Remsen Wolff a.k.a. Viv Blum

Remsen Wolff (New York, 1940-1998) was a self-taught street and studio photographer, poet, and social activist. The only son of artist Isabel Bishop and neurologist Dr. Harold G. Wolff, he graduated in art history from Harvard University in 1963. He married, had two daughters, and after his divorce, he travelled extensively throughout the US and Europe, photographing people in public spaces.

In 1985, the State of Texas mistakenly accused him of being a serial killer, resulting in a compensation that made him an instant millionaire, allowing him to pursue photography freely.

Struggling with his identity and gender, Wolff became fascinated by Klaus Nomi and the performance artist Lypsinka. He developed a love for transgender people, which led to his extensive series “Special Girls – A Celebration,” featuring 150 models from Amsterdam and New York. His archive spans forty years and contains over 200,000 images.

He referred to himself as a “phony/faux transsexual” and adopted the fictitious name Vivienne (Viv) Blum in his final years. This period was characterized by severe depression; suffering from agoraphobia, not being acknowledged by the art world, and a cancer diagnosis led to his suicide. He left his archive to his Dutch assistant, Jochem Brouwer, whom he called “my only friend.”

The Remsen Wolff Collection

The Remsen Wolff Collection preserves and shares the legacy of Remsen Wolf—later known as Viv Blum—by providing public access, scholarly research, and inspiration through the exhibition and conservation of his poetry and 200,000 images documenting activism, Americana, New York street life, and queer identity, including his own.

Photoville

For more information about Photoville visit, www.photoville.com

Dutch Culture USA

Dutch arts, culture, and shared cultural heritage are represented in the U.S. through the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Washington, DC, and the Consulates General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Francisco. The headquarters for cultural services is the Press and Cultural Affairs Department of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in New York.

FUTURE 400, a 2024/2025 initiative of the Netherlands Consulate General in New York, endeavors to honor 400 years of Dutch-New York history with honesty and integrity, creating space for others who share this common heritage to voice their feelings and experiences at this monumental moment. Partners from cultural to commercial fields, from the New York area to the Netherlands will come together to create new work and new opportunities that will continue to write the next chapter of our shared story, our collective…FUTURE 400. More information: www.dutchcultureusa.com

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.