Guzman’s photos of Newark in the 1970s highlight the beauty, grit, and vibrant street life of a resilient city

In 1975, Connie Hansen signed on at Arts High School in Newark, New Jersey, to teach black-and-white photography. She had just graduated from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and would soon embark on a successful commercial career as one half of the photo duo Guzman, with her husband, Russell Peacock. But in those early days, she focused on nurturing the curiosity of their young students, taking them out into the streets of Newark and encouraging them to view their surroundings with open eyes and an open mind. And in the process, Guzman produced a remarkable body of street photography all their own, which they recently revisited for Glitterati Incorporated‘s The Click.

“We had received an NEA grant to create a pamphlet with the students’ photographs and writings, and I wanted them to see what was around them,” Guzman tell Glitterati’s Sara Rosen, who last week published the essay “Guzman: Newark in the 1970s.”

“We walked where we wanted, and no one noticed us. We were completely invisible, and no one could care less about our cameras. I was teaching an incredible group of juniors and seniors. There was serious talent at the school. I was really young then, just a few years older than the students. You couldn’t tell that I was the teacher when I was with the class. I became friends with many of the students; they still call to this day. That class had a lifelong impact on us.”

Below, 25 of Guzman’s Newark images. To see and read more, visit The Click. And to see Guzman’s recent work, visit stocklandmartel.com/guzman.