Marcia Bricker Halperin finds gold in her archives

The title of this article is really a misnomer because Marcia Bricker Halperin knew all along that the archive she built over 40-years contains gold. But she waited until she retired from teaching to create a book from her life’s work.

On a winder day in 1975 Marcia ducked into Dubrow’s Cafeteria on Kings Highway in her native Brooklyn to escape the cold. Over the next three years she returned regularly, camera in hand, to record the life and culture among the regulars in this local landmark unique to New York. It was a happy accident that proves you never know where a photo project will lead. Nothing will happen until you take the first step and do the work.

During the podcast conversation Marcia tells the story of how she created her book, Kibbitz and Nosh: When We All Met at Dubrow’s Cafeteria , by mining her archive, making difficult selections, scanning negatives, and finding a publisher that believes in her vision and finally making it a reality.

Early in her career Marcia was employed by the CETA Artist’s Project under the auspices of the Cultural Council Foundation. Her assignments included photographing the Soviet refugees and their introduction to American culture in Brighton Beach and photographing housing issues in Hell’s Kitchen.

In the late 1970s, she was active in the Photographers Forum, an organization that was a continuation of the 1940s Photo League. She assisted with organizing their meetings and panels held at the New School, which featured photographers such as W. Eugene Smith and Roy DeCarava.

Marcia’s personal story of how she leverages her archives to publish her book is an inspiration to any photographer who dreams of exposing their own work to the world.

Marcia’s portrait by Phil O’Brien

Exhibitions and book events

Exhibition: Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center
Through June 25, 2023
82 N Broadway, Nyack, NY 10960
Link: https://www.edwardhopperhouse.org/kibbitz.html

Artist Talk: Sunday, June 11, 2-3:00 at the Nyack Library, 82 N Broadway, Nyack, NY 10960
Followed by a tour of the exhibition at Edward Hopper House

Artist Talk: Sunday, June 11, 2-3:00 at the Nyack Library, 82 N Broadway, Nyack, NY 10960
Followed by a tour of the exhibition at Edward Hopper House

Exhibition: Garment District Arts Alliance
Kaufman Arcade
132 West 36th Street, NYC
May 15 – August 25, 2023

 Garment District Tour and exhibit viewing 
Monday, June 5th – 10:30 am
Meet at the Giant Needle and Yellow Button
West 39th Street and 7th Avenue
Email Marcia at [email protected] to reserve a spot

A selection of Marcia’s photos

Links from the show

• Marcia’s Website
• Kibbitz and Nosh: When We All Met at Dubrow’s Cafeteria on Amazon
• Instagram
• Facebook