Richard is an 87 year old WW II veteran, who lives part of the year in the streets of the Flower district of NYC and the rest of the year in a rooming house in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Richard is a man of many stories, a street philosopher and a card shark. The poet Joe Lamport had began a biography of Richard and asked if I would take a portrait, then one portrait led to the next and so on, for a few years.
Most images have been paired with verses quoted from Joe's biography of Richard.
"of a grand boulvardier"
"of currency and truthfulness"
"the story of Tiresias"
Richard's Single Room Occupancy apartment, Atlantic City, New Jersey
At the Veteran's affairs administration office, Atlantic City district, New Jersey.
Richard never received his proper disability pay after being wounded, by friendly fire, during W.W. II. As Richard's said: 'After the war, we were all too happy to be alive and return home, that some of us could not be bothered to file administrative papers', Although with a V.A. doctor's recent certificate of injury, the system is still not releasing his due amount, even as he is not looking for back pay, just to move forward with the correct amounts.
“for what each of us is” Rooming house, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Richard's (autobiographical ?) drawings, where Joe Lamport the poet and myself have become characters in his story.
"Chief among his works
Being the various personas
He practiced and polished
On stage twenty four seven"
A second visit to the Veteran's Administration office for the Atlantic County, New Jersey, with the V.A. doctor's certificate of injury
in his pocket.
Richard, climbing the stairs, returning to his S.R.O. apartment after the V.A. Administration visit.
Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Richard's walking cane. S.R.O hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Joe and I are leaving Richard at his place, till our next visit in 2 weeks.
Atlantic City, New Jersey.
"In the headlights glare"
West 28th st, NYC.
Richard's 'lean-to' in the Flower District, which is his place of shelter as well as his place of business, where he sells trinkets and plants a few days past their prime, given to him by the local florists.
West 28th st., NYC
Richard, always fashionable, crossing 28th st at 6th av., NYC
"yet somehow always"
Richard back in his Atlantic City S.R.O. getting ready for his official portrait.
(After the W.W.II. Richard became a professional photographer for a decade, primarily working for Horse Race magazines.)
"It was change itself"
Richard's official portrait, Atlantic City boardwalk, New Jersey
Biography of Richard Musto, as told by Joe Lamport and seen by Michel Delsol.
Hardcover book, 11.25" x 7.50", 82 pages
"Whereas for now Please just understand The Beauty and romance of it...
...As he demonstrated His survival techniques...By making his bedroom suite
Right where we stood In the headlights glare"
Above excerpt from Joe Lamport's book long poem about Richard Musto
"Chief among his works Being the various personas He practiced and polished
On stage twenty four seven In his sidewalk gallery"
Above excerpt from Joe Lamport's book long poem about Richard Musto