Acclaimed American photographer Tina Barney (b. 1945) is best known for her stunning large-scale color photographs of friends and family in Long Island, New York City, and New England that expose the emotional and psychological currents coursing just beneath the surfaces of perfect trappings and banal gestures. 

The artist has also shot a series of short films over the course of her career—one of which inspired Barney's The Library artist's project for Esopus 25. A selection of these rarely seen films, along with Social Studies, a 2005 documentary about Barney by Jaci Judelson, were screened on May 20 at the Museum of the Moving Image. Barney was in attendance and participated in a post-screening conversation with Judelson, moderated by Esopus editor Tod Lippy. The event was followed by a book-signing at the Museum's bookstore.

IMAGES ABOVE:  Photographs ©Tina Barney (Courtesy of Paul Kasmin Gallery)