic contemporary arts hub.

The museum celebrates queer and women’s history while breathing new life into Austen’s legacy by engaging with current artistic, social, and personal exploration. For Austen, this home, now a public park, was a radical retreat and safe haven for her and her largely queer circle of friends. That spirit of refuge and experimentation continues today. We activate the house and grounds through our Queer Ecologies Garden, deep community partnerships, and sustained support for artists, fostering the creation of new work that honors the past while speaking directly to the present.

The museum and public park have been a National LGBTQ+ landmark since 2017.
NYC Parks

NYC Parks is the steward of more than 30,000 acres of land — 14 percent of New York City — including more than 5,000 individual properties ranging from Coney Island Beach and Central Park to community gardens and Greenstreets. We operate more than 800 athletic fields and nearly 1,000 playgrounds, 1,800 basketball courts, 550 tennis courts, 65 public pools, 51 recreational facilities, 15 nature centers, 14 golf courses, and 14 miles of beaches. We care for 1,200 monuments and 23 historic house museums. We look after 600,000 street trees, and two million more in parks. We are New York City’s principal providers of recreational and athletic facilities and programs. We are home to free concerts, world-class sports events, and cultural festivals.