Inside Casa Susanna
We explore life at Casa Susanna, at a retreat in New Jersey for men who chose to dress as women.
Trailer: Another Kind of Life (2018/2018) by Barbican CentreBarbican Centre
Casa Susanna
Our 'Another Kind of Life: Photography on the Margins' exhibition followed the lives of individuals and communities operating on the fringes of society, one of which was Casa Susanna - a retreat in New York for men who chose to dress as women. As part of the 'Another Kind of Life Story' podcast series, we took a closer look at some of the people who visited Casa Susanna.
Casa Susanna by Art Gallery of OntarioBarbican Centre
In 2003 at a flea market in Manhattan, antique collectors Robert Swope and Michel Hurst discovered an innocuous looking cardboard box containing almost 400 photographic prints taken at a retreat in New Jersey for men who chose to dress as women.
Casa Susanna by Art Gallery of OntarioBarbican Centre
'This was the moment at which the portable camera becomes part and parcel of any household. So you know, they are family photos, really. It's a family album...'
Casa Susanna by Art Gallery of OntarioBarbican Centre
‘She’s almost got that 1950s, Bettie Page look about her…I’m envious that they had this time of their lives, doing this…’
Casa Susanna by Art Gallery of OntarioBarbican Centre
'There's such a strong sense of character in these women and women they are trying to portray and emulate...
But we get no sense of what they are beyond Casa Susanna...What happens when they go back to their homes?'
Casa Susanna by Art Gallery of OntarioBarbican Centre
Casa Susanna Collection
Installation photo of the Casa Susanna collection in 'Another Kind of Life: Photography on the Margins' (2018/2018) by Barbican CentreBarbican Centre
Tap to explore
Explore the Casa Susanna collection, and the rest of Barbican's Another Kind of Life: Photography on the Margins exhibition, in Street View.
Another Kind of Life: Photography on the Margins took place in the Barbican Art Gallery from 28 February-27 May 2018.
Listen to the full podcast series and discover more stories behind the subjects in the photographs on barbican.org.uk/anotherkindoflifestory
