The other night as we were giving a friend a tour of the building, and who should we run into but none other than the famed photographer Claudio Edinger! He was up on the 10th floor with a couple of friends, admiring Arthur Weinstein's mobile.
We chatted with Claudio briefly and he told us that it took him over three years to finish his Chelsea Hotel book, which was published in 1983. Overall, he shot more than 300 photographs. He said he used to sit in the lobby for hours on end watching for people to go by so he could talk them into sitting for a photograph. We also talked about how only a few of his Chelsea subjects are still around: Jonathan Berg, Gerald Busby, Merle Lister, Willem Van Ess, Tayla, Man Lai and Suzanne Bartsch. Oh, and Stanely, Claudio says he's the same as ever; only the salt and pepper hair is new.
Claudio dropped a few hints that his book may be updated and re-released in time for the hotel's big 125th anniversary next year!
(Photo by Pat Padua)
Recent Comments