Proud Legacy: Photographer Tony Vaccaro

This blog post originally appeared in a February newsletter by New Rochelle Council on the Arts.

The New Rochelle Council on the Arts notes the passing of acclaimed photographer Tony Vaccaro, who grew up in New Rochelle and remained connected to the arts scene here. Vaccaro became interested in photography and after graduating from Isaac E. Young High School was drafted into the U.S. Army, hoping to be assigned as a photographer. Instead he was sent into battle with the 83rd Infantry Division, fighting in Normandy, Belgium and Germany. Mr. Vaccaro had his camera with him and took photos of what he witnessed, developing them at night, using his metal helmet for the chemicals.

Vaccaro stayed in Europe until 1949 documenting post-war life, then returned to the U.S., where he became a noted celebrity and fashion photographer. But his WWII work was his passion: He published two books, Entering Germany: Photographs 1944-1949 (2001) and Shots of War (2002). In 1994 Vacccaro was awarded France’s Legion of Honor, and in 2016 a documentary about his work Underfire: The Untold Story of Pfc. Tony Vaccaro debuted at the Boston Film Festival.

In 1993 the New Rochelle Council on the Arts presented an exhibit “Art of the Portrait” with photographs by Anthony Vaccaro and watercolors by Tony Parisi; Vaccaro’s works were included in several other NRCA shows, including “The Photography Show” and “Creative Women” (pictured her) which featured portraits of female artists. Click here for the American Battlefield Trust has a brief video of Vaccaro talking about his experience in WW II.

About ArtsWestchester

For more than 50 years, ArtsWestchester has been the community’s connection to the arts. Founded in 1965, it is the largest private not-for-profit arts council in New York State. Its mission is to create an equitable, inclusive, vibrant and sustainable Westchester County in which the arts are integral to and integrated into every facet of life. ArtsWestchester provides programs and services that enrich the lives of everyone in Westchester County. ArtsWestchester helps fund concerts, exhibitions and plays through grants; brings artists into schools and community centers; advocates for the arts; and builds audiences through diverse marketing initiatives. In 1998, ArtsWestchester purchased the nine-story neo-classical bank building at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue which has since been transformed into a multi-use resource for artists, cultural organizations and the community. A two-story gallery is located on the first floor of ArtsWestchester’s historic building on Mamaroneck Avenue. artsw.org