Announcing The Rockaways

Published on the first anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, The Rockaways combines visceral photos by renowned photographer Gilles Peress (Telex Iran, Farewell to Bosnia) with the voices of residents in the communities hit hardest by the superstorm. The CFP will distribute 3,000 copies of The Rockaways via independent bookstores, museums, and internet requests—for free—asking only that recipients donate to a Sandy-related aid organization, another charity, or someone in need. Then pass the book on to another reader so that he or she can give.

Three thousand copies of The Rockaways have been distributed throughout the world via museums, independent bookstores, and local bars. It has generated more than $68,000 in donations to hurricane relief efforts and other causes. And it has set a new standard for artistic activism.

We are exploring creating an online edition of The Rockaways. Meanwhile, check out these articles in the New York Times, Brooklyn Magazine, Metro NYC, DNA New York, El Pais International, Shelf Awareness, Photo District News, and Feature Shoot. 

About the book
“Shooting pictures in Breezy Point and in Far Rockaway was transformational, a deep experience,” wrote Peress immediately after the storm. “The devastation is on such a scale, the pain is on such a scale, that I really have a feeling of having entered into another dimension.”

“This remarkable book creates a new link between art and activism,” says Hamilton Fish, editor of the project. “Gilles’ photos capture the devastation of the storm, while the essays from high school writers, long-term residents, and others give voice to the incredible changes wrought by the storm.” Dozens of writers, editors, designers, print professionals, and publicists donated their time and talents to create The Rockaways. 

Kodak served as the technology partner for the book, which is created using its state-of-the-art digital printing solutions—including its Kodak NexPress Digital Production Color Press and Kodak Prosper Press. “We’re very excited about our ongoing collaboration with Kodak, and honored to publish the incredibly powerful work of Gilles Peress,” says Stona Fitch, founder of the Concord Free Press. “With this great book, we continue to explore the new frontiers of publishing—connecting reading and giving in new ways.”